3-7 NWR Avian Influenza

This is your Northwest report for Tuesday, March 7, I'm David Sparks and agri-pulse.com reporter Jeff Nalley tells us USDA's announcement that highly pathogenic avian influenza was discovered at a Tennessee broiler breeding flock rattled the poultry sector but officials say, farmers are better prepared now than during the devastating 2015 outbreak. Chad Gregory, president of United Ag Producers said clearly this is of great concern to egg farmers who recognize the seriousness of this finding and it's potential impact on their flocks and on the egg industry. It is a critical reminder that this disease is still a significant risk and that egg farmers must be vigilant in maintaining strict bio security on their farms. Since the 2015 outbreak, US egg farmers have made significant progress in bio security measures on their farms. Idaho State Department of Agriculture veterinarian, Dr. Bill Barton: "the message that we want to get out is for people who have backyard poultry or domestic poultry to use appropriate bio security with their birds and maintain separation of their birds from any migrating wild waterfowl."

Elsewhere, and great news, not only for the California agricultural industry, but for all of us who enjoy the produce coming out of California, Many believe the snowpack for California's major water supply source is record setting, but right now, there is difficulty measuring accumulations. USDA meteorologist, Brad Rippey, notes the Jet Stream that has brought record snowpack and precipitation to California this winter should move north this month through the Pacific Northwest.