The Monthly Feedstuff - Avian influenza information + Spring is springing!

Equipping farmers to build resilient farms and communities.

Spring is springing! The grass is looking a little greener every day and the grazing season is beckoning. Remember to check your fences for sagging wires, posts that need to be replaced, and water lines to make sure your connection points are still tight.

Webinar recording: Lambing, Kidding and Calving on Pasture

YouTube video: Time Calving to Daylight Hours

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Avian influenza information

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) can have a variety of symptoms. Many birds experience respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge and swollen sinuses. Other symptoms include diarrhea, flock huddling, decreased food and water consumption and neurological symptoms such as lethargy and depression. The biggest red flag, however, is sudden (24-48 hours) and unexplained death within the flock. “When HPAI hits, it will definitely affect the whole flock of chickens. I would say it will be less than a week for all the chickens in the flock to at least be affected,” says Yuko Sato, ISU Vet Med.

Use this disinfectant table as a biosecurity resource.

Read the article: Prevent Avian Influenza by Promoting Good Biosecurity

USDA extends application deadline for meat and poultry processing expansion program funding

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the Department is extending to May 11, 2022, the application deadline for the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), which provides funding to expand meat and poultry processing capacity.

Other resources

Grazing Native Plants: Watch the Bringing Back the Edges series
Carbon and Ecosystem Service Markets: Watch a session from our 2022 Annual Conference: What Farmers Should Consider

BEYOND THE GATE

Guide to regenerative grazing leases: opportunities for resilience

California FarmLink and TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation teamed up to create this resource focused on land leases that support regenerative grazing practices.

This guidebook aims to empower private, nonprofit, and public landholders, as well as easement-holders and grazing tenants.

It supports leases that incentivize management that fosters and restores diverse and healthy ecosystems, just and thriving communities, and profitable farm and ranch businesses.