Latest news with #ArizonaDepartmentofAgriculture
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
One of the nation's largest egg producers has lost 95% of its chickens to bird flu. It could spell price hikes
Arizona's largest egg producer has lost 95 percent of its chickens due to the bird flu, signaling a potential price increase for eggs. On Monday, the Arizona Department of Agriculture announced a third commercial farm had tested positive for bird flu in Maricopa County. At the same time, Hickman's Egg Ranch, which is Arizona's largest egg producer and one of the nation's top 20 producers, has had to destroy the chickens at three of its four farms due to the bird flu. "All of our layer flocks have been on the west side of town, have been determined to be positive. We're in the act of depopulating those farms and removing the chickens and trying to start the cleanup process," Glenn Hickman, the president and CEO of Hickman's Egg Ranch, told Fox 10 Phoenix. Hickman expressed his frustration at the three-year-long flu forcing him to destroy egg-laying chickens. "You know, since this outbreak started in February of 2022, we've lost 170 million birds and that's just got to stop," he said. According to Hickman, it will take 20 months to fully repopulate his farms. The company is trying to get by in the meantime with help from other farms. "Thankfully, we have some other farmers that we are cooperative with, and some of those have had some extra eggs. So we've been able to kind of reshift and reprioritize where those eggs are going," he said. While egg prices have been lowering around the country since they spiked earlier this year, a supply chain expert told Fox 10 Phoenix that there is a chance that egg prices in Arizona will increase. "Hickman's supplies about 80 percent of Arizona's egg production. You are reducing about 80 percent of Arizona's supply chain from about 2.2 billion to 450 million eggs," Hitendra Chaturvedi, an Arizona State University Professor of Practice for the department of supply chain management told the broadcaster. Hickman disagreed, and said the impact of losing his chickens on the market will be "pretty nominal." Arizona's egg struggles are playing out as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is singing President Donald Trump's praises for a reduction in egg prices. She blamed the spike in egg prices on former President Joe Biden's administration. "I remember my very first briefing, I was asked about the cost of eggs, the reporter tried to insinuate this administration was at fault, even though he had only been here for a few days or weeks," Leavitt said. "It was a result of the previous administration's terrible polices and in record time, this president has fixed that problem he inherited from Joe Biden, and prices have dropped 61 percent since this president took office." According to Trading Economics data, white, large shell eggs are around $2.52 per dozen nationally. On January 21, the same carton would have cost approximately $6.49, nationally. According to analysts at Clarify Capital, the price drop is partially a result of Americans buying fewer eggs due to their spike in prices — thus creating more supply — and a lull in new bird flu cases. Reuters also reported in April that the U.S. has increased its egg imports from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea to help bolster supply and bring down prices. Since the outbreak began in 2022, the bird flu has affects more than 166 million birds, including 127 million egg laying birds.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu detected at Maricopa County commercial farm: AZDA
The Brief Another case of avian influenza (bird flu) has been detected in Arizona. This time, it involves poultry at a commercial farm in Maricopa County. PHOENIX - Officials with the Arizona Department of Agriculture said there is another case of avian influenza that has been detected within the state. What we know Per a statement released on the afternoon of May 20, poultry at a Maricopa County commercial farm tested positive for the virus. "When the poultry began showing clinical signs consistent with avian influenza on May 15, 2025, samples from the location were submitted to the Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Lab (AZVDL) for preliminary determination, then submitted to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) for confirmation, received on May 19," read a portion of the statement. State agricultural officials said eggs produced after the "onset of clinical signs of illness" did not enter the food supply. In addition, there have been no signs of illness in humans. What they're saying "The affected poultry farm has been placed under quarantine on the recommendation of the Director of the AZDA and the AZDA State Veterinarian," read a portion of AZDA's statement. "Enhanced biosecurity measures are in place and efforts are underway to perform virus elimination. All applicable sanitation responses have been quickly implemented. Our dedicated and experienced team continues to monitor the situation closely to ensure consumer protection is always maintained." What we don't know AZDA officials did not identify the farm where the affected poultry was located. This is not the first time bird flu has been detected in Maricopa County and other surrounding areas. Dig deeper In 2024, there were at least five incidents involving bird flu. On Nov. 15, Arizona Department of Agriculture officials said poultry at a commercial farm in Pinal County tested positive for bird flu. Weeks later, on Nov. 25, state health and agriculture officials say a backyard flock within Maricopa County tested positive for the virus. On Dec. 6, state health officials said two people who were "exposed to infected poultry while working at a commercial facility in Pinal County" tested positive for bird flu. On Dec. 11, Maricopa County health officials say bird flulikely led to the deathsof five animals at Wildlife World Zoo, and on Dec. 30, we reported that according to Maricopa County health officials, "an influenza subtype associated with avian flu" was found in wastewater within the county. In 2025, the virus was found in milk produced by a cattle herd in Maricoipa County. Officials at the time, however, said, the virus genotype found in the milk "bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans." What you can do AZDA officials said anyone who sees signs of illness in their poultry should report them to the United States Department of Agriculture by calling the Sick Bird Hotline at 1-866-536-7593. People can call the Arizona Game and Fish Department for illnesses involving wild birds.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu detected in Arizona milk; how worried should you be?
