West Virginia Lifts Ban on Poultry Exhibits

Written by Tyler R. Etter

On November 10, 2015, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Walt Helmick announced that he was
lifting the ban on gatherings of live poultry. West Virginia is the first state to lift its ban on these
gatherings.

The ban has been in place since May of 2015 in response to the outbreak of avian influenza. Ohio and
Pennsylvania enacted similar bans, which are still in place. Spokesperson at the Pennsylvania
Department of Agriculture stated that the ban will be re-evaluated next year, and the Ohio Department
of Agriculture has also stated that it will potentially reevaluate the ban at the beginning of the next year.

The West Virginia Ag Director is continuing to urge the exercise of caution and biosecurity habits, due to
the possibility of reappearance due to exposure from wild birds. Poultry is West Virginia’s most valuable
agricultural sector, valued at $355 million.

Secretary Redding Suspends Avian Competitions at Fairs

On May 11, 2015, due to increasing threats regarding the spread of avian influenza, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding issued a press release announcing that the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was “suspending all avian competitions at state-approved agricultural fairs in 2015, as well as the 2016 Pennsylvania Farm Show.”

According to Secretary Redding, since December 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture has reported that 145 flocks of U.S. birds have tested positive for avian influenza.  As a result, 15 million birds have either been killed by the disease or been euthanized by producers.  By suspending avian competitions at agricultural fairs, the secretary seeks “to take proactive steps to reduce the risks of avian influenza spreading.”

In a separate letter sent to the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs, Secretary Redding, in addition to announcing his ruling regarding state approved agricultural fairs and the Pennsylvania Farm Show, requested “that all additional open poultry shows, fairs and expositions in the state also refrain from avian activity in all forms, while the virus is spreading throughout the nation.”

Relatedly, on May 13, 2015, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed a state of emergency after a string of recent avian influenza outbreaks at Nebraska poultry facilities.  At this time, it has been reported that 4 million chickens, located on three different Nebraska farms, have tested positive for avian influenza.    


Written by M. Sean High - Staff Attorney
May 26, 2015