Fighting H5N1 in dairy herds - A multi-pronged approach

May 13, 2024

By Farms.com

Following the detection of H5N1 in dairy cattle, the USDA and HHS are working together to combat the virus and protect public health. This multi-pronged approach focuses on supporting producers, strengthening biosecurity, and safeguarding the food supply.

Financial Support for Producers:

The USDA is providing financial assistance to affected farms. This includes funds to improve biosecurity measures, compensate for lost milk production, and cover veterinary costs associated with H5N1.

Biosecurity Measures:

Both USDA and HHS are prioritizing biosecurity practices. This includes support for developing biosecurity plans, implementing in-line milk samplers, and facilitating safe milk disposal through heat treatment.

Public Health Safeguards:

The HHS, through the CDC and FDA, is taking steps to protect public health. This includes updated guidance for workers in contact with dairy cattle, support for field investigations, and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE). Additionally, the FDA is focusing on ensuring the safety of the milk supply through rigorous testing and staff training.

This collaborative effort by USDA and HHS demonstrates the government's proactive approach to H5N1. By combining financial aid, biosecurity support, and public health measures, they aim to minimize the impact on the dairy industry and safeguard consumers.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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