A world in which farming methods allow flocks of poultry to wander freely in pastures may be coming to an end as avian flu becomes endemic in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States, according to agricultural officials.
Dozens of Lancaster County farmers impacted by the most recent round of highly pathogenic avian influenza questioned representatives from the Pa. Dept. of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agricultural entities during a two-hour meeting on April 11 at the Reamstown Fire Company.
The farmers, many of whom raise ducks for commercial markets in New York and New Jersey, told horror stories of having their entire flocks quarantined and/or destroyed by agricultural officials after their birds tested positive for the infectious disease. Other farmers told stories about how their flocks of ducks seemed to recover from the illness after a few days, but their birds were still depopulated by officials.
More than 20 live market supplier farms were infected with avian flu in Lancaster and Chester counties from Feb. 1 to March 17, officials said, with Pennsylvania farmers losing nearly 300,000 birds during that span.
In mid-March, the Pa. Dept. of Agriculture began requiring regular testing on hundreds of live bird market supplier farms in northeastern and southeastern Lancaster County and parts of Chester County. No birds, eggs or equipment can leave the farms without testing.
Last year, millions of birds were killed on at least eight farms in Lancaster County after the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain was detected in local commercial flocks. The USDA confirmed Pennsylvania’s first positive case in Lancaster County on April 16, 2022, and impacted more than 3.5 million birds in the county over the year.
Greg Moreland, Pennsylvania state director of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) helped to organize last week’s meeting, saying there has been a “big problem with communication” between local farmers and agricultural officials, with many farmers questioning quarantining and depopulation edicts from the government.
“There are a lot of questions, a lot of comments, a lot of concerns out there,” Moreland said. “And the goal tonight is to surely address each and every one of them as best we can.”
Biosecurity Plans
The recurring avian flu infections of Lancaster County and Pennsylvania poultry flocks has taken its toll on farmers being able to ship birds to other states and countries.
David Wolfgang, the temporary assistant state veterinarian for the current avian flu outbreak, said the current pathogen infecting domestic poultry flocks is mostly being spread by migratory birds landing on farms and spreading the virus. Wolfgang said larger birds like Canadian geese and the snow geese migrating through the region are not typically impacted by the disease but remain carriers, creating threats for chickens, ducks and other commercial poultry operations.
“This particular strain, the birds gets so sick, they make so much virus that they’re spewing billions of virus particles,” Wolfgang said. “And it’s spreading like wildfire. It’s all over the place.”
To combat the spread of avian flu, Wolfgang called on farmers to implement “great biosecurity” measures on their properties, including keeping poultry in barns and limiting their outdoor exposure to enclosed structures with netting. He said changing footwear and clothing when entering different poultry flocks will also help cut down on the disease spreading.
When asked what the chances were that avian flu would disappear from nature if farmers took stricter measures on biosecurity, Wolfgang held up his hand signifying “zero.”
“There will be some other strain of influenza that will come back through, and again we’ll go 40 years without a hot strain,” Wolfgang said. “But we will have avian flu next year, avian flu 10 years from now, 20 years from now.”
Gregory Martin, a poultry educator with the Penn State Extension, said biosecurity can help protect poultry flocks even in areas where the spread of avian flu is highly likely. Martin pointed to a farmer he works with whose property is adjacent to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Clay and West Cocalico townships where annually as many as 80,000 snow geese come during their migration.
Martin said the farmer calls him regularly to seek recommendations on ways to stop the virus spreading, including when he should mow his grass in the fields and near buildings. Martin said he tells him to avoid cutting grass when large migratory flocks are in the area because dust particles may be disturbed and potentially brought into his barns, infecting the poultry operation.
The farmer changes into separate clothes and shoes for each of his three barns, Martin said, and has avoided having his flocks infected despite goose droppings being found on the roofs of his buildings.
However, Martin said a strict biosecurity plan is not a foolproof method to stop infection. He said one farmer he works with implemented a biosecurity plan and still had their flock infected, possibly by dust particles.
“Scripture says that sometimes rain falls on the bad people and the good people alike,” Martin said. “Sometimes that’s just the way it happens, too. I know that the farmer that got sick that I worked with, they were doing everything they could. What they think happened was it came in on the dust and got carried in. So, that’s how it happened. Sometimes it’s just bad luck.”
Several farmers questioned the importance of implementing a biosecurity plan for their poultry flocks when birds can be infected by dust particles.
