Properly Prepared Beef Remains Safe; Meat Institute Calls For Guidance to Protect Workers 

As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a nationwide order including requiring lactating dairy cows to test negative for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) before interstate transport, the Meat Institute today said that properly prepared beef remains safe to eat and called for USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide worker safety guidance specific to beef processors to ensure workers are protected from infection.

“USDA and CDC are working overtime to understand the spread of the virus...

ANALYSIS: Tightening Turkey Production Trends

Given the relatively serene state of the turkey market here in early Q2, market participants are keeping their eyes trained on the stats as they refine their expectations for the road ahead. When it comes to supply-facing variables, disease remains a top consideration, and with good reason. In just the first four months of the year, about 346 thousand commercial turkeys have been impacted by HPAI. Although this figure represents only a small fraction of the industry’s annual production potential, it is one part of a more complex scenario currently unfolding on the supply...

USDA Actions to Protect Livestock Health From Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza

To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread.

Today, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced a Federal Order requiring the following measures, effective Monday, April 29, 2024:

Mandatory Testing for Interstate Movement of Dairy Cattle

• Prior to interstate movement, dairy cattle are required to receive...

Cow-to-Cow Transmission Confirmed as a Factor in Spread of H5N1

In an update provided by the USDA, the agency confirmed that cow-to-cow transmission is a factor in the spread of H5N1 bird flu in dairy herds.

However, it remains unclear exactly how the virus is being moved around. “We know that the virus is shed in milk at high concentrations; therefore, anything that comes in contact with unpasteurized milk, spilled milk, etc. may spread the virus,” explained the USDA.

The government stressed the importance of biosecurity, including the movement of people, animals, vehicles, and...

States with HPAI-Infected Dairy Cows Grows to Six

A herd of dairy cattle in Ohio has been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), increasing the number of states with dairy operations affected by the virus to six.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) on April 3 announced it had received confirmation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) of HPAI infection in a dairy cattle herd in Wood County, Ohio.

The USDA previously confirmed the H5N1 strain of HPAI in dairy cattle on seven Texas farms, two in Kansas, and one each...

ANALYSIS: Exploring Factors Influencing the Turkey Market

Although market-swaying spot trade activity is off to a fairly uneventful start in April, there are no shortage of variables that are lingering on the minds of turkey market participants as we proceed into spring. At the top of the "figurative" list is HPAI, which has been slow to relinquish its grasp on the poultry (and egg) industry. Through the first three months of the year, commercial HPAI turkey cases advanced by about 50%, or 70 thousand birds, from the year prior...

Second US Human Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 Linked to Dairy Cattle Exposure Confirmed

The United States has just confirmed a new case of a person testing positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus in Texas, the country's second human case since a previous incident in Colorado in 2022. The patient had been exposed to dairy cattle presumed to be infected with H5N1, raising concerns amongst the livestock sector and related businesses. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains the risk to the general public as low...

State Officials Report Human Case of Bird Flu in Texas, Second Ever in U.S. History

State officials Monday reported the first human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) in Texas, marking the second-ever human case of H5N1 flu, or HPAI, in the United States and the first tied to exposure to cattle. 

The individual in Texas had been in direct contact with dairy cattle thought to be infected with avian influenza. The person, who had testing performed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over the weekend, exhibited eye inflammation as their only symptom and is being treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir. The risk to the general public remains low, said the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)...

HPAI Detection in Idaho Dairy Herd 

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) identified today highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a Cassia County dairy cattle operation.

These are the first cases of HPAI in a livestock operation in Idaho. The affected facility recently imported cattle from another state that has identified cases of HPAI in cattle, which suggests the virus may be transmitted from cow-to-cow, in addition to previous reports indicating cattle were acquiring the virus from infected birds.

The primary concern with this diagnosis is on-farm production losses, as the disease has been associated with...

Stevens County Goat Tests Positive for Same Influenza Virus Affecting Poultry

A Stevens County goat kid (juvenile goat) residing on a farm with a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) positive poultry flock tested positive for the same virus. This is the first U.S. detection of HPAI in a domestic ruminant (cattle, sheep, goats, and their relatives). All poultry on the property were already quarantined from the February HPAI detection. Following the confirmation of HPAI in the goat, the Board quarantined all other species on the premises. The Board is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture...

