Latest news with #NationalPoultryImprovementPlan
USA Today
20-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
Thousands of chicks left in USPS truck for days sparks rescue mission by Delaware shelter
Thousands of chicks left in USPS truck for days sparks rescue mission by Delaware shelter The postal service did not immediately respond to requests for comment but said on its website that the agency transports thousands of chicks each year. A central Delaware animal shelter has spent the past two weeks rehabilitating and finding homes for over 8,000 chicks that were stranded in a U.S. Postal Service truck for 3 ½ days. The birds were shipped from a south-central Pennsylvania hatchery. The First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden shared the news on social media, documenting the shelter's attempts to care for them and place them in homes. The postal service did not immediately respond to requests for comment on May 20, but previously said on its website that the agency transports thousands of chicks 'seamlessly every year.' While the animal shelter initially estimated that there were between 3,000 and 5,000 quail, geese, and chicks left in the postal service truck with no food, water, or temperature control, there turned out to be over 10,000 of the birds. 'First State Animal Center took delivery directly from the postal service,' the shelter wrote, later adding that it worked with the Delaware Department of Agriculture to sort and care for the animals. The Delaware Department of Agriculture shared news of the dilemma on May 9 and said about 4,000 birds that were dead upon arrival. Where are the surviving chicks? Shelter employees said there was an 'amazing' number of survivors. Workers cared for the birds around the clock with heat, food, water, and survival care, the shelter said. The shelter asked for donations to pay for the birds' care. Adoptions began on May 13. USA TODAY has reached out to the shelter to obtain more information on the adoptions. Three days after the shelter took the birds in, they shared that nearly half of the birds were in stable but cautious condition, then on May 13, the birds were available for adoption in batches ranging from 5 to 100. The Delaware Department of Agriculture said the shipment was headed to multiple states in the U.S. but became 'misdirected' and ended up in Delaware. More news: Fire damages Matunuck Oyster Bar, one of USA TODAY's best places to eat in U.S. 'Don't know how they ended up where they did': Questions remain over incident According to the department, the Freedom Ranger Hatchery in south-central Pennsylvania is certified with the National Poultry Improvement Plan, which was created to decrease the spread of diseases in the poultry industry. USA TODAY reached out to the Freedom Ranger Hatchery and they released the following statement: "This shipment was part of a routine shipment that never reached it's intended destination due to USPS error. This loss has compounding effects with the many small family farms across America that were counting on these birds for their summer grow out schedules. We have not gotten any clear answers from the post office about this situation. We are unsure if we will receive any compensation for the loss." The hatchery ships birds to backyard growers and companies who use them for egg or meat production, said Stephen Horst, owner of Fifth Day Farm, which is under the same ownership of the hatchery. The family company has multiple hatcheries, he said. The company also ships guinea fowl, which are used for tick control, and they ship all over the U.S., Horst told USA TODAY on May 20. Regarding the orphaned birds, the Delaware Department of Agriculture said as many as 2,000 of the birds were supposed to be sent to Spokane, Washington. The birds were first sent out around April 29, Horst said. They are typically delivered within two days. 'I don't know how they ended up where they did, but I do know that we're asking questions too,' he told USA TODAY. He added that since the incident, the company has shipped birds with no issues. How were they able to survive? According to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, someone from the postal service's Delaware Processing and Distribution Center called the department on May 2 about 'an undeliverable box of baby birds.' The Department of Agriculture's Poultry and Animal Health got involved, and the agency helped transfer the orphaned chicks to the First State Animal Center and SPCA in Camden. Horst, one of the hatchery owners, said the hatchery sometimes works with agencies outside of the postal service to ship birds, such as UPS and FedEx. For larger orders, they sometimes work with airlines such as Delta, American, and Alaska. He said companies like Freedom Ranger Hatchery often face criticism from those who say it's inhumane to ship the birds, but the birds are actually equipped to survive for three days, he said. Issues with shipping led to chicks being abandoned When chicks develop, the yolk is the last to form. It's in their abdomen and acts as an energy source. He said the shipment misdirection is 'disappointing,' but more often than not, the system works. When asked, Horst said he can't recall the hatchery having an issue like this before, where birds are misdirected and left in a truck for days. 'When the shipping system fails, which it does sometimes, that's unfortunate,' he said. 'But overall, we have really good success shipping them.' Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas extends health care access with new legislation
