Avian flu impacting milk production at Weber County dairies, officials declare emergency - KSL.com

What the report says

KSL.com reports that Weber County, Utah, officials declared a state of emergency Tuesday after avian influenza was found at four dairies in the county. The declaration is intended to help affected dairy operations seek federal and state support, including potential access to low-interest loans, as they respond to the outbreak. Box Elder County made a similar declaration earlier this month over the same issue.

According to KSL, the emergency resolution says the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain has affected four of Weber County’s nine dairies. Bren Edwards, president of the Weber County Farm Bureau, told the outlet that another two or three dairies could be at risk because the illness is spreading quickly. Edwards said the affected dairies are seeing milk output fall by about 6,000 to 10,000 pounds per day.

The strain can reduce milk production and may affect reproduction in cows, creating financial pressure for producers. KSL reported that Edwards said the virus was detected around May in Cache Valley before moving into Box Elder County and then Weber County. The county resolution also says affected cattle may be subject to quarantine and monitoring for as long as 90 days.

The Weber County measure cited confirmed infections, biosecurity restrictions, cattle illness and deaths, and substantial production losses as reasons producers could face major economic harm. The emergency declaration is set to last up to 30 days. More broadly, avian flu in dairy cattle has become a concern for agricultural officials because it can disrupt farms even when the main effect is reduced production rather than immediate public-facing shortages.