While there have been no positive highly pathogenic avian influenza cases reported on Pennsylvania dairy farms, establishing biosecurity protocols is essential for dairy and poultry producers to protect animals, people and the state from disease.
The Center for Dairy Excellence is putting on an HPAI and Biosecurity Resource Center at the upcoming Keystone Farm Show from Jan. 7-9 in York.
Staff from the Center for Dairy Excellence, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State Extension will be available for walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. No appointments are needed. Dairy producers who visit the HPAI and Biosecurity Resource Center can:
- start creating a biosecurity plan for their operation
- ask candid questions and sign up for voluntary testing
- get free biosecurity materials such as “no trespassing” signs, Lysol concentrate, scrub brushes, wash tubs, boot covers, gloves, masks, coveralls and more.
“With the large number of dairy herds and poultry flocks in Pennsylvania, and their close proximity to each other, early detection is important to controlling the spread in the event of a positive HPAI case. It’s clear that biosecurity is important to Pennsylvania agriculture, but our goal with this resource center is to make it less intimidating for producers,” says Valerie Mason-Faith, risk education program manager at the Center for Dairy Excellence.
“We have a large inventory of signage and free PPE equipment, including wash kits, to share with producers who drop in to the resource center. We’ll also have staff available to give honest answers to your questions and help you take the first steps to creating your biosecurity plan.”
The center will be located in the meeting room of Building 3.
As the dairy and poultry industries learn more about HPAI and how it is affecting herds and flocks, the Center for Dairy Excellence and Penn Ag Industries will continue to share updates from across the industry through monthly HPAI conference calls. Visit centerfordairyexcellence.org/hpai-industry-call to join the next industry call or request a biosecurity kit to be mailed to you.
Visit centerfordairyexcellence.org/newsletter to sign up to receive email updates and get notified of future calls, news and resources.
Funding available for conservation projects
A record amount of funding is now available to New York state’s farmers through the state’s Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement and Control Program.
Richard Ball, ag commissioner, recently announced $25 million was available for projects that will help farmers support agricultural water quality and conservation. This includes installation of conservation measures such as nutrient management through manure storage, vegetative buffers along streams and cover crops. Funding for the program is provided through the Environmental Protection Fund, and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
The state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts apply for the program on behalf of farmers. The Ag Non-Point program is marking its 30th anniversary, and thus far, more than $250 million has been awarded to on-farm projects.
The application for the program and additional information is available on the Department of Agriculture & Markets website at agriculture.ny.gov/funding-opportunities.
Project proposals are due at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 24.
The Agricultural Non-Point Source Abatement and Control Program functions as part of the Agricultural Environmental Management framework, a broader effort that helps farmers achieve higher levels of environmental stewardship and more efficient, cost-effective farming systems.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts use the AEM framework to assist interested farmers through planning and implementation to make science-based and cost-effective decisions.