Avian influenza has been detected in milk from a dairy herd in Maricopa County for the first time since the latest outbreak, according to the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Bird flu is a highly pathogenic viral infection that mainly affects birds but can sometimes be transmitted to humans. Bird flu spreads through contact with the virus, such as inhaling droplets from infected saliva. It can also be transmitted through blood, feces, and other bodily fluids from an infected animal. People who work closely with birds or domestic animals are at the highest risk of contracting the virus. In addition to humans, the virus can infect various mammals, including cows, cats and dogs. Human cases of bird flu are almost always contracted from contact with infected animals; it's considered incredibly rare for human to human transmission to occur. What to know: Bird flu is reaching Arizona The risk to the general public remains very low, but it's important to stay updated on the news as federal and local agencies nationwide are closely monitoring the situation. On Feb. 11, the department confirmed the presence of the H5N1 D1.1 strain of avian influenza in a single herd. The facility is now under quarantine. Unlike other cases reported in neighboring states like Nevada, the cattle affected by the D1.1 strain have not shown any signs of illness so far. Since January, every dairy herd in Arizona has undergone at least one test under the National Milk Testing Strategy, which launched that month with a focus on bulk testing. The U.S. Department of Agriculture developed this strategy late last year in response to the heightened risk of bird flu contaminating consumer milk. The Arizona Department of Agriculture emphasized that the D1.1 genotype 'bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans.' As a precaution, some cattle in Maricopa County will be isolated from the main herd linked to the contaminated milk. Only a sample from this herd has so far tested positive for bird flu, out of all in Arizona. The risk to the general public remains low although individuals in close contact with dairy cattle may now be at increased risk, the department said. Concerns over trade wars: Kelly warns about Trump tariffs after tour of Arizona dairy facility This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Bird flu detected in Arizona milk; how worried should you be?
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu found in Arizona dairy cattle milk after being first detected in neighboring Nevada
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) recently confirmed the first bird flu genotype D1.1 detection in milk from a dairy herd in Maricopa County. As a protective measure, the dairy farm is under quarantine, according to a statement from the AZDA. Although the cattle are asymptomatic, testing confirmed the diagnosis. Bird Flu Uptick In Us Has Cdc On Alert For Pandemic 'Red Flags': Report "Every dairy in Arizona has been tested at least once since January. Thus far, only a sample from this dairy has tested positive," officials said. "Milk and other dairy products that have been pasteurized are safe to consume." The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) first confirmed the virus, genotype D1.1, was found in Nevada dairy cattle Jan. 31. Read On The Fox News App Bird Flu Patient Had Virus Mutations, Sparking Concern Of Human Spread All previous detections in dairy cattle were a different genotype, B3.13. Genotype D1.1 represents the predominant genotype in the North American flyways over the fall and winter and has been identified in wild birds, mammals and spillovers into domestic poultry, according to APHIS. The AZDA said the genotype "bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans," according to the statement. However, the new bird flu strain, D1.1, has been reported in more than a dozen humans exposed to infected poultry. The CDC noted on its website that bird flu's risk to the public remains low. FOX 10 Phoenix contributed to this article source: Bird flu found in Arizona dairy cattle milk after being first detected in neighboring Nevada
Fox News
15-02-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Bird flu found in Arizona dairy cattle milk after being first detected in neighboring Nevada
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) recently confirmed the first bird flu genotype D1.1 detection in milk from a dairy herd in Maricopa County. As a protective measure, the dairy farm is under quarantine, according to a statement from the AZDA. Although the cattle are asymptomatic, testing confirmed the diagnosis. "Every dairy in Arizona has been tested at least once since January. Thus far, only a sample from this dairy has tested positive," officials said. "Milk and other dairy products that have been pasteurized are safe to consume." The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) first confirmed the virus, genotype D1.1, was found in Nevada dairy cattle Jan. 31. All previous detections in dairy cattle were a different genotype, B3.13. Genotype D1.1 represents the predominant genotype in the North American flyways over the fall and winter and has been identified in wild birds, mammals and spillovers into domestic poultry, according to APHIS. The AZDA said the genotype "bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans," according to the statement. However, the new bird flu strain, D1.1, has been reported in more than a dozen humans exposed to infected poultry. The CDC noted on its website that bird flu's risk to the public remains low.
