Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Penn State University’s College of Agricultural Science Dean Troy Ott held a town hall at the PA Farm Show and highlighted Shapiro Administration efforts to protect Pennsylvania’s dairy and poultry industries from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).
“As HPAI outbreaks continue across the nation, Governor Josh Shapiro has worked with the legislature, industry, and stakeholders to implement proactive, protective measures to keep our farmers, their livestock, and their livelihoods safe,” said Secretary Redding. “With the expertise and technical assistance of partners like Penn State University, Pennsylvania has been a national forerunner in taking critical steps to protect livestock and poultry from animal disease threats.”
Pennsylvania has been on high alert since the beginning of the outbreak of HPAI in 2022. The Shapiro Administration has taken aggressive precautions to protect Pennsylvania’s dairy and poultry industries, including quarantines that have been adjusted as the virus has evolved and affected livestock. To date, there have been no infections in dairy cattle, or humans in Pennsylvania.
There have been no infections in commercial poultry in Pennsylvania since February 2024. The last confirmed infection was in a backyard flock of 20 birds in Venango County in October 2024. None of these birds were producing eggs or products used or sold beyond that farm.
Pennsylvania has been a national leader in testing milk, and in aggressively testing dairy cattle, prohibiting lactating dairy cattle from infected farms in other states from transport to Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania continues to test poultry on farms and in live bird markets. Quarantines are in place with restrictions that are adjusted to set limits on transporting poultry within a set radius of any farm where an infection is confirmed.
Raw milk has not been pasteurized to destroy active viruses. Milk that has been pasteurized is safe to drink.
In November 2024, the Department of Agriculture began precautionary bulk testing of milk for HPAI from Pennsylvania farms as an added measure to prevent the spread of avian influenza. The state’s program is USDA-funded at no cost to dairy farmers. It meets the USDA standards recently mandated for milk testing.
To date,10,425 samples have been tested. Nearly 100% of Pennsylvania’s 4,027 dairy farms are being tested. These samples are tested through the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS), which includes Penn State University, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory. No virus has been detected in Pennsylvania cattle, but cases continue to rise in other states.
Dean Troy Ott emphasized, "Governor Shapiro fully recognizes the potential impact an outbreak could have on both the animals and citizens of Pennsylvania. He is taking swift and proactive action, utilizing all available tools to minimize the risk of introduction and to swiftly contain and eradicate the virus should it be detected. At Penn State, we are committed to supporting these efforts by enhancing the surveillance testing program through our Animal Diagnostics Laboratory, educating producers to strengthen their biosecurity measures, and conducting cutting-edge research to better understand and combat viral infections." Ott also praised the Shapiro Administration’s "nation-leading approach, which will play a crucial role in safeguarding Pennsylvania’s farms and farmers from the devastating consequences of a large-scale outbreak."
This new measure added to requirements already in place to help prevent the spread of HPAI. In April 2024, Pennsylvania led the nation in issuing a Quarantine Order requiring testing of dairy cattle entering the state when HPAI was first detected in herds in other states. Pennsylvania’s strategic move was soon followed by USDA and other states.
The Administration has also made key investments in bolstering agriculture’s infrastructure and workforce to protect the industry from future disease outbreaks and recover losses from avian influenza, including the nation’s only special fund, of $31 million to support Pennsylvania poultry farmers impacted by the avian influenza crisis to pay for testing and get reimbursed for losses to their flocks, to improve biosecurity, and help poultry farmers recover losses not covered by the federal government. Investments also include the expansion of veterinary lab services in Western PA to speed diagnosis and response to disease outbreaks, and funding to research and implement cutting-edge technology that can help detect and prevent future outbreaks.
The Shapiro Administration continues to work with the USDA, CDC, FDA and others to monitor the virus and protect public health and the food supply, including the health of farmworkers and farm families, and have made free personal protective equipment available to farms for their workers. The PA Centers for Dairy Excellence, and Poultry & Livestock Excellence, along with the PA Departments of Agriculture and Health, and Penn State Extension partner for regular monthly updates for the dairy and poultry farmers and processors to keep the industry and their workforce and consumers safe.
As the state hosts the 109th PA Farm Show, all farmers are encouraged to visit the Department’s Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services booth in the North Hall to learn more about biosecurity practices for their farm. Educational events, stage presentations, and industry meetings will be held throughout the show, providing opportunities for farmers and producers to connect with experts and resources.
“The PA Farm Show is an opportunity to showcase the best of Pennsylvania agriculture. It allows the public to learn about all the behind the scenes work that veterinarians and animal health workers do to keep animals, and our food system, safe,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Alex Hamberg. “We hope that key takeaways for anyone who visits the show is the importance of biosecurity and the impact of the Shapiro administration in action.”
As a precautionary measure, live bird exhibits at the 2025 Farm Show are limited to those birds headed for market, to prevent any possible spread of infection back to farms. Visitors to Farm Show are not permitted to handle or pet birds. Those exhibiting live animals at Farm Show must present a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection signed by an accredited veterinarian within 30 days prior to their arrival. Veterinarians visually check animals for signs of disease upon arrival and during daily rounds while the animals are in the complex.
Detailed information on avian influenza, biosecurity, quarantines, and other measures to protect Pennsylvania agriculture can be found here.
Source : pa.gov