Latest news with #MassachusettsDepartmentofAgriculturalResources
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State urges horse owners to vaccinate ahead of peak mosquito season
BOSTON (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is reminding horse owners to vaccinate their animals against Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus before peak mosquito season. A vaccine against Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV) is only approved for horses. The peak mosquito season in Massachusetts begins in late July. Deadly illness spreading rapidly in Massachusetts 'Proper timing of vaccination for your animals can ensure protection throughout the entire mosquito season,' said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. 'EEE and WNV pose serious risks to horses, and infection can lead to death. In 2019, there were eight equine deaths in Massachusetts, all involving unvaccinated horses. In 2024, there were four equine deaths, again in unvaccinated horses. Vaccinating horses is one of the most effective ways to defend against these viruses.' The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) says that while rare, EEE is a serious and potentially deadly disease that can affect people of all ages and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. In 2024, there were four human cases in Worcester, Middlesex, and Plymouth Counties and four animal cases in Plymouth County with EEE, with a total of 97 positive mosquito samples. A total of 18 humans contracted WNV, while 333 mosquito samples tested positive. There were no animal cases of WNV in Massachusetts in 2024. Signs of WNV and EEE in animals: Fever Depression Loss of appetite Weakness Uncoordinated movement Head pressing Circling Convulsions Irritability Blindness Coma Tips to help prevent these mosquito-borne diseases in horses: Talk to your veterinarian about vaccination. Eliminate stagnant or standing water by avoiding water overflow from troughs, reducing run-off and pooling of irrigation water, eliminating accumulated water in flower pots, and removing old tires and other containers in which water can collect. Eliminate piles of decaying organic matter such as leaves, lawn clippings, and manure. Keep animals indoors during peak periods of mosquito activity (dusk and dawn). Keep screens repaired and free of holes. Avoid turning on lights inside barns during the evening and overnight, as mosquitoes are attracted to light. Apply mosquito repellents approved for use in animals. Read the product label before using, and follow all instructions carefully. People are reminded to take precautions to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside, using insect repellent, and limiting outdoor activities between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
60% decline in honeybees sparks worry
SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WWLP) – Hundreds of millions of honey bees across the U.S. are dying off. This is causing concern for pollination and agriculture across the country, including beekeepers here in Massachusetts. Commercial beekeepers are reporting a staggering 60% decrease in their honeybee populations in the past year, from June to February. Bees produce $17 billion in agricultural products every year in the US. But experts say these alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact US agriculture. They say we could see a decrease in foods that rely on pollination, like almonds, watermelon, and berries. It's still unclear what's causing the heavier bee losses. Bill Frazer, Board Director for the Hampden County Beekeepers and a local beekeeper for 14 years in Southwick, says honeybee colonies can collapse due to parasites if not treated appropriately, but he claims this is something much bigger. 'Out of 25 or 26 colonies, I only lost eight, which is on a grand scale,' Frazer says. 'Things are nothing in percentage-wise, but for me it's larger because it's a little tiny bit concerning for me because five of them are unexplained. So I don't know why, and neither do other beekeepers when they have the same situation.' Frazer says he's seen other beekeepers in Massachusetts lose all their honeybees and are starting all over again. He hopes whatever is causing this doesn't extend throughout the year or next winter again. Adding a supplier from Georgia is helping him and other beekeepers rebuild and sustain honey bees for the future, until the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources detects what is causing these losses. Frazer also encourages other beekeepers to share their data on honey bee colony survival and losses through the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Bees Survey. And if you would like to donate towards the education of being a beekeeper and beekeeping click here. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
18-03-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Eggs too pricey? No problem! Just raise backyard chickens, Trump official says.
