Preparing for the New Year

Published in the December 24, 2016 issue of Lancaster Farming

As the holiday season draws to a close and we prepare for a new year, it’s a good time to get up to speed on potential issues for the coming year, including a new legislative session. And, if you are a poultry grower, please take note of High Path Avian Influenza outbreaks around the world and intensify your biosecurity efforts.

2017 Legislative Session

January 11 marks the start Maryland’s 90-day legislative session of the 2017 Maryland General Assembly. We are starting to hear about some legislation that may be introduced this session that would be of considerable interest to the agriculture community.

Likely topics include: legislation that would negatively affect the poultry and dairy community. Initiatives to place additional regulatory burdens on poultry producers through taxes and take away from current cost share programs like the manure transportation program. The department will closely monitor these pieces of legislation and is committed to keep Maryland farmers competitive and profitable.  The department is also looking forward to putting forth measures that will promote Maryland agriculture and streamline several departmental programs.

There is only one active farmer currently in the legislature, which underscores the need for us to help our lawmakers better understand agriculture. If the General Assembly schedules a hearing for a bill that will affect your operation, I urge you all to come to Annapolis and testify.

High Path Avian Influenza

In light of the recent High Path Avian Influenza outbreaks in Western Europe, Russia, Israel, India, Korea, and Japan, Maryland poultry growers, large and small, are at a much higher risk of seeing High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI) destroy their flocks. As a result, we are calling for a renewed effort this winter by all poultry producers to intensify their biosecurity efforts.

While we have been fortunate to date, we must be vigilant and cannot afford to take any risks.  I know it’s difficult to maintain a high level of biosecurity alert day after day, but it is better than the alternative. We have to do all we can to keep this virus out of our poultry flocks.

The Eurasia HPAI outbreaks are caused by HPAI H5N8, which has very close similarities to the virus that caused so much devastation in the United States in 2015.  In Japan, the very recent HPAI outbreaks are caused by HPAI H5N6 – a new HPAI viral strain – and it is too early to tell how much devastation it will cause.

These viruses can be carried by waterfowl migrating this winter southward across the Bering Strait into Western Canada and could be introduced into the lower 48 states through one of the four U.S. migratory flyways.

To maintain a sanitary, bio-secure premise, growers should at a minimum:

• Restrict access to poultry by posting a sign stating “Restricted Access,” securing the area with a gate, or both.
• Take steps to ensure that contaminated materials on the ground are not transported into the poultry growing house or area.
• Provide the following items to anyone entering or leaving any area where poultry are kept:
  • Footbaths and foot mats with disinfectant;
  • Boot washing and disinfectant station;
  • Footwear change or foot covers.
• Cover and secure feed to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing it.
• Cover and properly contain poultry carcasses, used litter, or other disease-containing organic materials to prevent wild birds, rodents or other animals from accessing them and to keep them from being blown around by wind.
• Allow MDA to enter the premises during normal working hours to inspect your biosecurity and sanitation practices. Growers should report any unusual bird deaths or sudden increases in very sick birds to the Animal Health Program at 410-841-5810or after hours to 410-841-5971.  All growers and others interested in HPAI are strongly encouraged to read up about HPAI and biosecurity measures on the MDA website.

Maryland Farm & Harvest

These cold winter nights provide a great opportunity to catch up on the most popular series on Maryland Public Television – Maryland Farm & Harvest. We are a few weeks into the fourth season and planning is already underway for a fifth. I am happy to report that Maryland Farm & Harvest has become MPT’s number one program with over 4 million viewers since it debuted in Fall 2013. The show has been a valuable asset in educating the public and younger generations

I am very proud of MDA’s involvement with the program, and I thank all of our sponsors for their support. Make sure you tune into MPT every Tuesday night at 7:30. Or watch online anytime at www.mpt.org/farm.

In closing, I am grateful for the hard work and dedicated efforts of our farmers who work each day to provide food and fiber for us all.  I wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.