Vilsack Asking Everyone To Prevent The Spread Of Bird Flu

With high pathogenic avian influenza showing up now in commercial and backyard flocks in at least 24 states, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is telling the farming community nationwide, "It is imperative that farmers tighten up their facilities, and it's imperative that they are very very conscious of all this.   In fact, it's also true for us at USDA."

Vilsack said the USDA has a strong presence in rural areas and its employees often visited farms for various reasons, and so, "...I've asked my staff sent out a message to folks to think about the travel that they have, and if possible then we try to prevent any innocent transmission of this by our folk's traipsing through."

And USDA has just sent out that message to its field employees asking them, among other things, not to visit a poultry operation at all unless it's absolutely necessary. Also that they visit only one farm, one plant or feed mill per day and follow all bio-security protocols after each visit.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail gvaagen@cherrycreekmedia.com