Bird flu hits Minnesota turkey farm, 140,000 birds affected

Minnesota's first major bird flu outbreak of 2023 has struck a Meeker County turkey farm, state officials announced Wednesday.

The flock of 140,000 birds were culled to prevent further spread, and the site has been quarantined. Health officials say the virus, officially highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), does not pose a threat to the food supply.

Last year's outbreak of bird flu was the deadliest in U.S. history, claiming more than 58 million birds nationwide. The virus is typically spread by migratory birds.

"Unfortunately, HPAI seems to keep popping up during the seasonal migrations in Minnesota," State Veterinarian Dr. Brian Hoefs said in a news release. "Before today's detection our most recent cases were in the spring of this year."

Those spring cases were in backyard flocks and affected about 240 birds. Wednesday's announcement marks the first detection in a large commercial facility in Minnesota this year. Both large and small operations are asked to be on high alert as cases may continue to spread.

"Anyone who has poultry should take this detection as a clear sign to keep a close eye on their flock and initiate your strongest biosecurity practices," Hoefs said.

Minnesota is the nation's leading producer of turkey and lost more than 4 million birds, mostly turkeys, to avian influenza last year, according to the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

Willmar-based Jennie-O Turkey Store and its suppliers were hit especially hard last year.

"It is, unfortunately, a global animal disease and we're going to have to continue to manage it the very best we can," Jennie-O President Steve Lykken said last month following an event at the company's Montevideo operation. "Biosecurity for us is tantamount in everything we do."

Compared to last year's outbreak, there has been minimal spread nationally so far in 2023.

Two other bird flu outbreaks were reported this month at commercial turkey farms, in South Dakota and Utah, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 200,000 birds were affected.

Before that, the virus hadn't hit a turkey farm since an April outbreak in North Dakota.

Any impact on Thanksgiving turkey prices could depend on how much wider the outbreak spreads.

In recent months, frozen turkey prices were trending below the three-year average at about $1.20 per pound, according to the USDA. Fresh whole turkey prices also recently dipped below average at $1.27 per pound.

Frozen turkey inventories typically peak in August. As of September, total turkey supplies were 14% higher than last year at the same time, USDA data shows, which should help keep prices lower especially as the agency notes "continued weakness in demand."