Two new major commercial poultry production facilities in Indiana have been hit with Bird Flu.
According to the Indiana State Board of Animal Health, a commercial duck farm in LaGrange County with a flock size of 3,846 has had a positive test for the virus known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). In addition, a commercial turkey farm in Jay County with 18,850 birds has also tested positive for HPAI.
State health officials did not identify the name of the companies, nor the specific locations of the facilities that have been impacted with Hoosier Ag Today.
As of January 3, 2025, there have now been 14 cases of HPAI identified at major commercial poultry facilities throughout Indiana (excluding hobby flocks and small non-commercial farms):
- Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 20,560 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 354,000 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 18,840 birds depopulated.
- Allen County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 26,066 birds depopulated.
- Adams County – Commercial Turkey operation. 19,860 birds depopulated.
- Jackson County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 2,633,900 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 912,023 birds depopulated.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 1,224,772 birds quarantined.
- Jay County – Commercial Egg Layer operation. 1,454,605 birds depopulated.
- Washington County – Commercial Turkey operation. 14,075 birds depopulated.
- Elkhart County – Commercial Duck operation. 4,198 birds quarantined.
- Washington County – Commercial Turkey operation. 19,388 birds quarantined.
- LaGrange County – Commercial Duck operation. 3,846 birds quarantined.
- Jay County – Commercial Turkey operation. 18,850 birds quarantined.
Federal officials with USDA add that Avian influenza does not present a food safety risk, and that cooked poultry and eggs and pasteurized dairy products remain safe to eat.
State health officials have set up a control area within a 10-kilometer (6.2 mile) radius around each of the farms. In addition, the state has set up surveillance zone with a 20-kilometer (12.4 mile) radius around each farm.
Testing will be done at nearby flocks to determine whether HPAI has spread. USDA Wildlife Services and Indiana Department of Natural Resources are assisting with surveillance of wild birds in and near the control areas.
Lactating dairy cattle must have a negative test before interstate movement under a federal order. USDA has expanded surveillance through testing milk at the farm or processor level to establish the health status of herds, as well as states.
Indiana ranks fourth in the nation in turkey production according to the USDA. The state also ranks first in the U.S. for duck production, and third for egg production. Indiana’s poultry industry directly employs more than 12,700 Hoosiers and contributes more than $18.3 billion in total economic activity to the state.