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) — To address the shortage of health care providers and enhance access to care, especially in rural areas, Governor Laura Kelly has signed Senate Bill 67. The new legislation expands certified registered nurse anesthetists' roles by allowing them to prescribe medications and equipment, improving care access and reducing patient wait times, particularly in underserved areas. Sheriff: Kansas highway detour being ignored; drivers stuck 'We are expanding opportunities for both providers and patients,' Kelly said in a news release. 'This legislation will help address our health care workforce shortage and increase access to care.' The bill empowers 'providers to treat patients across the state in a timely and appropriate manner, which is a win for all,' Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said. Senate Bill 67 was among several bipartisan measures signed into law this week aimed at enhancing the state's health care infrastructure, lawmakers say. House Bill 2152: Kansas is changing its public funds investment strategy to encourage deposits in local financial institutions. The effort aims to boost economic activity, support local communities, and provide Kansans with more capital for home and business investments. Senate Bill 97: Clarifies that vehicle dealers must apply for a dealer inventory-only title for certain used non-highway vehicles. Senate Bill 89: The Kansas Department of Agriculture can charge a fee to poultry producers who voluntarily participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, which aims to eliminate diseases in the poultry industry. House Bill 2359: Simplifies interstate recognition of guardianship orders and increases opportunities for individuals subject to guardianship or conservatorship to be involved in decision-making. House Bill 2338: Authorizes the board of cosmetology to issue temporary permits for guest artists. House Bill 2307: Transfers the prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas gov. approves seven new laws Friday
TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Kansas Governor has approved of several bills this week which are destined to become new laws this year. Governor Laura Kelly announced in a press release on Friday, April 4 that she has signed off on seven additional bills this week that will become new laws. These include the following: Substitute for Senate Bill 67 – authorizes certified registered nurse anesthetists to prescribe, procure and administer drugs consistent with registered nurse anesthetist's education and qualifications. Senate Bill 89 – authorizes the Kansas Department of Agriculture to assess a participant fee for poultry producers that wish to voluntarily participate in the National Poultry Improvement Plan, a state-federal cooperative testing and certification program that seeks to eradicate disease in the poultry industry. Senate Bill 97 – requires vehicle dealers to apply for a dealer inventory-only title for certain used non-highway vehicles that a vehicle dealer obtains. Substitute for House Bill 2152 – shifts Kansas' investment strategy for public funds to encourage those funds be deposited in Kansas financial institutions. This change will help ensure taxpayer dollars are invested in local communities, increase economic activity in the state and give Kansans access to additional capital to finance investments in their homes, businesses or communities, according to the Office of the Governor. House Bill 2359 – enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act and the Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship and other Protective Arrangements Act. House Bill 2338 – authorizes the Kansas Board of Cosmetology to issue temporary location and temporary guest artist permits and establishes criteria therefor. House Bill 2307 – transfers the prenatal and postnatal diagnosed conditions awareness programs from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities. 'By allowing health care providers to practice the full extent of their qualifications and capabilities, we are expanding opportunities for both providers and patients,' Kelly said when talking about Senate Bill 67. 'This legislation will help address our health care workforce shortage and increase access to care.' Seven new laws passed in Kansas, here's what they are For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Another cat food is being recalled for bird flu risk
The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) says another pet food company is recalling some products over bird flu risks. Savage Cat Food, a California-based company, is asking pet owners to throw away any 'Small Chicken Boxes' or 'Large Chicken Boxes' with lot number 11152026. The WSDA says they were sold in multiple states, including Washington, California, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The products were also sold online. Savage Cat Food says one cat in Colorado contracted the bird flu and has since recovered. The company tested three lots of the food, and two others came back negative. 'Savage Pet has always been dedicated to the health of its feline consumers. All of our poultry ingredients are USDA inspected and passed. Our suppliers follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan and work under daily USDA inspection. Savage Pet has adhered to Good Manufacturing Practices and sanitation standard operating procedures for almost 10 years,' the company said in an online note to its customers. Last month, Wild Coast Raw recalled two lots of food after several cats fell ill in Washington and Oregon. Two cats from Washington who ate the food tested positive for bird flu. One had to be humanely euthanized because of the severity of the illness. Pet owners who feed their animals West Coast Raw are urged to check what products they have. Anyone with Lots #22660 and #22664 with a 'Best By Date' of 12/2025 should throw it away immediately. If your pet ate the food and develops a fever, becomes lethargic, has a low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, seizure, incoordination, or blindness—take them to the vet immediately. WSDA said no human infections have been reported, but people can become infected if the virus enters through the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bird flu found in Elkhart County