Yay! The CDC is reporting that the avian flu has already closer to birds, no matter the 'free' eggs (free, if you don't count time, money, and possible plague). Advertisement And yet, bookings at Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up 'People want to take back some control over their food sources,' said Jenn Tompkins, the company's cofounder. A reliable brunch supply is important, of course. And if you talk with chicken people, you quickly grasp that arrangements that start out as merely transactional — I feed you, you feed me — often deepen. Give a person wearing a T-shirt that declares them The pleasure of snuggling with a Speckled Sussex. 'Chicken math,' which holds that once you get one flock, inevitably you'll fall so in love you'll get another and another. And, perhaps their favorite topic: their chickens' sense of humor. I have never shared a laugh with a chicken, I admit. But I am someone with a pet, a goldendoodle with a dry wit. So when I learned how close people get to their birds — naming them, knitting them sweaters, looking forward to seeing them after work — it made me think about how scared I'd be if dogs were at risk. Caylee Kozak stepped into her boots only before entering her backyard. Barry Chin/Globe Staff There have been nine positive cases of bird flu in backyard flocks in Massachusetts since the first case was detected, in March of 2022, according to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, with two of the cases coming this year. The infections are typically due to a backyard flock coming into contact with wild birds that had bird flu, a spokesperson said, and require the flock be destroyed. Advertisement I figured that such worries would be rife in chicken circles, and they are — except for the backyard chicken conspiracy theorists, who think that bird flu is a COVID-like hoax, mounted by the mainstream media or the government or shadowy forces trying to prevent people from being self-sufficient. Or something. Missi Salzberg, the owner of Owners have stopped letting their 'girls' free range. They're covering their coops with dropping-proof tops to protect their flocks from migrating birds. They're not even taking in needy chickens. On the South Shore, Caylee Kozak, a senior communications specialist with the Gemological Institute of America, is so serious about 'biosecurity,' that when her parents recently came to chicken sit, she emphasized — and emphasized again — that they each needed to bring a bird-coop-only pair of boots. Any eggs they collected, she instructed, should go immediately into the refrigerator, spending no time on the counter. She didn't want her cats anywhere near them, she said. Touching surfaces contaminated with animal secretions or excretions is a risk factor for bird flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control's website, which also, thankfully, reports that 'consuming properly prepared and cooked (or pasteurized) products is safe.' Advertisement Bird flu and egg shortages are getting all the attention. But those issues are just the tip of a subculture that can be, according to Tompkins of Rent The Chicken, kind of 'crazy.' Her driver's license identifies her as Jennifer Tompkins, but if you ask her for her name, she'll give it as 'Homestead Jenn Tompkins' — and kind of insist you use the honorific. When I asked Her Homesteadliness how she got the idea for the company, she responded that her husband was 'the visionary.' In the Boston area, $600 at Rent The Chicken gets you two hens for the season (five or six months), a coop, organic feed, tutorials, access to a help line — and about a dozen eggs a week. If you 'chicken out,' Tompkins said, allowing herself a little chicken humor, you can return the birds, no judgment. Conversely, if the experience is good, you can also name the birds and rent the same ones next year — or you could buy the flock! Meanwhile, in the popular imagination, and indeed in reality, one of a chicken's most defining characteristics is squawking. But that's not the whole story, said David Herlihy, a lawyer from Newton who, along with his wife and many others, got chickens during the pandemic. 'There's something very zen about it,' he said. Caylee Kozak in her backyard with her partner, Jory Block, at right, and their 5 Dominique hens. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Beth Teitell can be reached at
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
March declared 'Massachusetts Maple Month'
WARREN, Mass. (WWLP) – Kicking off the beginning of the agricultural season, Governor Maura Healey has declared March as Massachusetts Maple Month. Governor Healey, along with state and local officials and Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Deputy Commissioner Winton Pitcoff visited Deer Meadow Farm in Warren on Friday to promote Massachusetts' maple industry and support locally-made products during this special time of year. What March has in store for temperatures in Massachusetts 'We are proud to tap into the sweetest of traditions in Massachusetts and support the hardworking farmers who bring us the maple syrup we love,' Healey said. 'By choosing local syrup, you're not just savoring a delicious treat, you're investing in the future of sustainable farming and strengthening the community that makes it all possible.' Massachusetts is among the top states in the country for maple production and is home to over 300 maple producers that make over 70,000 gallons annually. MDAR has awarded over $700,000 in Climate Smart Agricultural Program grants to 35 maple producers throughout the state since 2018. To celebrate Massachusetts Maple Month, Maple Weekend will be held on March 8 and 9 at sugarhouses across the state. Tours will be available to the public so that residents can learn about the maple production process and the history of maple sugaring. Best of all, visitors will be able to sample various maple products, and select locations will even host pancake breakfasts. 'Maple sugaring is a time-honored tradition in Massachusetts, with producers having honed their craft in sugarmaking over generations,' said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. 'As with other sectors of agriculture, many of our maple producers are multi-generational, family-oriented businesses that have stood the test of time. MDAR is proud to continue its support through our CSAP Grants, which make them one of the state's most environmentally friendly sectors of agriculture, as well as one of the most delicious!' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
