The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is proposing updates to its virus elimination flat rate payments for table egg laying bird barns and table egg storage and processing facilities affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or H5 and H7 subtypes of low pathogenic avian influenza (H5/H7 LPAI).
When a poultry facility becomes infected with HPAI or H5/H7 LPAI, virus elimination is a crucial step in the recovery process. APHIS can provide compensation for virus elimination activities conducted by the owner/producer, but must ensure that these activities are both time- and cost-effective. This proposed flat rate applies to facilities for pullets or table egg laying birds housed off the floor in cages. The rate for table egg laying birds is based on a cubic-yard basis rather than a per-bird basis, and the rate for table egg storage and processing facilities is based on a square-foot basis. This facility size-based rate would be a change from previous flat rates, which were calculated on a per-bird basis. Read more