Avian influenza has been confirmed in 164 dairy herds in 13 states. Unlike poultry, this virus is not fatal in dairy cattle, but can impact milk production. There is anecdotal evidence that H591 is more widespread than what is reported, but dairy farmers are reluctant to test for the virus. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith said monitoring for the disease is important. “Let’s be honest. It’s not always that easy to have a bunch of new people coming in and trying to monitor your operation when you are already dealing with a lot as a dairy farmer. We’ve been in close touch with the USDA to make sure that we are getting the data that we need but also not putting an undue burden on producers.” Smith was in Blackduck Wednesday meeting with farmers impacted by the ongoing wet conditions.
