Resources for member businesses on enhanced biosecurity at livestock farms

Updated April 19 with additional fact sheets.
The Michigan Agri-Business Association is reminding member companies to focus on awareness, communication and collaboration as Michigan agriculture works to prevent the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The following information includes a summary of the situation and action steps for rural businesses in Michigan.

Fact sheets for employee communication and other resources for use by member companies appear at the bottom of this page.

Issue Summary

• The detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle is a significant and troubling development as the agricultural industry guards against the spread of this disease.
  
  
• The Michigan Agri-Business Association advises businesses calling on Michigan farms – for example, those in the feed, agronomy and transportation fields – to stay up-to-date on this issue and be aware of new biosecurity measures being implemented on farms.
  
  
• We encourage communication and collaboration with customers to ensure biosecurity measures are followed.

Background

For several years, HPAI has posed a major threat to U.S. poultry farms. Identification of the disease on a poultry farm results in the depopulation of the farm.

Poultry farms in Michigan and across America have operated under highly enhanced biosecurity protocols for many years.

Unfortunately, the identification of HPAI in U.S. dairy cattle in recent weeks, including in Michigan, has opened a new chapter in the effort to contain its spread.

While the disease is not fatal to cattle in the way it is for poultry, this is a substantial new challenge for agriculture. In addition to negative economic impact on affected dairy farms, there is overall concern about new vectors of transmission, and the continued major impact of HPAI on the poultry industry.

Dairy farmers in Michigan are taking new steps to enhance biosecurity on their farms. Measures you may encounter could include tire and truck wash stations, boot sanitation, new limits on interacting with employees and farm facilities, etc.

A briefing on the actions the national dairy industry has sent to dairy farmers can be viewed here.

While HPAI remains a top-priority animal health challenge, the consumer milk supply remains safe because products are pasteurized before entering the market, per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

MABA Member Actions

You can play an important role as the livestock industry continues to enact biosecurity measures. We encourage those visiting farms to focus on awareness, communication, and collaboration:

• Up-to-date awareness of this evolving issue is key. Take a moment to review HPAI developments, especially the increased focus on dairy cattle infections. A briefing page on this issue from USDA-APHIS is here. In Michigan, MABA continues to send out developments to members at the top of the AgFacts newsletter. Additional resource pages are at the end of this page.

• Proactive communication with customers is important. Calling ahead goes a long way. In recent days MABA has heard appreciation from farmers about feed and ag retail businesses reaching out to ask about any existing or new biosecurity measures they may have put in place.

• Follow posted biosecurity measures. Visitors to Michigan farms must be aware and follow biosecurity measures established by the farm. While the poultry industry has operated under enhanced protocols for some time, we anticipate substantial new efforts by dairy farms with the recent identification of HPAI in dairy cattle. You may encounter new protocols that were not previously in place. It is always important to wear clean clothing and footwear, and maintain clean equipment in addition to any farm-specific protocols.

You may be visiting farmland that is far from livestock, but operated by a livestock business. It is still a good idea to communicate proactively in these circumstances!

Additional Resources

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock (APHIS)

State of Michigan HPAI Page (MDARD)

Dairy Resources from the National Milk Producers Federation