New USDA Support to Reduce Impact and Spread of H5N1

Available support includes:

• Support farmers in biosecurity planning and implementation. USDA will provide up to $1,500 per affected premises to develop biosecurity plans based on existing secure milk supply plans. This includes recommended enhanced biosecurity for individuals that frequently move between dairy farms – milk haulers, veterinarians, feed trucks, AI technicians, etc.
• Provide funding for heat treating affected milk. This will provide farmers a safe option for disposal of milk. Heat treatment performed in accordance with FDA standards is the only currently available method considered to effectively inactivate the virus in milk. If a farmer establishes a system to heat treat all waste milk before disposal, USDA will pay the farmer up to $2,000 per affected premises per month.
• Reimburse farmers for veterinarian costs associated with confirmed positive H5N1 premises. USDA will provide support to farmers to cover veterinary costs necessarily incurred for treating cattle infected with H5N1, as well as fees for veterinarians to collect samples for testing. Veterinary costs are eligible to be covered from the initial date of positive confirmation at National Animal the Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) for that farm, up to $10,000 per affected premises.
• Coverage of shipping costs for H5N1 tests. USDA will pay for the cost of shipping samples to NAHLN labs for testing. USDA will pay actual shipping costs, not to exceed $50 per shipment for up to two shipments per month for each affected premises. NAHLN lab testing is already being conducted at no cost to dairy farmers.
• Protect against the potential for spread between human and animals. USDA will provide financial support for farmers who supply PPE to employees and/or provide outerwear uniform laundering on affected farms. Up to $2,000 per affected premises per month for farmers who facilitate the participation of their workers in USDA/CDC workplace and farmworker study.
• Compensation for loss of milk production for herds with confirmed positive H5N1 cases. USDA is taking steps to make funding available from the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) to compensate eligible farmers with positive herds who experience loss of milk production.

Additional details on how farmers can access and apply for the financial tools are forthcoming.

As a reminder, the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has a web page for Ohio dairy farmers with guidance on complying with the Federal Order related to H5N1 virus in dairy cattle. ODA has also developed a Frequently Asked Questions document.

Your national and local dairy associations will continue to provide updates on relevant information as it becomes available. Please contact Jenny Crabtree at 614-890-1800 with any questions.