Dakota Layers of Flandreau, South Dakota is in the process of repopulating their egg laying barns after having their flock wiped out on May 13 by the high path avian influenza. Dakota Layers CEO Scott Ramsdell says they’ve been working for months since the depopulation of the flock to sanitize barns and get cleared by USDA.

Ramsdell says they won’t be up to full production of nearly 1.3 million birds until later in 2016.

He says with it already being this late in the fall they’re optimistic the bird flu will not re-emerge. However, they’ve tightened their biosecurity measures to make sure.

Ramsdell is also hopeful by Easter of 2016 most of the egg laying facilities in the region will be back to full production and egg prices will start to normalize.