Managing for Profit

Dealing with the threat of avian influenza

Poultry farmers across the Midwest are facing a major threat to their livelihoods in the form of the H5N2 avian influenza virus.

It’s estimated that the highly pathogenic virus has resulted in the deaths of nearly two-million turkeys in six states.  Minnesota has been hardest hit, but the disease has also been found in Iowa, North and South Dakota, Missouri and Arkansas.  An egg laying facility in Wisconsin was also infected.

Katie and Bart Olthoff have a 60,000 bird turkey farm in central Iowa near the town of Stanhope.  Katie Olthoff says they’re doing everything they can to try to keep avian flu out of their flock.  She calls it “a poultry farmer’s worst nightmare”.

AUDIO: Katie Olthoff