Farm Progress America, Dec. 27, 2024

Mike Pearson tells listeners how highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has emerged as a nationwide challenge for the food chain

HPAI is impacting dairy and poultry producers alike.

Milk production in California has seen a 3.5 percent drop-- the steepest monthly decline in years.

Over 500 herds have been diagnosed in the state of California. This has meant an increase in culling and higher production costs due to tighter biosecurity measures taken against the virus.

This has also meant dairy supplies tightening across the country.

The virus isn't just impacting the dairy sector, the poultry industry is also feeling it.

In California, 31 commercial flocks have been impacted.

Bill Mattos, California Poultry Federation President, says the situation is really scary-- and it's placing financial strains on two industries who are already navigating a tight profit margin.

It has been described as one of the most severest outbreaks in history with 60 million birds culled in 2024.

And the Midwest has also been hit hard. Iowa has suffered a s substantial loss in egg laying flocks.

The USDA reports egg production is down 8 percent from 2023 across the country.

And consumers are feeling the pinch. Some grocery stores reported $7 per dozen for eggs -- due to the high demand for the holidays and HPAI.

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Industry groups and the USDA are working to contain the outbreaks in the dairy business.

Many industry groups are calling for vaccination to mitigate future outbreaks.

One thing is clear is that HPAI is not only impacting producers across the USDA but consumers as well. impacts

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness .