Federal law pays farmers to cover loss from bird flu

As it turns out, there’s an act for that.

It’s called the Animal Health Protection Act of 2002, and it directs federal officials to pay farmers fair market value for animals that have to be destroyed after testing positive for certain diseases. The program also pays for disposing of infected livestock and for disinfecting herds’ and flocks’ habitats.

Consumers don’t enjoy the same protections, however.

Egg prices are already climbing after more than 33 million chickens and turkeys have been put to death in the Midwest this year after testing positive for avian influenza. Food producers are poised to increase prices for products that include liquid eggs, such as cake mix, ice cream and imitation crab meat.

The first known case of bird flu in Indiana was reported near Columbia City two weeks ago. The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed last week that poultry in a backyard operation tested positive for the deadly strain called H5N8.

The hobby farm had been home to 77 chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese. The birds were euthanized and sent to laboratories for additional testing.

As of Friday afternoon, no additional infected birds had been found in Whitley County, said Denise Derrer, spokeswoman for the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. Outbreaks have been the worst in Minnesota and Iowa.

“Our veterinarians have been going door-to-door to homes in a (6.2 mile-) circle to identify any poultry and test them,” she wrote in an email.