University of Maryland Extension offering resources to help chicken farmers
MARYLAND – The University of Maryland Extension is looking to provide resources for poultry farmers as challenges with bird flu continue.
The extension recently rolled out a new website, as well as online resources in order to help chicken farmers during this difficult time.
“Right now, we’re really working on concentrating on getting the word out, helping growers to understand the situation as it evolves, because it is a constantly evolving situation. We want them to have the resources to make them feel comfortable, that they can move forward with their lives and not be too stressed out about the situation,” said Dr. Jon Moyle, State Extension Poultry Specialist for University of Maryland Extension.
One of the ways they are doing that is through virtual education on its new website. That virtual education is delivered through zoom webinars and allows farmers to join in on expert-led discussions on safe practices and outbreak response strategies, which can be helpful to them.
“Biosecurity is, right now, about the only thing we really have that can really prevent the spread of this disease, but what we want to tell people to do is make sure one, no visitors, that’s one of the things we really push. If you need to visit somebody, visit at the end of the drive way or somewhere else off the farm,” said Dr. Moyle.
Other biosecurity measures stressed through these resources include the need for dedicated footwear.
“We want to make sure people use dedicated footwear in every house. As we look at our farms, we need to look at as a line of separation. When we go out to that poultry house, that there is no outside coming in or inside going out,” said Dr. Moyle.
In addition, the University of Maryland Extension is working on providing timely updates on the latest outbreak developments, as well as a comprehensive library of biosecurity protocols, guidelines, fact sheets and hotlines, resources which the Delmarva Chicken Association said could be valuable during the bird flu outbreak.
“As sort of a partner outreach to that, extension is really important because extension speaks both to chicken growers, family farmers and to backyard flock homes,” said James Fisher of the Delmarva Chicken Association.
This effort is a collaboration between UME, the Maryland and Delaware Departments of Agriculture, Delaware Cooperative Extension and the Delmarva Chicken Association.
For more information visit go.umd.edu/poultry.