Commercial Broiler Flock in Nebraska Tests Positive for Bird Flu

A commercial broiler flock of 102,000 birds in Gage County, Nebraska recently tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The detection was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on February 6, marking the first outbreak in a commercial flock for the state since November 2022. 

Several small WOAH poultry and non-poultry operations in Nebraska were affected by HPAI between December 2022 and December 2023. 

“Nebraska hasn’t had any reported cases of HPAI for a few months so while we are disappointed, we are not surprised, to see another case...

More than 13,000 Turkeys Affected By HPAI in Indiana 

A flock of 13,071 turkeys are being quarantined in Indiana after a commercial farm tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly referred to as the Bird Flu. The outbreak was reported out of Daviess County and according to the USDA, is the first reported outbreak of a commercial flock in the state since December 2023.

The birds will be depopulated, and birds of nearby flocks will be tested in an effort to prevent the disease from spreading. 

To further monitor the situation...

REPORTER: Bird Flu, Strong Retail Demand Send Egg Prices Soaring

This article was originally featured in the WINTER 2024 Edition of Urner Barry’s Reporter magazine. 

After more than five weeks of no change, the shell-egg market began its seasonal ascent in the penultimate week of October, as it often does, on a combination of strengthening retail demand and mounting confidence in the lead-up to Thanksgiving. Days later, that upward momentum got kicked into overdrive, following reports that the bird flu had broken out on a commercial layer farm for the first time in 11 months...

Live Poultry Trading Banned for 2024 in Shanghai, China

On 26 December, with the support of the local government, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (SMCC) and the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (SMCAR) announced a year-long ban on live poultry trading ‘‘to prevent and control urban public health risks,’’ according to an official statement.

Effective from 1 January 2024, live poultry trading is suspended at the city’s designated wholesale and retail markets. Live poultry from other provinces and cities may only enter the city to be transported to official slaughterhouses...

ANALYSIS: Turkey Exports Start Q4 on a High Note

While recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in various states and counties have posed challenges to the international footprint of the turkey industry, export performance through the end of October demonstrated noteworthy resilience.

During this period, the total outbound movement reached 52.9 million pounds. This marks the highest seasonal level observed since 2020 and also reflects a 5.8% increase when compared to September. With that being said, it is worth noting that October's cumulative movement still lagged approximately 18 percentage...

Mintec Releases "Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023" Report; Read It Here

Mintec enables the world's largest food and manufacturing brands to implement more efficient and sustainable procurement strategies. We do this through our cutting-edge SaaS platform, Mintec Analytics, which delivers market prices and analysis for thousands of commodities, food ingredients and associated materials. Our data and tools empower our customers to understand prices better, analyze their spend and negotiate with confidence.

Mintec’s latest report, “Thanksgiving Dinner Index 2023,” is a look at the components that make up the traditional holiday dinner...

The Retail Rundown: 2023 Thanksgiving Outlook

Thanksgiving is just one week out and grocers are bracing for a busy weekend ahead as shoppers secure any remaining needs for the holiday feast. Below, we have the latest outlook on what Turkey Day 2023 may bring.

The Star of the Show 

Shoppers this Thanksgiving may breathe a sigh of relief when looking at prices for the big bird. Last year, households shelled out more money for their turkeys due to factors including highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) complications, low cold storage holdings, and inflation.

A lull in bird flu detections following the initial outbreak...

Bird Flu Has Infected a Second Commercial Egg Layer Farm 

After an almost 11-month lull in detections, industry sources tell Urner Barry that high-path avian influenza (HPAI) has infected a US commercial egg layer flock for the second time in as many weeks. The latest outbreak is said to have occurred in Iowa, which is home to approximately 45 million laying hens, making it the nation’s largest egg-producing state.

Last week, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed that a 940,000-bird farm housing mostly conventional hens...

The Retail Rundown: Tuning in to Holiday Turkey Features

For this week's retail rundown, we're tuning in to holiday turkey features as Thanksgiving inches closer. Grocers are making room for the big bird in their meat cases and freezers for the millions of turkeys that will be gobbled down in two weeks. 