GOSHEN — Poultry farms across the region will now undergo special testing after one area farm tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Culver Duck Farms confirmed on Wednesday that one of its barns tested positive on Tuesday. 'It's just one of those things you plan for, you don't ever want to face, but you just have to deal with it,' said Drew Frey, director of Live Operations at Culver Duck Farms Inc. Frey said biosecurity at Culver Farms was already employed at its numerous locations before the news came but because there's been a detection in the area. Additional testing will be required until the site is cleared. Frey estimated that the additional security will be a minimum of four weeks. Purdue Extension of Elkhart County Animal Production Educator Kathryn Jennings said because of the discovery, though, the Board of Animal Health requires a 10 to 20 kilometer control and surveillance zone. Despite just one barn in the area being affected, parts of Elkhart County, LaGrange County and St. Joseph County will remain under surveillance. Frey said Indiana is number one for ducks in the nation. It is also third for eggs, fourth for turkeys, and a top 10 in broiler chicken production. Fry said the duck industry is often hit harder than other poultry industries because it's a smaller poultry portion of the industry. 'There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of barns,' he said, adding that even though locally it hasn't been a problem until this week, it's always a threat. Already around 6% of laying hens nationwide have been euthanized due to bird flu. Frey said at Culver, they test duck flocks any time they move them, weekly, for symptoms — loss of egg production, no longer drinking or eating, listlessness, and quietness. When flocks do pose symptoms, they quarantine the barn and test it. 'Biosecurity is to try to prevent it but the big thing is to try to keep it from being spread,' Frey said. 'To be good neighbors we have to practice biosecurity and when it does happen we have to try to keep it from spreading.' Frey said that while previous outbreaks have been of concern, the concern this time around is that 'it's not going away.' Maple Leaf Farms Director of Technical Services Cesar Chavez further explained that HPAI has impacted the global poultry industry since the mid-1990s, with this most recent outbreak beginning in early 2022 and thus far, taking out around 150 million poultry across the U.S. 'This particular strain is not mutating or going away real quick,' Frey said. 'And so [with] the wild bird population, you have hundreds of thousands of birds that are carrying this virus.' While voluntary, the National Poultry Improvement Plan of the USDA is pretty universally followed by anyone in poultry or egg production, with oversight from state and federal officials, and helps mitigate several avian diseases. The plan also encourages regular testing of flocks and Chavez said only flocks that test negative for the disease can leave their farm and be processed for food. 'The poultry industry's routine avian influenza testing program ensures that only flocks that test negative for avian influenza are processed for food,' Chavez said. 'Any flock that tests positive for HPAI must be euthanized on the farm.' Frey said the time and money associated with protecting the flock from avian flu is by no means inexpensive. 'All these tests are not cheap,' he said. 'The biosecurity measures that we put in are not cheap. Biosecurity measures for farms include using disinfection procedures, disposable boots and gloves, safety goggles and face shields, NIOSH-approved respirators, disposable coveralls and head covers, limiting moving of equipment meaning farms may need several of the same equipment for different locations, and general quarantine of not only poultry but also cows. Exposure for dairy cattle is also a concern, so testing of dairy cattle is required before moving and are required to be tested if they are moved across state lines. In addition, random milk testing is performed to protect those who do consume raw milk, even though the Indiana Board of Animal Health does not endorse raw milk consumption. Jennings said arguably the outbreak coming from a commercial barn is a best possible situation. 'The company has been through this before (during previous epidemics) and they've upped their biosecurity protocol,' she explained. 'Most the times these (commercial) barns, everything is kept separate. Everyone who goes into the barns wears disposable equipment, gloves, boots …' Frey agreed and said the primary concern right now is for the smaller farms that might not be able to withstand a portion of their flock being taken out by the disease. 'All poultry producers, whether they be commercial or backyard, are concerned about bird flu and the impact it can have on our flocks,' Chavez said Consumers considering getting a backyard flock to mitigate their costs at the grocery store for chicken and eggs, however, should also take heed. 'Before doing this, they should realize that both commercial and backyard flocks are being impacted by this disease and should carefully research how to raise poultry in a biosecure manner,' Chavez said. 'USDA's Defend The Flock program is a good resource for this. Currently, USDA is recommending that all poultry be raised indoors and kept away from wild birds that can carry the disease.' Right now, the goal is just to keep the spread contained, a monumental feat given that it's also spread by wildlife fowl.
