Talkin’ Turkey

Minnesota’s turkey industry went into Thanksgiving week with optimism after what producers say has been one of the smoothest years in recent memory. “2025 has actually been a year where turkey farmers have remembered what it’s like to enjoy being a turkey farmer,” said Ashley Kohls, executive director, Minnesota Turkey Growers Association. “When you think of the past number of years and the highly pathogenic avian flu and the outbreak that is currently ongoing, 2025 was a light year, so turkey farmers got to take a deep breath and relax a little.” Despite the positive outlook, concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza remain, and growers are pushing for more disease-fighting options. Kohls said vaccination is of interest, but trade concerns remain a barrier. “It’s not an overnight fix. It’s not something that we can implement immediately, but the conversations are happening and it’s something that is of interest for the turkey growers in the state of Minnesota to add another tool in the toolbox to combat this disease.”