Seafood maintains the top spot among protein ads with 23.8% of features this week. Turkey ads captured nearly 9% of protein features this week, up from 6.9% the previous week. Within the turkey complex, frozen whole turkey features account for 56.5% of features, up from 25% a week...

Bird Flu Infects Commercial Table Egg Layer Farm for First Time in 11 Months

A commercial table egg layer operation has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or bird flu, for the first time in eleven months. 

The impacted operation had 940,000 birds in Wright County, Minnesota, according to USDA data. The government lists the confirmation data as November 3, 2023. 

Prior to last week's detection, the latest commercial layer operation to be hit by bird flu was a farm with 239,700 birds in Weld County, Colorado on December 20, 2022...

The Retail Rundown: A Nod to November

Winter is seemingly giving a nod to November, as frigid and record-cold temperatures impact much of the central and southern United States this week.

While households hunker down for the colder weather, retailers are quickening the seasonal transition to comfort foods and indoor oven cooking. Moreover, grocers are gearing up for the inpouring of holiday shoppers now that  Thanksgiving is just three short weeks away.

The holiday centerpiece—turkey—is under close watch as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu...

Bird Flu Detected in Several U.S. Commercial Turkey Flocks Last Week

Last week, several commercial turkey operations spanning four states reported positive detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a highly contagious and often fatal disease in birds. 

HPAI can be spread by direct or indirect contact with infected domestic or wild birds including ducks and geese. The disease can also be spread by contact with the virus on surfaces such as hands, shoes, clothing, and animal fur.

Poultry owners are urged to increase their biosecurity practices to protect their flocks, especially with fall migration underway.

California 

On October 26, HPAI was detected in...

The Retail Rundown: Keeping a Watchful Eye on Bird Flu

The threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has resurfaced, with USDA reporting detections among commercial turkey flocks in South Dakota, Utah, and Minnesota earlier this month and again last week.

The fall migration of wild birds as they head south for winter could bring a new wave of infection, renewing concerns among market participants about the potential supply and trade implications of bird flu. The latest detections were on Friday, October 13, on two WOAH Non-Poultry operations located in North Dakota and Montana along with one commercial turkey...

Tulsa CBP Seizes Potentially Harmful Agricultural Products from Asia

Agriculture specialists prevent potential disease or pest infestation outbreak from peanuts, birds nests

Agriculture Specialists from U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently seized several products that could have potentially caused an animal disease or pest infestation outbreak of had they been allowed into the United States.

The first of two products involved a shipment was labeled and manifested as jewelry but contained a box of edible birds’ nests that weighed 1.2 kilograms. Edible birds’ nests are prohibited due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Newcastle Disease (ND)...

Argentina Free of Avian Flu After Commercial Farm Outbreaks, AG Secretary Says

Argentina is free of cases of avian flu after the last of 18 outbreaks at commercial farms came to an end, the country's agricultural secretary said on Tuesday.

Argentina's first case of avian flu in commercial poultry was detected in February, pausing poultry exports for a month. Shipments restarted in March after the Argentine government reached agreements with importing countries.

State health agency SENASA ruled Argentina was avian flu-free in a document submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Agriculture Secretary Juan Jose Bahillo...

USDA Efforts Lift Ban on U.S. Poultry Exports to Colombia

Quick action by FAS, USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has resolved an issue that temporarily stopped U.S. poultry product exports to Colombia, our 10th largest market for these products.

Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture instructed all Colombian ports to deny import permits to any poultry products beginning June 1 on concerns of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Roughly $1.1 million in U.S. exports were impacted by the ban between June 3 and June 8...

Brazil Confirms First Case of HPAI in a Poultry Farm

Brazilian authorities Tuesday confirmed the detection of a first case of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a bird farm in the municipality of Serra, in the State of Espírito Santo. The farm where the outbreak was confirmed belongs to a smallholder who raises chickens, ducks, and geese.

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture stressed that the case is isolated, and that Brazilian commercial poultry production remains safe.

In an interview with CNN, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Fávaro, reaffirmed that there was no risk of the country...