WattAgNet: US government approves additional $330M for AI outbreak

The U.S. government will allocate an additional $330 million in emergency funds to compensate farmers for claims related to AI.

From WATTAgNet:

The U.S. government will allocate an additional $330 million in emergency funds to compensate farmers for claims related to the avian influenza (AI) outbreak, according to a report.

The additional funding will be added to the $84.5 million previously set aside by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the outbreak, bringing the total to at least $414.5 million.

The avian influenza outbreak has led to the deaths of 21.6 million birds in 114 operations.

In April, Senate Agriculture Committee leaders and Sen. Amy Klobuchar called for more emergency compensation for farmers affected by the AI outbreak.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, and House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, along with ranking committee members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota, sent a letter on April 29 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

And, last month, Klobuchar said the United States government should consider expanded compensation for poultry farmers whose flocks have been infected with avian influenza.

The avian influenza situation demonstrates that poultry and livestock producers need an insurance program to compensate them for catastrophic disease losses, Klobuchar said, similar to a crop insurance program that covers losses.