Organic farmers will not compromise their certification under the National Organic Program if they temporarily keep flocks indoors as a precaution against avian influenza, says the USDA agency that oversees the program. In a notice, the Agricultural Marketing Service said it “supports bringing the birds inside on a temporary basis in areas in proximity to the recent [bird flu] detections in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia.”
Two cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza were confirmed in Tennessee in March, the first detections of the virus in the United States in a year. “High path” bird flu can kill a flock in 24 hours. A handful of outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza have been found in the Southeast, the leading region for poultry production. “Low path” bird flu, the most common type, causes little or no signs of illness in infected poultry.
“Producers should work with their certifying agents to determine the proper method and duration of confinement,” said AMS. The agency said it has a memo (available here) on steps producers can take to protect flocks from infectious disease while retaining organic certification.
Wild waterfowl are believed to spread avian influenza. More than 50 million egg-laying hens and turkeys died in the 2014-15 bird flu epidemic, the worst U.S. outbreak on record.