Minnesota Poultry Industry Gets Help

Minnesota lawmakers last week approved spending $23 million for several programs responding to the bird flu epidemic and investing nearly $27 million in poultry testing facilities at the University of Minnesota. The avian flu outbreak has led to more than 9 million poultry deaths in 23 Minnesota counties.

An immediate benefit for farmers affected by the flu will be $10 million in no-interest loans. The no-interest loans can be up to 45% of what a farmer needs up to $200,000.

“Minnesota’s poultry farmers have been hit hard by this disease and many will struggle to get back in business,” Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson said. “These disaster loans will help them, in part, rebuild their operations and revitalize their industry.”

Steve Olson, who represents poultry producers in Minnesota, characterized the response from public officials as “tremendous.” He said the loans will especially benefit the effort to strengthen biosecurity and find ways to keep the flu virus out of farmers’ barns.

Legislators also approved extending unemployment benefits to poultry workers 13 weeks longer than the standard 26 weeks.

The number of poultry deaths from bird flu throughout the United States has risen to 47 million. S