Minnesota growers have lost over 8 million birds to highly pathogenic avian influenza this year. State Turkey Grower’s Association Executive Director, Steve Olson, says producers are trying to recover and some are close to repopulating their flocks.

Olson says the warmer weather coming could help slow down the spread of the disease.

Olson says most of the birds they’ve lost are turkeys. He says the not only have producers been hit economically, but emotionally as well.

Olson is hoping state lawmakers will restore the funding legislation for avian influenza during their upcoming special session.