WC Minnesota News

After four consecutive months without any avian influenza detections in raw milk samples, Minnesota has been designated as “Unaffected” in the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will now reduce its testing frequency from monthly to approximately every two months, according to State Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck.

Federal restrictions on animal movement between states remain in place despite the improved status. Anderson noted that further reductions in testing could occur if no detections are found through the fall, but monitoring will continue until all 50 states achieve the Unaffected designation.

"Congratulations to Minnesota's dairy producers,” said Anderson, who chairs the House committee on agriculture. “With only one reported positive test, and none in the past four months, it shows that our producers are doing an excellent job in following biosecurity measures as we continue monitoring this situation."

Anderson emphasized that dairy farmers are not required to take additional actions for sampling or testing; these processes are handled by industry laboratories as part of their routine work.

He also pointed out that while avian influenza is still considered an emerging disease among dairy cattle nationally, most affected herds across the country have made a full recovery.