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WingTips | eNewsletter for MTGA Members |
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Bend, Don't Break |
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Learn about the work being done to help farmers and others in agriculture through difficult times. MN Farm Stress |
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In this Issue: |
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Advertise with MTGA! Looking to amplify your voice? Advertise with MTGA! Options in the bi-monthly printed magazine, Gobbles, and bi-weekly e-newsletter, WingTips. Contact Peter Scharpe for details at pscharpe@minnesotaturkey.com or 763-682-2171. |
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Classifieds |
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Worth The Read |
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Is Turkey on Your Menu? |
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An easy, one pot recipe that features ground turkey, spinach and penne pasta. |
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Focus on Ag |
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This column features timely information on crop and livestock production, farm management and marketing, ag policy, renewable energy, and other timely ag topics. The column is written by Kent Thiesse, Farm Management Analyst.
Column for: November January 15, 2024 |
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Turkey Market Reports: January 19, 2024 |
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Calendar |
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USDA Audit Tool Listening Session Date: January 30th, 12:00pm (noon)
Date: February 8th, 12:00pm(noon)-1:00pm
NTF 2024 Annual Convention Date: February 21-24 Location: Austin, Texas
Poultry Day at the Capitol Date: March 12th Location: St. Paul
PEAK Date: April 17-19 Location: Minneapolis |
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Now is the time to review biosecurity plans, refresh biosecurity training, and take other necessary preparations to protect your flock(s)! The below websites have an abundance of HPAI resources available to the industry. Looking for additional information on HPAI? Contact MTGA staff at info@minnesotaturkey.com or 763-682-2171. |
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We are here to help! 763-682-2171
Ashley Kohls Executive Director
Peter Scharpe Program Director
Jodi Ronnie Business Director
Brandon Severns Outreach & Member Services Coordinator |
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USDA APHIS Policy Changes Related to HPAI Biosecurity Audits |
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USDA APHIS has informed poultry industry stakeholders that they will be moving forward with changes to their indemnity process and formalize a revised version of the biosecurity audit tool that is currently used for placement in the buffer zone to be used in audits prior to restocking after HPAI incidences. USDA has indicated an interest in revising its indemnity process previously, but the spike in cases last fall and the number of repeat cases have expedited its focus on this objective.
Here, you will find the updated draft biosecurity audit tool recently released for review and comments. APHIS is requesting that industry submit feedback by Friday, February 9, 2024. MTGA is part of a larger effort to gather comments from the membership to submit comprehensive feedback to the agency. Multiple MTGA members are part of a specific NTF working group to talk through the technical aspects of the audit tool in detail.
To make this effort more robust, we would greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide from your experiences with this audit tool during HPAI events that have taken place on your farm. Please feel free to share this with family, neighbors, and colleagues.
MTGA will host a zoom listening session with Dr. Michelle Kromm on Tuesday January 30, 2024 at 12:00pm (noon) to discuss the audit tool and USDA's proposed changes. Register for this session here.
Following the Feb. 9 deadline, APHIS will review the comments submitted by the poultry industry and revise the biosecurity audit tool draft to ensure the feasibility of implementation. Their timeline for updating the draft biosecurity audit tool is still vague and dependent on the number of comments and complexity of updates. APHIS then plans to move forward with an interim final rule. This will likely take several months, but they have previously indicated that their goal is to have the new policy in place by the fall migration in 2024.
Many of the details related to the proposal remain unclear, but communication with key leaders in D.C. has highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach provided through the rulemaking process that allows for industry to provide feedback on the audit tool to ensure biosecurity objectives are achievable, specific, measurable and highly likely to reduce the incidence of HPAI introduction to commercial turkey premises. It is important that USDA continues to recognize quick response is imperative to reducing the spread of the virus; there is no desire among the industry to make changes to the indemnity process that impact reporting and depopulation.
Again – if you have experience with this audit tool on your farm previously, please let us know, Ashley Kohls, akohls@minnesotaturkey.com, 612-618-6619, so we can discuss the process and the new proposed tool. |
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HPAI Update Webinar, USDA Biosecurity Assessments and Vaccine Research |
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It seems winter has finally arrived in Minnesota and, with it, a hopeful break from HPAI cases. This does not mean the industry slips into complacency. MTGA is continuing with HPAI Update Webinars to keep our members informed on the latest HPAI prevention tools, research, and status.
On Thursday, February 8 at 12:00 pm (noon), please join us via zoom.
Starting off the discussion will be Jason Gilsdorf with USDA Wildlife Services (USDA-WS). The USDA has developed a Wildlife Biosecurity Audit program designed to help growers identify potential gaps in their biosecurity and asses wild bird populations on their premises. Now that several assessments have been conducted and completed, Jason will discuss how the process works and what they have seen on farms. He'll provide examples of common issues that growers might be overlooking on their own sites and could address now. Jason will also address potential actions that USDA-WS can take to reduce wild bird numbers on your farm.
Following that conversation, Dr. David Suarez with the USDA Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory will talk about HPAI vaccine research currently being conducted.
Closing out the conversation, Dr. Shauna Voss with the Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) will give an update on the status of HPAI in the state. She will also provide additional relevant information from the BAH and the work they do.
Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed and engaged. Register here for this webinar. |
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USDA Winter Weather Preparedness & Recovery |
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Minnesotans are no strangers to sever winter weather. Extreme cold, ice, or heavy snowfall all adds challenges to farming in the Midwest, particularly for livestock producers. Unfortunately, these conditions can sometimes lead to losses, even catastrophic losses, for producers.
As producers across the state manage the winter weather, the USDA wants to remind everyone of the tools available to help with recovery should the worst occur.
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Connect with MTGA |
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Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, 108 Marty Drive, Suite 1, Buffalo, MN 55313 |