Asset Equipment Appraisals & Brokerage, Racine, Wisconsin, has been awarded a contract with the USDA to appraise equipment that cannot be disinfected at farms that have been infected with avian influenza.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has reported 223 avian influenza detections in the United States since December 19, 2014, affecting more than 48 million birds. Operations that have been infected by the virus are depopulated and the facilities have to be cleaned and sanitized. APHIS offers payment for birds that are euthanized and equipment that cannot be disinfected, but with the high volume of work because of the large number of avian influenza infections, the federal agency needs help.
Asset Equipment & Appraisals President Jacob Hoaglund told the Journal Times that the company can either use one of its four staff members or call upon a network of 460 other appraisers to appraise the affected farms’ equipment.
As of now, Asset Equipment & Appraisals is the only company with which the federal government has contracted to do such equipment appraisal work, but USDA spokesperson Andrea McNally said the contract is not exclusive and that if the need arises, contracts can be awarded to additional companies.
Bookmark WATTAgNet’s avian influenza update page for the latest news and analysis concerning the virus and its impact on the poultry industry.
