REAMSTOWN, Pa. — Specialty poultry farmers raised their questions and frustrations with state officials April 11, a month into an avian influenza quarantine of their operations.
The several dozen farmers raise ducks and other fowl for live bird markets in New York City and other Northeast metros. The two-hour meeting at Reamstown Fire Co. was intended to improve communication between farmers and officials.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza is generally fatal to chickens, though it may be less so for ducks. Some farmers questioned why an entire flock needs to be killed if some birds survive.
Even if they stop appearing sick, living birds that have been infected will continue to shed virus particles that can get into the environment and spread to other farms.
“They had millions of virus particles in their secretions, and they were putting the rest of your neighbors in serious jeopardy for disease,” said David Wolfgang, the temporary assistant state veterinarian.
Lingering avian influenza also threatens Pennsylvania’s ability to ship birds to other states and countries, and increases the risk — thought to be low — of the disease jumping to people.
All poultry are susceptible to avian influenza, so biosecurity practices, such as changing footwear before entering the bird area, are farmers’ best shot at stopping the disease.
One conscientious farmer who neighbors Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area has kept his flock safe throughout the past year’s outbreak, despite having so many wild birds nearby that he sees their droppings on his barn roof, said Gregory Martin, a Penn State Extension educator.
The farmer has separate clothes and footwear for each of his three houses. On Martin’s recommendation, he has even foregone mowing near the houses so he doesn’t kick up potentially contaminated dust.
Still, an element of chance is involved. Another farmer Martin worked with had good biosecurity but got avian influenza anyway, possibly through wind-blown dust.
“Scripture says that sometimes rain falls on the bad people and the good people alike,” Martin said. “Sometimes that's just the way it happens.”
The farmers were frustrated by the small indemnities USDA paid on birds killed at the infected farms.
A Khaki Campbell duck costs the farmer $1.20 as a day-old duckling, and the farmer can sell the finished bird for about $7. USDA’s indemnity was 90 cents.
“It’s an insult,” one farmer said.
The indemnities are intended to keep farmers afloat until they can restock, not make them whole. But because the payments are based on market data that stretch back years or decades, they aren’t ideal for Lancaster County’s small-scale duck farms either.
“Ten years ago, ducks were not worth as much as they are now, so we certainly encourage you to appeal” USDA’s valuation, Wolfgang said.
It’s tricky to price specialty birds that don’t move through public auctions. But attendees had some ideas, such as consulting licensed live haulers. USDA spokeswoman Romana Buyo said she could forward the suggestions to her supervisors.
Pennsylvania also has a $25 million fund to compensate farmers for losses related to the outbreak. The application is a single page, said Greg Hostetter, the executive deputy ag secretary.
For both the USDA and state programs, farmers should make sure they are keeping track of sales data and bird numbers on the farm, Martin said.
Farmers also questioned about the reliability of the PCR tests used for identifying avian influenza.
A USDA lab in Iowa repeats the test after the state finds a non-negative result (lab jargon for a positive). The protocol is required for international trade and is not a sign of skepticism about the tests.
“It’s fast, and it’s very, very, very accurate and consistent,” Wolfgang said.
Because the virus is shed by wild birds, avian influenza poses a particular challenge to pastured poultry operations.
The state has encouraged, but not required, poultry owners to keep their birds under cover, or at least prevent wild birds from accessing their feed and water.
Farmers could reduce their risk by using a movable, covered shelter called a tractor, along with netting. For rotational grazing, game bird producers use a central shelter and move the netting in a circle around the house like a wagon spoke, Martin said.
In mid-March, Pennsylvania began requiring regular testing on 207 live bird market supplier farms in northeastern and southeastern Lancaster County, as well as adjoining parts of Chester County. Birds, eggs and equipment cannot leave the premises without testing.
State Veterinarian Kevin Brightbill said farmers had been trying to manage sick birds without reporting them to the state — heightening the risk that avian influenza could spread.
As many as 21 live market supplier farms were infected in Lancaster and Chester counties from Feb. 1 to March 17. The state has not had a new case since then.
Pennsylvania lost nearly 300,000 birds in that span, not all on the live-market farms.
Farms that supply live markets typically have a few thousand birds, making them smaller than the turkey, broiler or egg farms that supply large companies.
Live-market farms specialize in varieties, such as the Khaki Campbell, that are uncommon in grocery stores and are associated with various ethnic cuisines.
The end of the quarantine could be approaching. The last farm completed initial cleanup steps on April 4, and at least 14 days must pass without additional detections.
