By Stephanie Schupska
University of
Georgia
On Sept. 8 Dan Cunningham e-mailed small poultry farmers about
biosecurity for backyard flocks. Most likely, few of them noted
the date – and its agroterrorism connection.
It has been four years since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon. But that day has changed
agriculture forever.
Now, proper testing of dead, diseased birds is vital, said
Cunningham, a poultry science professor and Cooperative
Extension coordinator in the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. That’s true even when
the disease’s source may be close to home.
“We’re reminding small flock producers as a precautionary
measure,” he said. It’s not because of a sudden disease
outbreak.
Poultry accounts for half of the state’s $4 billion farm
income, according to UGA sources. Its economic impact in
Georgia is $13.5 billion. On an average day, the state produces
24.7 million pounds of chicken meat and 8.2 million table eggs.
It’s hard to overstate how much is at stake.
“It’s important for small flock owners to report sick or dying
birds to the appropriate authorities,” Cunningham said.
Many farmers contact county UGA Extension agents for soil
problems. Cunningham and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service urge producers to
contact Extension agents and veterinarians if their poultry
flocks develop a disease. APHIS is sponsoring radio spots to
get their point across.
“Diseases can be an issue,” Cunningham said. “We’re asking that
producers take birds to a lab if they’re having problems.”
Georgia has poultry veterinarians in nine diagnostic labs
around the state, he said. Growers can take their birds to
sites in:
- Bowden (770-258-0300).
- Camilla (229-336-0001).
- Canton (770-479-2901).
- Carnesville (706-384-2387).
- Dalton (706-278-7306).
- Douglas (912-384-3719).
- Forsyth (478-994-1219).
- Montezuma (478-472-9904).
- Glennville (912-654-0504).
They may also call a USDA hotline (1-866-536-7593). Or they can
call the Georgia Poultry Lab’s main office in Oakwood (770-535-
5996).
(Stephanie Schupska is a news editor with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
