ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is going to start testing raw cow milk Monday for avian influenza.

Minnesota has declared a state of emergency due to a trifecta of bird flu strains. The state's Department of Agriculture provides more information about how this move can help farmers.

Poultry producers, disease experts and government officials are now questioning the practice of widespread culling in response to H5N1 bird flu outbreaks.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry from samples taken at a Crow Wing County farm. According to a news release from Crow Wing County,

With egg prices soaring, the US is considering vaccinating laying chickens, which have been hit particularly hard by the avian influenza outbreak.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Starting next week, the state of Minnesota will begin testing raw cow milk for highly pathogenic avian influenza in compliance with USDA regulations. Since last year, a total of nine cases of bird flu have been reported in cows across Minnesota.

(Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Poultry diseases are running rampant across several Midwest states. Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says producers in his state are dealing with highly pathogenic avian influenza,

An emergency for three animal diseases has been declared allowing affected farmers to apply for zero-interest recovery loans.

Senate agriculture committee is told a lack of indemnity payments make it more difficult for affected growers to mitigate economic loss and even remain in business.