The U-S-D-A is revising its response to avian influenza outbreaks and it will use a flat reimbursement rate for all depopulation and virus elimination efforts. Randy Olson, executive director of the Iowa Poultry Association, says they’re good moves. “We’re happy the USDA is continuing to make modifications to its response,” Olson says. “Our members are examining the proposed rules on reimbursement rates and we hope to know more about their reaction in the coming weeks.”

The biggest part of the revision, he says, is the flat reimbursement rate when an entire flock has to be euthanized. “What we’ve learned during 2015 was the time and energy it takes to clean and disinfect these barns was beyond what the USDA had anticipated,” Olson says. “USDA is making an effort to streamline that process.” Olson says there are a variety of depopulation methods producers can use and ventilation shutdown has proven effective.

He says despite activist concerns, it’s a humane method in that it accomplishes effective depopulation as quickly as possible, while ensuring any remaining birds remain healthy by being protected from the flu. Olson says, “The key takeaway is that within 24 hours, these barns need to be depopulated to stem the spread of further disease to prohibit otherwise healthy birds from getting sick.” Under the revision, turkeys will be reimbursed at a rate of $3.55 per bird, layers at $6.45 per bird and broilers at $1.15 per bird.

(Radio Iowa)

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Pheasants Forever, are hosting a series of workshops early next month, for landowners who would like to learn more about the importance of wildlife habitat in the agricultural landscape of Iowa. Jason Andersen, with Pheasants Forever, says the workshops, one each, will be held in Audubon, Cass and Shelby Counties.

He says one workshop will take place Tue., Feb. 2nd from 1-until 3-pm at the Audubon County Conservation Club, 3 miles N. of Exira off Highway 71. Another will be held Wed., Feb. 3rd from 11:30-am until 1-p.m. in the meeting room at the Pizza Ranch, in Atlantic. The final workshop is from 11:30-a.m. until 1-p.m. Thu., Feb. 4th in the meeting room at the Pizza Ranch, in Harlan.

Coffee and cookies will be available at the Exira site. Lunch will be available at the two Pizza Ranch sites, but that will be at your own cost. Andersen says the workshops are free and open to the public. He says with Iowa’s rural landscape becoming dominated by farm ground, over the years, that has been devastating to wildlife habit. The workshops will focus on how to restore wildlife habitats so they can co-exist with agriculture.

One of the most well-known and successful programs at producing habitat is the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a long-term, voluntary program that helps crop producers retire environmentally sensitive land into conservation cover that controls soil erosion and improves air and water quality. CRP also provides wildlife habitat. The current, general CRP sign-up runs through Feb. 26th.

The sessions, according to Andersen, will focus more on native grasslands [native grasses and wildflowers], because that what the landscape looked like before settlers came to the area. Andersen says there are other programs and sources, beside CRP, that will help you learn about and establish wildlife habitats.

For more information about the workshops being offered in Audubon, Cass and Shelby Counties, or to reserve your seat at one of those workshops, call Jason Andersen at (712)-563-4248, or e-mail jandersen@pheasantsforever.org.