Tokyo | Reuters –– Japan’s farm ministry on Friday partially lifted a ban on imports of live poultry and poultry meat from Canada and the U.S. following an outbreak of bird flu. Imports from British Columbia and from eight U.S. states — Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Kansas, Arkansas, Montana and Indiana — will resume after […] Read more

Japan lifts block on B.C. poultry

U.S. ends avian flu-related limits on Ont. poultry
Reuters — The U.S. Agriculture Department on Tuesday lifted restrictions on imports of poultry and poultry products from Ontario in the latest sign the farm sector is starting to recover from a severe outbreak of bird flu. USDA limited imports from Ontario in April after a highly pathogenic (“high-path”) strain of H5N2 avian flu was […] Read more

USDA moves to build vaccine stockpile for bird flu return
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it has put out a request for proposals to help the nation’s veterinarians have access to bird flu vaccines for poultry this fall, in preparation for the potential return of the fast-spreading avian influenza virus. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) […] Read more

Avian flu controls lifted in 10 U.S. states
U.S. animal health officials have closed the books for now on avian influenza infections in 10 states, with five others remaining. In its latest report to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) last week, the U.S. federal Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said all control areas for avian flu have been released […] Read more

Last of Ontario’s avian flu quarantines ends
Movement of birds and bird products in, through and out of southwestern Ontario’s Oxford and Waterloo counties is no longer subject to federal quarantine. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced Wednesday it has removed its second and final avian influenza control zone, which has been in place since April 21 and covered portions of both […] Read more

‘Noah’s Ark’ rescue mission for endangered poultry
Rare breed hatchery sends chicks as far away as Brazil
Reuters — Less than 24 hours after a deadly infection of bird flu was confirmed at a turkey farm north of Des Moines, Iowa, Bud Wood packed about 3,500 rare baby chicks into boxes and put them in the back of a truck. With the delicate birds just hours old, the president of Murray McMurray […] Read more

Ont. avian flu quarantines to be lifted by month-end
The three southwestern Ontario poultry operations under quarantine since April with highly pathogenic H5N2 avian flu can expect to see their quarantines lifted before the end of July. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported Tuesday that cleaning and disinfection work were completed June 29 at the two infected turkey farms in Oxford County, and July […] Read more

Calgary researchers get rooster back on feet
Technology usually used as teaching tools for veterinary students at the University of Calgary has given an injured rooster a new pair of feet. Calgary’s animal and bylaw services agency removed the rooster, now named Foghorn, from a city property earlier this year, the university said in a release. The bird was unable to walk, […] Read more

U.S. said considering TPP trade deal without Canada
Washington | Reuters — The United States, frustrated over the lack of progress with Canada over new rules for agriculture trade, is weighing “contingencies” that could include completing a Pacific Rim trade pact that excludes Canada, according to two sources familiar with the issue. One official familiar with the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiation said […] Read more

Pitting supply management against U.S. subsidies seen as ‘unfair’
CNS Canada — How will Canada’s supply management system stack up against America’s domestic supports if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) comes to fruition? It’s a question that hasn’t been answered, say some experts from Canada’s farming institutions. “It would be completely unfair if we have to compete with lower prices, because those lower prices are […] Read more