Dive Brief:
- Two Minnesota poultry farms will be the first to return to normal operations following the bird flu outbreaks in the Midwest beginning in early March.
- A Pope County farm, the first to report the virus in the Midwest, was the first to be restocked with birds last weekend. Another farm in Stearns County, also an early outbreak victim, will be restocked in the next few days.
- Minnesota Turkey Growers Association has had discussions about features such as ventilation which could help keep viruses from entering barns.
Dive Insight:
The restarts of these farms signal the next phase of the bird flu crisis: recovery. Restocking bodes well for the cost of manufacturing turkey, chicken and egg products. While warmer temperatures have slowed the virus, Minnesota and Iowa both reported one case in the last week. Some farmers are still hesitant to restock right away as experts believe that the virus could return in the fall.