Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad on July 13 signed a disaster emergency proclamation extension for 18 Iowa counties adversely affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which would assist with disposal and clean-up efforts on affected sites.
The original avian influenza disaster proclamation, which was signed on June 15, was set to expire on July 15.
The state of disaster emergency proclamation temporarily allows impacted chicken and turkey producers to dispose of manure and compost generated at a premise infected with avian influenza as a bulk dry animal nutrient under Chapter 200A of Iowa Code. The material can only be moved off-site if it has been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the material is virus-free. Normally, only un-manipulated animal manure qualifies for distribution under this code section.
This proclamation only applies to impacted chicken and turkey producers in the 18 counties with confirmed cases of avian influenza. Counties included in the proclamation are: Adair, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Hamilton, Kossuth, Lyon, Madison, O'Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Sac, Sioux, Webster and Wright.
The proclamation is effective until December 31.
According to the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Iowa has had 75 confirmed detections of avian influenza, affecting an estimated 31.7 million birds.
