Central Missouri News

With the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) affecting poultry farms nationwide, Representatives Mark Alford and Jim Costa have introduced the Healthy Poultry Assistance and Indemnification (HPAI) Act. This legislation aims to provide fair compensation to poultry growers impacted by federal disease control measures.

Congressman Alford emphasized the current challenges faced by farming communities: “The current wave of Bird Flu outbreaks is leaving our farming communities twisting in the wind.” He added that the new act will ensure that even those operations within USDA control zones, whose birds have not tested positive, receive indemnity payments. "I’m proud to once again co-lead this critical bipartisan legislation to support Missouri’s agriculture community,” he stated.

Congressman Costa highlighted the impact on California's San Joaquin Valley, a key agricultural region: “The San Joaquin Valley is the heart of California agriculture, and our poultry farmers are on the front lines of the avian flu crisis." He stressed that addressing these challenges benefits everyone from farms to grocery stores. "That’s why I’m leading the charge with the HPAI Act to provide real relief, protect our food supply, and ensure the farmers who feed America get the support they deserve,” said Costa.

In addition to Representatives Alford and Costa's efforts in Congress, Senators Chris Coons and Roger Wicker are leading similar efforts in the Senate.

American consumers have felt the effects of HPAI outbreaks through significant increases in egg prices during past virus waves. The current system under APHIS provides compensation only for flocks classified as affected or exposed. However, many farms within federally designated control areas face restrictions without receiving compensation if their flocks remain uninfected.

The proposed HPAI Act seeks to reform this system by expanding compensation to all poultry growers within control areas, including those with non-infected flocks in buffer zones. It also proposes a fair payment formula based on a producer’s average income from their five most recent flocks.