Avian Bird Flu Continues To Raise Concerns In Midwest

May 26, 2022

With the H5N1 avian flu strain sweeping the country, zoos are keeping their birds indoors. In Ohio, a backyard flock was infected, as were a few fowl in northwest Ohio. As a whole, numbers have remained low in the state and no cases were reported in April, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Division of Wildlife is working closely with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, USDA, and other state and federal agencies to monitor the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. It is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to chickens.

All Ohioans can report sick or dead wild birds suspected of HPAI at 800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or wildohio.gov. The following bird species should be reported:

Any raptor, such as a bald eagle.
Multiple waterfowl, such as geese or ducks.
Any other large congregation of sick or dead birds.

HPAI occurs naturally in bird populations and is monitored closely by the U.S. Geological Survey. Native Ohio birds such as shorebirds, raptors and waterfowl are vulnerable to HPAI. Domestic chickens and turkeys also are vulnerable to HPAI. The virus is transmitted from bird to bird through feeding and interactions.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.