Farm States Resisting Biden Administration’s Bird Flu Response

Farm States Resisting Biden Administration’s Bird Flu Response

I recently reported that the Biden Administration was racing to convince the public not to worry about the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI or “bird flu”) among the nation’s dairy herds, based on the science behind pasteurization.

Legal Insurrection has followed the severe bird flu pandemic since reports of its initial outbreaks on American poultry farms, including its spread to mammals.  We noted that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is now reported in cattle within 36 herds in 9 states.

So far, only one dairy rancher has contracted the virus. In our coverage, we have stressed that the disease has been mild in cows, and the Texas man essentially had a bad case of “pink eye.”

With all of this in mind, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urged farmers, workers, and emergency responders last week to wear appropriate protective gear when in direct or close physical contact with sick birds, livestock, feces, raw milk, or contaminated surfaces. The equipment is coming from state stockpiles.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday it had met with state health officials and asked them to facilitate distribution of protective gear for farm workers to avoid infection against H5N1 bird flu.

The CDC said it asked state health departments to work with their agriculture department counterparts and partners in communities to prioritize the distribution of personal protective equipment from their stockpile to workers on farms where dairy herds have been known to be infected with bird flu.

What exactly is the CDC recommending for farmers? The reports don’t indicate the gear that is being recommended. I would assume protective gloves would be sensible. But farming and ranching is hard work, and donning additional body protection may put farmers and ranchers at risk of heat stress. And after the covid fiasco, masks are likely to be a non-starter. It would be interesting to learn what is being recommended.

Meanwhile, state agricultural officials are already tired of CDC involvement and its bird flu pandemic playbook. The agricultural industry has lost trust in the public health agency.

Many farmers don’t want federal health officials on their property. State agriculture officials worry the federal response is sidelining animal health experts at the Agriculture Department, and also that some potential federal interventions threaten to hinder state and local health officials rushing to respond to the outbreaks.

“It’s overreach. They don’t need to do that. They need to back off,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, a former rodeo cowboy who is a possible pick to lead the USDA if former President Donald Trump wins the presidential election, said in an interview.

Texas, the first state where the bird flu virus was detected, has not invited the CDC to conduct epidemiological field studies there, even though its health department is open to the research, because, “We haven’t found a dairy farm that is interested in participating,” said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Politico asserts this “trust gap” is a red-state vs. blue-state issue. It’s as if the publication has completely forgotten about the destructive pandemic policies foisted on the nation by “experts.”  Politico has essentially granted itself and the CDC a “pandemic amnesty.”

Interestingly, the spread of bird flu is threatening the “cow cuddling business“, which is part of a burgeoning agritourism industry.

For Luz and husband Dan Klotz, such visitors have become key to covering the feed bills and keeping their small farm running.

Paying farmers to snuggle up with half-ton heifers is all the rage in the United States thanks to social media. For visitors, cuddling dairy or beef cattle can be therapeutic, or simply an adventure for city dwellers looking for good old country fun.

… Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director Tim Boring told Reuters, “From a human to animal health standpoint, now is not a good time to cuddle cows. This is to protect the cows and people.”

Any restrictions could pose economic trouble for small family farms that rely on cow-cuddling and other agritourism practices to provide a financial lifeline. Cow cuddling sessions at the De Vor Dairy Farm and Creamery in northern Michigan book up weeks in advance and cover the farm’s insurance bill.

Many officials would prefer to work with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its livestock experts to address the bird flu pandemic impacting our farms and ranches. I think that this is a sensible idea…and the cow’s cuddlers can decide on the risks for themselves.

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