30-01-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Bird flu is now considered 'widespread' in Massachusetts as outbreaks spread, officials warn
Bird flu is now considered 'widespread' in Massachusetts as outbreaks spread, officials warn Show Caption Hide Caption Human risk of contracting bird flu is very low, says the CDC Those most at risk of contracting bird flu are people in close contact with infected animals, such as dairy or poultry workers. Bird flu is now believed to be widespread in Massachusetts and is likely present even in places where there has not been a confirmed positive, state environmental and health officials said Wednesday. The Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Wednesday that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) – more commonly known as bird flu – is suspected to be the cause of death in cases of both wild and domestic birds in several Massachusetts municipalities. The agencies are advising the public to "refrain from handling birds or other animals that are dead or appear sick" and to report suspected cases. "State officials are working with partners to test suspected cases and collaborating with municipalities to safely dispose of dead birds," the agencies said in a news release Wednesday. Officials said that while both wild and domesticated birds can become infected with HPAI, raptors (birds of prey), waterfowl and other aquatic birds are most at risk for infection, although any bird species should be considered susceptible. "Birds may be infected with HPAI without showing any signs of illness," said the news release. "Wild mammals, especially those that scavenge on birds, such as foxes, can also become infected." Officials also said that Massachusetts has had recurring incidents of HPAI since early 2022. In this particular case, an outbreak of HPAI is suspected of causing the death of Canada geese, swans, and other birds in Plymouth. "Preliminary positive cases are being reported at other locations across the state," officials said in the news release. Tips for the public to deal with bird flu According to officials, while humans are rarely infected with avian influenza viruses, people who have direct contact with animals infected with HPAI are the most at risk. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports no known incidences of person-to-person spread and continues to categorize the risk to public health as low. Massachusetts officials offered tips to reduce infection risk for the general public, including: Avoid handling birds and other wildlife: The public should strictly avoid handling wildlife, especially sick or dead birds or other animals. The public should strictly avoid handling wildlife, especially sick or dead birds or other animals. Keep pets safe: Dogs and other pets should always be leashed and away from wildlife. Cats are highly susceptible to HPAI and may die from an infection. Cat owners in affected areas should keep their pets indoors to prevent exposure to infected wildlife. Dogs and other pets should always be leashed and away from wildlife. Cats are highly susceptible to HPAI and may die from an infection. Cat owners in affected areas should keep their pets indoors to prevent exposure to infected wildlife. Hunting: While eating wild game meat is generally considered safe, licensed hunters can minimize the risk of wildlife diseases by following best practices when handling and processing game. People with questions about the public health impact of HPAI can visit the Department of Public Health's Avian Influenza webpage or call the Division of Epidemiology at 617-983-6800. Bird flu detected in other states A bird flu outbreak was also discovered in California on Wednesday. The newly reported H5N9 strain was found Monday at a duck farm in Merced County, California, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. The Paris-based organization that studies animal diseases said it's the first verified U.S. case of H5N9 in poultry. The organization said the more common strain H5N1 was also found. Additionally, a Long Island farm reportedly euthanized more than 100,000 ducks after a bird flu outbreak hit the eastern New York facility last week. Crescent Duck Farm President Doug Corwin told local station WABC-TV that the mass euthanasia was particularly devastating as Long Island used to be known for its extensive duck farming industry and the business is the largest major commercial duck farm in Suffolk County. The Georgia Department of Agriculture, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, also confirmed a positive case of bird flu in a commercial poultry operation located in Elbert County, Georgia on Jan. 17. Officials issued a quarantine of all commercial poultry operations within a 6.2-mile radius of the facility and surveillance testing will be conducted for at least two weeks. All in-state poultry exhibitions, shows, swaps, meets and sales are suspended until further notice, the department said. "This is a serious threat to Georgia's #1 industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Georgians who make their living in our state's poultry industry," Tyler Harper, state agriculture commissioner, said in a statement at the time. "We are working around the clock to mitigate any further spread of the disease and ensure that normal poultry activities in Georgia can resume as quickly as possible." Contributing: Mike Snider, Anthony Robledo & Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
