LANCASTER COUNTY– Gov. Josh Shapiro visited Silver Valley Farm in East Earl, Lancaster County, with Lancaster County Sen. Scott Martin and other agriculture officials to discuss the state’s coordinated response to the avian influenza crisis. Shapiro called the battle against avian flu in the state a bipartisan battle. A team of over 170 experts are conducting tests and improving security measures on farms across the Commonwealth. A response team made up of veterinarians and specialists from the PA Department of Agriculture, USDA, Penn State Extension, and PennAg Industries has worked side by side with poultry businesses, eliminating the virus on the 67 farms in 15 PA counties where it has been confirmed. PA is the only state with a $25 million fund to help fill the gap in covering losses from the avian flu. The governor has proposed putting an additional $25 million into the fund this year to continue improving biosecurity efforts and support farmers.
