[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6299766,"mediaKeyId","2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6","parentId",2495375,"title","Witnesses urge faster vaccine approvals, wider indemnity and stronger surveillance to combat avian influenza and AMPV","audioSeconds",5068,"startMs",1861000,"endMs",6929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6&start=1861&end=6929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6/thumbnail_1861000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299766/Witnesses-urge-faster-vaccine-approvals-wider-indemnity-and-stronger-surveillance-to-combat-avian-influenza-and-AMPV","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299766-75cef70edab6d2bc17edd826213de3ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651207&Signature=LPxIgUkQexbpl-U-kt9YMFIeG5jiIsUk3apINCvAZtRL6pd2qqsVDQ1ffwdzbE9uvdI8E94Oag~EcvpxHCLa~sgh2xhDCqA8wYpJwrzNhjCLuNiaByog02w8Cz9zawaCtQglgsG~vun5I7AP65M-odL9MM2bxLMxVacQCX6JTplS1sFUkDLIwh0wTsftg9Wy7vdJkp~hBoYHlycB-7hYlIVKsCDRotlKEqZLnJTletXAKVEzhSn2JLZ5XgLQ0zlJvL7MLLK77k0ThmZJobCfkDvYNjfB14ue68vfwRog2mF22kF9AVfhm1SBws1ro-6LF-a4mSq5lh7frja14wlY6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. House Committee on Agriculture","date","2025-03-05T05:31:45Z","article","John Zimmerman, a second-generation Minnesota turkey farmer and former chairman of the National Turkey Federation, told the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry that the turkey industry is suffering a “one-two punch” from highly pathogenic avian influenza and avian metapneumovirus.

Zimmerman said AMPV has infected “between 60 and 80 percent of turkey flocks nationwide,” and that in Minnesota “127 cases of HPAI in commercial turkeys have led to the loss of more than 6,600,000 birds.” He urged the subcommittee “to make AMPV an eligible disease under USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program.”

Why it matters: Witnesses described widespread flock losses, credit-market stress for affected farms and continuing market volatility for eggs and turkey. They said relief and technical responses now will determine whether many producers can remain viable while a longer-term disease strategy is implemented.

Mike West, who identified himself as chairman of United Egg Producers and president of JS West Milling Co., described repeated local depopulations on his family’s operations and broader national losses: “This country has depopulated 167,000,000 chickens since this outbreak started in 2022.” He and other witnesses welcomed the USDA plan announced last week and said vaccination must be part of a coordinated strategy covering multiple poultry sectors.

Officials and industry speakers urged three near-term priorities. First, witnesses asked Congress and USDA to shorten timelines for vaccine reviews and imports. Zimmerman criticized the length of USDA’s review of an imported AMPV modified-live vaccine, saying the process took “more than a year” despite widespread global use and that approval “should take a matter of months, not more than a year.”

Second, witnesses asked that AMPV be made eligible for indemnity payments. Zimmerman said AMPV causes “severe, prolonged mortality” and that, unlike HPAI, AMPV has not been eligible for indemnity, leaving many producers without recourse.

Third, witnesses called for expanded surveillance, staffing and laboratory capacity. West and others said U.S. lab capacity and federal staffing shortages have hampered timely testing and response. “Our lab system in this country is understaffed,” West said, urging fully funded APHIS and ARS teams to speed diagnostics and outbreak control.

Several witnesses also urged USDA to negotiate with trading partners in advance of any widescale vaccine deployment so vaccination does not unduly harm export markets. Zimmerman said the United States must “renegotiate with key trading partners to minimize the implications of vaccine deployment” and argued USDA should take a proactive role in those discussions.

Committee context: Members noted the Farm Food and National Security Act of 2024 (passed by the committee last year) contained disease-response provisions and pressed witnesses on how those and other programs could be used in the current outbreak. Several members said they support renewed, multi-year funding for animal disease programs and laboratory networks.

