31 million birds were killed by the avian influenza leading to an uncertainty, according to agricultural and industry leaders, and so the chicken and turkey farmers are just eager to rebuild flocks in Iowa.
Common questions among these producers involve matters such as; safe federal facilities for new birds, availability of chicks or poults once business are ready to reopen, fear of dying flocks that might come back in Fall according to experts along with migratory birds.
Dave Rettig, president of Rembrandt Foods, a large egg producer based in Spirit Lake, shares his worries saying that Iowa is the leading egg producer and half of the flocks of the entire industry is just lost in a matter of a month. Rembrandt Foods lost about 8 million egg-laying hens to the disease in Rembrandt, Iowa, and Renville, Minn.
The disease destroyed about 30.3 million egg-laying chickens in Iowa and about 1.1 million turkeys, and nationally, about 42 million layers and 7.5 million turkeys. Egg prices more than doubled with the outbreak of the disease but, seem to have economized at still high prices. Only a handful out of the 71 chicken and turkey farms struck bird flu in Iowa.
Only a handful of the 71 Iowa chicken and turkey farms stricken by bird flu are close to reopening, with many of the remaining facilities facing months before they’re back in business.
Three or four chicken and turkey operations may be getting approval to restart operations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to Bill Northey, Iowa’s secretary of agriculture.
To eliminate any virus, infected facilities must implement intense cleaning and disinfection, heating the buildings to high temperatures. After that, it must be left empty for 21 days for the virus to incubate, and then several tests are taken to ensure there is no virus remaining.
Companies do not really forecast the growers to face shortages and high prices are a strong motivation to rebuild flocks. Dermot Hayes, an Iowa State University agricultural economist, believes that the producer’s primary concern is to get back into business and so will take any actions required, and the first movers will definitely will make some profits.
Iowa and Minnesota were the victims of this disease but, if its spreads beyond then consumers may face other troubles. Leaders of the industry are anxious that Georgia, Arkansas and Alabama, which leads in broiler production; may be hit with this disease. Many in the egg-laying industry support using a vaccine, a move the broiler industry has resisted because of concerns it would prompt export bans. Broilers are chickens used for meat.
Health officials confirm that there have been no human infections from the virus, and food supply remains safe. Rettig concludes that they cannot easily make up for 40 million birds overnight as there is not enough capacity. He believes that even without a reintroduction of the virus this fall, it is going to take a year or two to get back to full production. His operations need weeks or months before the company can begin accepting birds.
Sanam Reza
