Baldwin Pushes for Swift Action on Avian Flu

Feb 19, 2025
By Farms.com

22 Million Birds Affected, Prompting Calls for Swift Action

Senator Tammy Baldwin is urging the government to take decisive action against the avian flu outbreak that has impacted over 22 million birds and significantly increased egg prices nationwide. The spread of the virus is affecting poultry farms, dairy herds, and overall food supply stability.

Avian flu has affected 153 poultry flocks in just 30 days, causing wholesale egg prices to skyrocket to $8 per dozen, a 218% increase from December 2023. "The number of avian flu detections, and increases in egg prices, are far surpassing previous records and will not slow down anytime soon unless your Administration commits to a robust response," Baldwin stated.

Baldwin has consistently advocated for stronger government measures to combat avian flu. In 2023, she pushed for federal action to protect poultry farms, and in 2024, she urged agencies to provide clear communication and resources for containment efforts in dairy herds.

She emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation between the CDC, USDA, and FDA to ensure accurate public information and support for farmers. "Your Administration is responsible for ensuring that data and available resources reach stakeholders on the ground responding to the outbreak," Baldwin stressed.

She called for urgent deployment of resources to support farmers, veterinarians, and agricultural workers in strengthening biosecurity measures. Without immediate intervention, the outbreak could continue to spread, driving food costs even higher and putting additional strain on the agricultural sector.

Baldwin’s appeal highlights the urgent need for government action to control the outbreak, stabilize food prices, and protect farmers from further economic losses.

View the complete letter here.

Video: Swine Industry Advances: Biodigesters Lower Emissions and Increase Profits

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) in the Canadian swine sector found that CH4 emissions from manure were the largest contributor to the overall emissions, followed by emissions from energy use and crop production.

This innovative project, "Improving Swine Manure-Digestate Management Practices Towards Carbon Neutrality With Net Zero Emission Concepts," from Dr. Rajinikanth Rajagopal, under Swine Cluster 4, seeks to develop strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

While the management of manure can be very demanding and expensive for swine operations, it can also be viewed as an opportunity for GHG mitigation, as manure storage is an emission source built and managed by swine producers. Moreover, the majority of CH4 emissions from manure occur during a short period of time in the summer, which can potentially be mitigated with targeted intervention.

In tandem with understanding baseline emissions, Dr. Rajagopal's work focuses on evaluating emission mitigation options. Manure additives have the potential of reducing manure methane emissions. Additives can be deployed relatively quickly, enabling near-term emission reductions while biodigesters are being built. Furthermore, additives can be a long-term solution at farms where biogas is not feasible (e.g., when it’s too far from a central digester). Similarly, after biodigestion, additives can also be used to further reduce emissions from storage to minimize the carbon intensity of the bioenergy.