Looking ahead: Witnesses said immediate steps — faster vaccine approvals, AMPV indemnity, and restored lab staffing — could stabilize markets and reduce farm failures while longer-term work proceeds on vaccine strategy, trade negotiations and biosecurity investments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The State of the Livestock Industry: Producer Perspectives","oneSentenceSummary","John Zimmerman, a second-generation Minnesota turkey farmer and former chairman of the National Turkey Federation, told the House Agriculture Subcommittee that turkey producers are being hit by both highly pathogenic avian influenza and avian metapneumovirus and urged immediate changes to federal compensation and vaccine review processes.","taxTitle","Agriculture: House Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1977,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6299752,"Witnesses say federal hiring cuts and understaffed labs undermined outbreak response; call for rehiring and funding",4075,924000,4999000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6&start=924&end=4999","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6/thumbnail_924000.jpg","/articles/6299752/Witnesses-say-federal-hiring-cuts-and-understaffed-labs-undermined-outbreak-response-call-for-rehiring-and-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299752-3558cacabf3ef245f4076a3e7fd9e899/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651207&Signature=oep0-z6ZgA3EK3ite04QPkngBCVelMyvXubGAhDjQVI4hU9JWDsNTmp4Ku2x1JF-bRmDGa7gq-EUJTEdxKCUhcIuOUbw7x6kzj6gfH~FpNQnAmJrSfebZ1zDeHppmTCwXBSNBmjurz6XWAyvCizKMp5uZ8vORpcGQ6PioPSZrOexw2oH5h1m8YHySOOFWWzPVCLaEesrQgwGdHpRfk2ZvOfA9jh4~pCkOiilmlxBe4nC9vD82tNQmALScBnlPQj9WRZ~3~S-UUdd96uznLpvKV7kJ3nE1oBUAzhnmnVN8wd19dfNw2y-txwrs6AYoM99M-6vkRzKKzLlwhcx3NHLYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members and witnesses told the subcommittee that recent federal personnel actions and hiring freezes impeded the nation’s ability to respond to animal-disease outbreaks. Ranking Member Costa and several members criticized large-scale probationary-term firings and urged rehiring of specialists.

Why it matters: Witnesses said lab technicians, USDA loan officers and animal-health staff are essential to testing, surveillance and producer assistance during outbreaks. Mike West of United Egg Producers urged fully staffed APHIS and ARS teams, saying “our lab system in this country is understaffed.” Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union, said the cuts have “had an impact in Montana” on predator control, conservation program reimbursements and farmers’ access to operating loans.

Members cited several concrete impacts. Testimony referenced furloughs and dismissals of probationary employees across USDA agencies and said a portion of National Animal Health Laboratory Network staff was affected; members said rehiring is underway but remains slow. Witnesses said the uncertainty around payments from USDA cost-share and emergency livestock programs is delaying producer recovery decisions.

Committee context: Members said the committee will pursue appropriations and legislative fixes that maintain critical laboratory capacity and protect farm lending support. Several witnesses urged that rehiring be done with “surgical precision,” noting the specialized skills required for diagnostics and surveillance.

What’s next: Witnesses and members said they will provide additional documentation on gaps in lab capacity and staffing and ask the committee to prioritize funding and rehire authority for critical positions.","Industry witnesses and several committee members told the House subcommittee that recent federal hiring cuts and pauses hampered laboratory testing, surveillance and producer assistance during the ongoing animal-disease outbreak.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6299757,"Witnesses warn tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would hit producers and export-dependent supply chains",7105,780000,7885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6&start=780&end=7885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6/thumbnail_780000.jpg","/articles/6299757/Witnesses-warn-tariffs-on-Canada-Mexico-and-China-would-hit-producers-and-export-dependent-supply-chains","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299757-aa19fb30b1183cae4cd4a75a8ad00c23/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651207&Signature=T73sZX~0gPGpLnsz-LaoDoanG7~yxhcwZxH6DrgMQFtS27YiXiCZM075d9lIMLqgTY6ADSQT7eUXtDCGKhm6pajCfVRM5WZAsxkremZxBRVGbMFR5d0NobYv4hrUF0eNFCr6fhS57rtFul7mKe43VjB0vjaIGAWqTKUWg9THd-B33GoIwgfH9l3YpUX6q2~zGyDDPnX2is~QgGMtBuyFBKSQhL5aY-wgp5c3Mmx~nYEA3D9SAIbYla3ojUuusp4vRy488hIPoFdDgF7oGfiMZPFGYrCLxJ5UIEQcL8zqhPWFFAmokL3QXIgvHMXYPxbqYbUSBJcOJZimrItio2fy7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ranking Member Raul Costa (as identified in committee remarks) and other members raised immediate concerns about tariffs that the administration announced this morning affecting Canada, Mexico and China. In opening remarks, the ranking member said, “I’ve never been a fan of tariffs, regardless if it’s a Democratic or Republican administration,” and warned of costs to consumers and producers.

Why it matters: Several witnesses described tightly integrated North American production systems and warned that tariffs would raise input costs and shrink export demand. Lori Stevermer, president of the National Pork Producers Council, told the subcommittee that trade “provides us with $62.66 dollars per pig marketed.” Troy Sander, speaking for cattle producers, said exports are worth about $425 per head to his sector.

