The avian flu, believed to have been spread by migrating fowl, has led to the deaths of over 40 million chickens in the U.S, but has yet to infect any poultry in Ohio.
“This was a difficult decision because it means young people can’t show their birds at fairs, but it’s in the best interest of an industry that literally thousands of Ohio families and businesses depend on and which provides billions of dollars to our state’s economy. The right move isn’t always the easy move, but this is the right move,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels in a press release.
Hundreds of junior fair entrants in Butler and Warren counties will be impacted by the news, according to officials from each fairgrounds.
In Butler County, 210 junior fair entries this year included poultry, said Doug Turner, president of the Butler County Fair Board. The 4-H youth range in age from nine to 18.
“It’s very sad you’ve got 210 kids that won’t be able to bring their project to the fair … but we understand completely,” Turner said.
Turner said he participated in a conference call Tuesday morning with the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and the board will now devise a plan for disseminating information to all 4-H advisors to relay to the youth.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture is working with county and independent fair boards to identify options for children raising poultry for fair projects, such as amending deadlines for students to switch projects and allowing the use of props or photos in place of live birds.
“We are working with Ohio State University Extension to send out guidance to the fair boards and 4-H committees urging them to be creative and find a solution that will allow their young people to still have a fair experience, even if they cannot bring their project to the fairgrounds,” Daniels said in a press release.
Greg Meyer, educator at the Warren County O.S.U. Extension Office, said at least 100 youth in Warren County will be impacted by the canceled poultry exhibitions.
“There won’t be any poultry on the fairgrounds; we’re contacting the fair board and 4-H to come up with answers and solutions,” Meyer said. “Poultry is one of our more popular projects … I’m sure there will be a lot of disappointed 4-H’ers.”
Ohio is the second largest egg producer in the country and home to 28 million laying chickens, 12 million broilers, 8.5 million pullets and 2 million turkeys. Ohio’s egg, chicken and turkey farms employ more than 14,600 and contribute $2.3 billion to the state’s economy, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Last week, Indiana imposed a statewide ban on moving poultry and other birds to county fairs and other events to keep the flu at bay. Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan have also announced similar bans.
“Ultimately we are looking at the effect of the avian influenza on areas like Iowa and this is a step we feel is really important,” said Erica Hawkins, communication director with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Officials with the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Poultry Association, the O.S.U., and the Ohio Fair Managers Association, have issued statements in support of the state’s action to prevent avian flu.
Officials have said the virus does not present a food safety threat, and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has said the virus poses little risk to human health.
The ban does not affect zoos or permanent petting zoos, but is in place for travelling petting zoos, according to the ODA.
For those that have backyard flocks the ODA recommends avoiding contact with sick wildlife, cleaning and disinfecting vehicles and equipment, keeping visitors at bay, keeping you flock away from wild birds, and monitoring flocks for sneezing, wheezing, illness or death.
Poultry illness and death should be reported to the Ohio Division of Animal Health at 1-614-728-6220.
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