A turkey producer who’s the first in Iowa to restock after bird flu struck this spring says his operation had some advantages. Brad Moline of Manson says his operation was hit later in the outbreak, once officials had procedures in place for ridding barns of the infected birds.
Moline says he had the equipment and personnel needed to get the barns cleaned and disinfected quickly. Federal officials say they expect most farms throughout the hardest-hit states of Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota to be back in business by the fall. Jack Shere, a veterinarian who is an administrator in the U-S-D-A, admits some mistakes were made at the on-set of the outbreak, but he says the important thing is to use that experience to prepare for the future.
Shere says the U-S-D-A has developed a response plan in the event the flu comes back this fall and he expects the plan to be approved and made public soon. Shere made his comments during a news conference held on Moline’s farm near Manson.
