agriculture bird News

The effects of agricultural land use change on farmland birds in Sweden

The effects of changing agricultural practices on farmland birds are explored in a recently published study from Sweden. Overall abundance of 16 common species declined by 23% between 1994 and 2004, which may be partly caused by changes in land use, such as an increase in the amount of wheat cropland. However, effects vary between species, and some species increased or stayed stable in number. ...

May 8, 2015

Ohio cancels Poultry Shows at Fairs amid Bird Flu Outbreak

All poultry shows at the Ohio State Fair and county fairs across the state have been canceled this year because of the threat of a deadly bird flu virus, the state's agriculture department announced Tuesday. The virus that has led to the deaths of more than 44 million chickens and turkeys in the Midwest hasn't been found so far in Ohio, but state officials said banning all poultry shows is a ...

Jun. 2, 2015

North East Asia hit hard by Avian Influenza

At least half a dozen farms in Taiwan have been included in the recent our breakout of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (Avian Flu). Since October 2016, nearly 33 million birds across almost 35 different poultry farms have been affected in South Korea due to the recent breakouts. Japan has also seen the H5N6 virus, or Avian Flu, in wilds birds and nearly 1,4 million birds on 10 different ...

Mar. 17, 2017

North East Asia Hit Hard by Avian Influenza

At least half a dozen farms in Taiwan have been included in the recent our breakout of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (Avian Flu). Since October 2016, nearly 33 million birds across almost 35 different poultry farms have been affected in South Korea due to the recent breakouts. Japan has also seen the H5N6 virus, or Avian Flu, in wilds birds and nearly 1,4 million birds on 10 different ...

Mar. 17, 2017

Fresh outbreaks of Newcastle Disease in poultry

For the last couple of months when most people have been thinking about Poultry, Turkey was at the front of their minds. However many countries have been seeing an increase in Newcastle disease, which if you weren’t aware is a viral problem similar to Avian Flu. With Colombia declaring a state of emergency following its latest outbreak, which began in December 2017 and has escalated in ...

Jan. 10, 2018

Small birds save big money for Costa Rica`s farmers

Research in Costa Rica shows that wild birds significantly reduce damage by a devastating coffee pest, the coffee berry borer beetle, contributing to huge savings to local farms and providing incentive to protect wildlife habitat, Nature News reported yesterday. The study found that insectivorous birds, such as yellow warblers, halved infestations by the beetle Hypothenemus hampei, saving a ...

Sep. 6, 2013

By SciDev.Net

Bird flu takes biggest toll yet as virus hits chicken farms

Poultry producers and scientists have been hoping warmer weather would knock down a virulent strain of bird flu that has hammered the Midwest, but the virus recently took its biggest toll yet, hitting a farm in Iowa that held nearly 10 percent of the state's egg-laying chickens. Here are some questions and answers about the outbreak: WHAT'S THE LATEST? The U.S. Department of Agriculture said ...

Apr. 20, 2015

Fresh Outbreaks of Newcastle Disease in Poultry

For the last couple of months when most people have been thinking about Poultry, Turkey was at the front of their minds. However many countries have been seeing an increase in Newcastle disease, which if you weren’t aware is a viral problem similar to Avian Flu. With Colombia declaring a state of emergency following its latest outbreak, which began in December 2017 and has escalated in ...

Jan. 10, 2018

1st restocked Iowa turkey farmer talks lessons from bird flu

Thousands of small young turkeys ran around the barns on the Moline family farm Monday near Manson, the first Iowa farm to restock birds after a bird flu outbreak decimated flocks in the Midwest. Owner Brad Moline, who farms with his father and brother, said it's a sign the industry is turning the page on an outbreak in which about 48 million birds died from the virus or where euthanized to ...

Aug. 10, 2015

Most chicken, turkey farms affected by bird flu can restock

Most commercial chicken and turkey farms that were infected by the bird flu have been cleared to restock, agriculture officials said Friday, but scientists still will keep a close eye on migrating birds and test thousands to see if the virus is present. No new cases have been reported since June 17 when the last Iowa farm said chickens were dying from the H5N2 virus. However, wild birds' ...

Nov. 6, 2015

Bird flu outbreak spreads to 3 more Midwest turkey farms

A bird flu outbreak that has puzzled scientists spread to three more Midwest turkey farms, bringing the number of farms infected to 23 and raising the death toll to more than 1.2 million birds killed by the disease or by authorities scrambling to contain it. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed on Saturday that the H5N2 strain of avian influenza was found among 38,000 birds at a ...

Apr. 11, 2015

New bird flu strain has poultry farmers scrambling

Animal health experts and poultry growers are scrambling to determine how a dangerous new strain of bird flu infected poultry flocks in four states - and to stop it from spreading. Avian influenza is common in wild migratory waterfowl but doesn't usually harm them. But the H5N2 strain is deadly when it spreads to commercial poultry. It can wipe out a flock of tens of thousands of birds in a few ...

Mar. 14, 2015

Traditional farming `can save threatened species`

Traditional farming methods are crucial for protecting a number of threatened bird species in the developing world, including bustards, cranes, ibises and vultures, a study has found. Livestock grazing and features associated with arable farming — such as hedgerows — create environmental conditions that certain birds currently depend on for food, shelter and breeding, the authors ...

Dec. 22, 2011

By SciDev.Net

Bird flu found in a top Minnesota turkey producing county

An outbreak of a deadly bird flu strain spread to one of the top poultry producing counties of the nation's top turkey producing state of Minnesota, government officials confirmed on Saturday, raising fears that the that the highly contagious disease could seriously damage the industry. The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of avian influenza has infected a third turkey farm in the state, this time ...

Mar. 28, 2015

State fairs won`t press broiler industry`s bird flu luck

The South is the heart of U.S. broiler chicken production and escaped the deadly bird flu virus that devastated flocks in the Midwest this spring. Autumn, however, brings the possibility that migrating wild birds will carry the virus to the lower half of the U.S. To try to keep bird flu at arm's length, a number of states are barring or limiting poultry shows and public sales, including those at ...

Sep. 19, 2015

Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity

Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...

Oct. 10, 2013

Plastic mulching reduces farmland bird numbers and diversity

Using plastic sheeting to encourage early growth of crops reduces the number and diversity of farmland birds, new research from Poland suggests. The study shows that this effect continues even after plastic has been removed. Plastic ‘mulching’ is the use of sheets of plastic to cover vegetables after sowing; this controls weeds and increases the soil temperature, allowing faster ...

Oct. 10, 2013