Another farmer who said he keeps his poultry flock, which includes as many as 5,000 ducks, outdoors in a 20-acre pasture said it wasn’t realistic for him to bring all his birds indoors. The farmer said consumers are demanding chickens and ducks raised outdoors as compared to indoor facilities because of health and wellness of the animals and are willing to pay a premium.
“I was just doing what I’m supposed to do – do what’s right – and I got shut down,” the farmer said. ‘We have consumers that want this, and it’s become very good.”
Pennsylvania has encouraged poultry owners to keep their flocks under cover without mandating rules and to prevent wild birds from landing on their fields and use water.
Martin said farmers can also reduce risks to outdoor poultry by using a portable, covered shelter called a tractor, along with netting to keep wild birds separate from the domestic birds.
The farmer said his operation is not set up to use tractors or to net off large portions of his 20 acres. He said he has applied for biosecurity measures but can’t get approval from the state.
“I guess I’m just asking, what’s your plan?” the farmer said. “You said that the flu is going to be back next year and is going to be back in 10 years. Are you going to put us out of business?”
Greg Hostetter, Pa. Dept. of Ag deputy secretary, said no one is telling the farmer he can’t use the farming methods he’s currently implementing with his outdoor poultry. Hostetter said he just wanted to emphasize “some of the practices to protect yourself.”
Wolfgang said many of the safety measures and classifications regarding Pennsylvania poultry are driven by World Health Organization categories and the selling of poultry overseas.
“You probably don’t like it, but part of this is based on international trade and what’s good for sale across the country, not individuals and not farmers in Central Pennsylvania,” Wolfgang said. “ We’re talking billions of dollars.”
Depopulation and Indemnity
Some of the biggest complaints came from farmers who were forced to depopulate their duck flocks after the avian flu was detected on their farms.
The current highly pathogenic avian influenza strain is generally fatal to chickens, officials said, but ducks are generally better able to weather the sickness.
The officials said even if their poultry don’t appear to be sick after being infected, they are still able to shed the virus and infect birds on other farms.
“They’re making all the neighbors sick,” Wolfgang said. “They’re giving it to the wild birds spread around to more people. That’s why we have to depopulate those flocks as soon as possible.”
Indemnity payments by the USDA to farmers who have had their flocks depopulated was also hotly questioned.
A Khaki Campbell, which is the typical duck breed produced locally, will cost a farmer $1.20 for a day-old duckling, and the farmer can sell the finished bird for about $7 on the market. The USDA’s indemnity for a duck is 90 cents.
“It’s an insult,” one farmer said about the indemnity payment from the government.
Officials at the meeting said the indemnities are meant to keep farmers in operation until they are able to restock new birds and was never intended to pay the full market value.
Wolfgang said farmers should appeal any indemnity payment they felt is unfair because the current pricing of ducks is based on old market data.
“It’s market value over several decades,” Wolfgang said. “Ten years ago, ducks were not worth as much as they are now. So, we certainly encourage you to appeal because that’s part of the driver is – what the value was 10 years ago for ducks versus the value now. They’re taking an average.”
The officials also encouraged farmers to take advantage of Pennsylvania’s unique $25 million fund implemented last year by the legislature to compensate farmers for their losses related to the avian flu outbreak.
PCR Testing and Vaccines
Farmers in attendance also expressed skepticism over the accuracy and reliability of the PCR tests used for identifying avian influenza on their farms. Officials said the process of the PCR tests used on birds is similar to the one used to detect COVID-19 in humans during the pandemic.
Officials said a USDA lab in Iowa will repeat any PCR test after the state finds a “non-negative result,” meaning a bird has tested positive for avian flu. They said the process is a requirement for international trade of poultry.
“The PCR test is technology that’s been around for the better part of 25 years,” Wolfgang said. “It’s fast, and it’s very, very, very accurate and consistent,” Wolfgang said. “It’s used in many, many, many different applications. But it is very, very, very fast. And it’s very, very, very accurate.”
When asked if a vaccine is in development for poultry operations to combat the avian flu, the officials said some vaccines are in production but are not widely used because of the price and the impact on international trade. Several countries ban the importation of vaccinated birds.
“They’re looking towards a vaccine that is a long term solution,” Hostetter said. “But for now, it’s safe to say, not so much for this outbreak.” “It sounds like Dr. Fauci is up there,” a farmer said in the back of the room during the discussion on vaccine use.
Staff writer Michael Yoder is an award-winning journalist who has been honored with several Keystone Press Awards for his investigative pieces.
