Since 2022, Iowa’s poultry and dairy producers have grappled with lingering threats and biosecurity concerns over Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a highly contagious virus that has disrupted operations across the United States. Over 63 total cases in poultry operations have been reported in Iowa affecting commercial layers, pullets, turkeys, and backyard mixed species, according to the USDA. 

After a relatively quiet 2024 with minimal detections reported throughout most of the year, recent outbreaks in commercial layers and meat turkeys suggest a resurgence of the highly contagious virus. According to the USDA, a total of 133.9 million birds have been affected since the start of the outbreak back in February 2022. Iowa alone accounted for over 29.9 million birds affected, leading the rest of the U.S. in the number of birds affected. Out of the 1,398 flocks affected nationwide, 633 were commercial flocks. In Iowa, 41 commercial...