As Minnesota Public Radio reported, Avian flu uncertainty has turkey farmers on edge. Over 1.5 million birds have been stricken, dying or put down, and kept from the food supply.
Even with the combined efforts of growers, the state Department of Agriculture and the Board of Animal Health, "Minnesota is the epicenter of the outbreak," as Representative David Bly (DFL-Northfield) say as he moved to suspend the rules and bring HF 2225 to a vote.
Bly, Jeanne Poppe (DFL-Austin), Clark Johnson (DFL-North Mankato), and Rick Hansen (DFL-South St. Paul) are the four authors of the anti-Turkeypocolypse.
The bill provides emergency assistance to fight the disease, which not only has killed birds, but limited the export market for Minnesota-grown turkey. For more information, check out MPR's Where it stands: The avian flu outbreak and Minnesota turkeys.
Here's the video of today's floor discussion of the motion to suspend the rules and vote for the bill. Both votes were unanimous:
For more on Bly's views about agriculture, check out Northfield Rep. David Bly column: Family farmers are “real ag” and key to rural Minnesota’s future.
Here's the video of the joint committee hearing about the crisis. Our favorite part is Representative Hansen's inquiry intended to quash rumors about the disease and cats.
Photo: Representative David Bly, Northfield's genial representative and champion of family farmers, and a supporter on a farm road.
Screengrab: Representative Denny McNamara. The MPCA commissioner is not impressed.
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