Since bird flu outbreaks began nearly two years ago, the USDA has spent slightly more than $1 billion to compensate farmers for lost flocks and to suppress the spread of the viral disease, said a spokesperson for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on Monday. The largest outlay was $715 million to producers, growers, and integrators in indemnities for depopulated birds and eggs.
An additional $183 million was spent to kill and dispose of flocks and for virus elimination work. “Current associated personnel, contractors, state agreements, and field costs are estimated at an additional $130 million,” said the spokesperson.
The largest recipient of indemnities, at $74.8 million, was Jennie-O Turkey Store, a subsidiary of Hormel Foods, said California veterinarian Crystal Heath, who obtained a list of USDA payments through a public records request. The other top recipients were Rembrandt Enterprises, of Iowa, $27.9 million; Sunrise Farms, of Iowa, $25.8 million; MG Waldbaum, of Minnesota, $25.2 million; and Tyson Foods, of Arkansas, $24.3 million, she said.
The ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza are the largest animal disease event in the nation’s history.