Witnesses described specific vulnerabilities. Stevermer said Mexico is the pork industry’s largest market and noted the role of Canadian-born wean pigs raised in U.S. farms. Troy Sander and Walter Schweitzer described cross-border feed and cattle flows and said tariffs would raise costs on both sides of the border. Several members and witnesses said trade negotiations and enforcement of agreements such as USMCA are priorities for stabilizing markets.

Committee context: Members emphasized the need for durable trade policy as part of a five-year farm bill. Witnesses urged the committee and the administration to continue to pursue comprehensive trade agreements that remove tariff and non-tariff barriers and to consider potential export-market development funding.

Looking ahead: Witnesses said they will monitor any retaliatory actions and asked Congress to weigh market disruption risks when considering tariffs that could invite retaliation from key trading partners.","Multiple witnesses and members told the subcommittee that tariffs and retaliatory measures would harm producers who rely on integrated cross-border supply chains. Pork and beef producers emphasized the value of export markets and urged continued pursuit of comprehensive trade agreements while cautioning against sudden tariff actions.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6299761,"Pork industry warns Prop 12 and patchwork rules raise costs, push consolidation",5262,2157000,7419000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6&start=2157&end=7419","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2495375-6f04c4195db1cb3824cccbb81d8518b6/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","/articles/6299761/Pork-industry-warns-Prop-12-and-patchwork-rules-raise-costs-push-consolidation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299761-b6be49afbc7614b0c490aceddfafa24e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770651207&Signature=XUtOE26K0aKRBRROqkUe3CYFFR08YCW5jfgI4nB2EmSD18nPslpM6RMHdsqPTA7IgleIb4D9Oeliq3Iz0eIikwOEPM8X0aTUmwzOLiXESTKzkuOFwLsY5lOv2T-7Be0UI2hP~wwGbjhU~KjttiP~4kTd8x0E9zw8Q79Bq6V2iwdLBHnZAIw1HmuAnT1wys2IQp4Ll8X3nzSdJRP4B4ccikELE5WLtIQl5R2sNiXcD~Rdew1WTWFXhYuAXTJ2FcNthZXxwIaVLmP5CBhAiqhbVOF95XC4madcjG17qKRWkpUCtNgFB51Rz8O8IpN~4xv0kZp3Z5N68y5hjYUaY~pJmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lori Stevermer, a third-generation pork producer from eastern Minnesota and president of the National Pork Producers Council, told the subcommittee that California’s Proposition 12 has increased operating costs and “caused business uncertainty” for U.S. pork producers.

Why it matters: Stevermer said the law’s production requirements reach beyond California and “defy common sense,” creating a regulatory patchwork that, she argued, will favor large producers able to absorb compliance costs and push small and medium family farms out of the market.

Stevermer listed three farm bill priorities for pork producers: an immediate fix to the effects of Proposition 12, stronger funding for foreign animal disease prevention and detection (the witnesses repeatedly referred to this as the three-legged stool of animal health), and protections for market reporting and competition tools. On trade she told the committee that “international trade provides us with $62.66 dollars per pig marketed.”

Members and witnesses said the Farm Food and National Security Act of 2024 — which the committee passed out of committee last year — included language intended to address Proposition 12. When asked whether the industry supported the committee’s fix, Stevermer said, “We do support that.”

Stevermer also pressed for expanded H-2A access for year-round workers and asked Congress to withdraw and defund the proposed Packers and Stockyards rule, saying producers need certainty in market reporting, labor and competition policies.

Context: Multiple members expressed concern about state-by-state standards that effectively regulate production in other states. Witnesses said patchwork state rules raise consumer prices in regulated states and add compliance burdens for producers nationwide.

What’s next: Pork industry witnesses urged inclusion of a Prop 12 fix and strong animal-health investments in a five-year farm bill so producers can plan investment and operations with greater certainty.","The National Pork Producers Council told the House subcommittee that California's Proposition 12 and similar state-level rules raise operating costs, create regulatory uncertainty and favor larger producers. The council asked Congress to include a federal fix in the farm bill and urged continued export promotion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Witnesses urge faster vaccine approvals, wider indemnity and stronger surveillance to combat avian influenza and AMPV

Witnesses say federal hiring cuts and understaffed labs undermined outbreak response; call for rehiring and funding

Witnesses warn tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China would hit producers and export-dependent supply chains

Pork industry warns Prop 12 and patchwork rules raise costs, push consolidation