Northwest Iowa — One year ago chicken, egg and turkey producers in our area, and across the state, entered the fall rocked by an outbreak of bird flu that included 77 sites with confirmed cases in the state.
Spirit Lake farmer, and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey says he’s happy he hasn’t had to report any cases this year.
Producers this fall are back up to speed, and Northey says the worry now is generating sales.
The avain flu is believed to spread through migrating wild birds, so the concern of an outbreak this year is not over.
He says producers likely won’t stop being on the lookout after seeing more than 31 million birds destroyed to prevent the spread of the disease last year.
The disease impacted 18 Iowa counties last year.
