Iowa turkey farmer “Living the Avian Influenza Nightmare”

NTF witness Brad Moline of Manson, Iowa gained attention for the nation’s HPAI losses that include his family’s turkey farm when he told the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday afternoon, “I am currently living the avian influenza nightmare.” Moline said two thirds of his family’s farm income has been wiped-out with the loss of all 12 growing barns containing more than 56,000 turkeys. The nationwide loss from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) of nearly 8 million turkeys and 400 employee layoffs has weighed heavily in communities where each of the 153 cases has struck since late January. “If we are lucky, we will be able to salvage this year with one flock that we hope to repopulate soon,” said Moline of his farm that, before HPAI, raised 155,000 turkeys a year.  Read More