Workshop to Discuss Avian Influenza, Biosecurity in Poultry

Farmers and others interested in poultry will have the opportunity to learn more about avian influenza and biosecurity next week in Northfield.

The University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Board of Animal Health and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will offer a workshop discussing avian influenza and biosecurity in pastured poultry from 9-11:30AM Saturday, December 12. The workshop will be in the community room of Community Resource Bank, 1605 Heritage Drive, Northfield.

The workshop is free and open to the public. To preregister, contact Wayne Martin, Extension educator in alternative livestock systems, at marti067@umn.edu or (612) 625-6224, by December 10. On-site registration begins at 8:30AM.

Speakers will address:

• The development and progression of the recent outbreak in Minnesota;
• The Board of Animal Health and APHIS roles and responsibilities during an outbreak;
• What producers need to know during an outbreak regarding testing and movement of poultry; and
• Biosecurity in pasture or outdoor settings.

"It is essential for all farmers, whether using a pasture or confinement system, to make their farm as bio-secure as possible,” said Carol Cardona, University of Minnesota veterinarian and Extension specialist. “This workshop will help farmers understand more about what occurred last spring and help them prepare for an outbreak in the future.”

Find more information from the Extension poultry team on pasture production and biosecurity at z.umn.edu/smallfarmspoultry and z.umn.edu/avianinfluenza.