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Economic toll in Minnesota from avian flu

The numbers are staggering for the nation’s number one turkey producing state.  Of the 450 growers in Minnesota, more than 80 farms have been struck by avian influenza.

Steve Olson, executive director of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, tells Brownfield it’s hard to gauge the economic impact.

“If you look at the number of birds that have died just because of the virus and the financial loss that growers take, because they don’t get reimbursed for those.  We’re 20 to 25 million dollars just in that piece of it.”

Then there is the downtime for the affected farms.

“That’s what is a little bit tougher to get a handle on.  Most of these farms will raise three flocks a year.  This year they’re going to be raising under a best-case scenario about one and a half flocks.”

Olson says lawmakers have been very attentive to the potential needs of impacted growers.

“Some of the things we’re talking about are dealing with the birds that they’ve lost money on because of the virus are not eligible for indemnification.  But we’re also looking forward saying ok, we need to make some improvements to our biosecurity system because this virus is different than anything we’ve seen before it and normal biosecurity is not working.”

Low interest loans or cost share dollars are possible ways to fund assistance according to Olson.