The H5N2 Avian Flu Effect on U.S. Turkey Production; House Ag Committee Concerns About Grain Standard Act
National Turkey Federation Vice President for Communications and Marketing Keith Williams says that more than 25 states across the U.S. produce 240-million turkeys each year and so far - the H5N2 strain has affected less than one-percent of the turkey population. It’s still too early to determine the full impact the outbreak is having on turkey prices - but the most apparent and immediate impact has been on individual growers. Right now - he says consumers shouldn’t have any trouble finding the turkey products they have always enjoyed at a reasonable price.
The National Association of Wheat Growers have sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee concerning the Grains Standards Act that is up for reauthorization at the end of September. NAWG believes there must be a mechanism in place to ensure that the flow of trade is not disrupted and urges Congress to reject attempts that would undermine the current system of inspections. The letter states quote: “The sort of disruption to our export system that occurred last year at a United Grain facility in the Pacific Northwest cannot be allowed to occur again.”