News

Walz lifts trucking restrictions in response to avian influenza

Minnesota is taking steps to limit the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Governor Walz signed an executive order Wednesday that temporarily removes certain truck weight restrictions.

He says the move will assist in depopulation efforts, transporting uninfected animals to processing facilities, and maintaining adequate supplies to support healthy flocks.

Walz says the waivers will also help prevent the spread of the virus between flocks by reducing the number of trips that trucks need to make to farm sites.

Nearly 20 cases of high-path AI have been reported in the state since the beginning of September.

Minnesota leads the nation in turkey production, with more than 660 turkey farms and 40 million birds annually.