1. Register Today! Preventing Bird Flu on Dairy Farms Webinar September 24, 2026
APHIS Stakeholder Registry
September 15, 20206
Secure Our Herds This Fall: Preventing Bird Flu on Dairy Farms
Join experts from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for Secure Our Herds This Fall: Preventing Bird Flu on Dairy Farms.
This webinar offers practical, easy-to-use biosecurity guidance that dairy producers can incorporate into everyday operations, along with an overview of USDA resources and support available to help protect herds this fall.
September 24, 2026 2:30 PM Eastern Time
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K9sc2YXnRYOR38p7OAHObg #/registration
2. MDARD Announces Detection of Bovine Tuberculosis-Positive Herds in Iosco County [MI - edited]
Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
September 15, 2026
LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reporting cases of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in two cattle herds from Iosco County. One herd was found as part of a trace investigation related to a previously identified TB-positive herd and the other was identified as part of routine whole herd surveillance testing.
"These latest detections of bovine TB underscore why this disease is so challenging to address and the critical need to thoroughly investigate animal movements and maintain active surveillance in order to manage this disease," said State Veterinarian Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "MDARD remains committed to working together with agency partners, producers, and stakeholders to ensure the strength of Michigan's cattle industry as well as to protect animal and public health."
In the past, bovine TB-infected wild deer have been found within Iosco County, and a TB-infected cattle herd was identified in May 2026. Epidemiological investigations are already underway to identify any potential additional cases stemming from these newly identified affected herds. Whole genome sequencing will also occur to help determine the source of the infection.
3. FFAR Research to Test Fogging Approach to Reduce Avian Influenza Transmission
FFAR News Release
September 15, 2026
H5N1 influenza, commonly known as bird flu, continues to threaten U.S. poultry and egg production. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and Entomol Products LLC are investing $448,940 in a Rapid Outcomes from Agricultural Research (ROAR) grant to test an innovative, plant-based approach to reduce transmission of avian influenza. Researchers are determining whether intermittently fogging or misting hydrogenated catmint oil (HCO), a product with demonstrated antiviral properties, in poultry housing can interrupt transmission of avian influenza viruses.
Avian influenza has severe economic consequences for the U.S. poultry and egg industries. The virus spreads rapidly among birds and leads to mass depopulation of infected flocks. This influenza virus is classified as High or Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza based on how it affects poultry. Highly pathogenic?avian influenza viruses?cause severe disease and high mortality in infected?poultry, while low pathogenic avian influenza is a mild or asymptomatic viral infection.
HCO is a modified plant essential oil and an EPA-registered active ingredient used in commercially available insect repellents. Previous research found that aerosolized formulations containing HCO significantly reduced H1N1 influenza virus in the air. Led by Dr. David Hallahan, chief science officer at Entomol, and Dr. Ekramy Sayedahmed, assistant professor of poultry medicine at Purdue University, researchers are testing whether HCO can reduce avian influenza transmission. The researchers are using low pathogenic avian influenza to evaluate HCO's antiviral effects against avian influenza and inform its potential application against highly pathogenic avian influenza. The team is also establishing effective aerosol delivery parameters, including HCO concentration, fogging duration and frequency, effective range and overall efficacy.
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed in Barron County [WI - edited]
By Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
UrbanMilwaukee.com
September 15, 2026
MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry flock in Barron County.
DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) animal health officials are working together in a joint incident response. The affected premises has been quarantined to restrict movement of poultry and poultry products. Birds on the property were depopulated to prevent the spread of the disease. Birds from the flock will not enter the food system.
DATCP continues to urge all livestock owners to implement strong biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds from the disease. This includes washing hands, disinfecting equipment, restricting access to animals, and separating new additions to the flock or herd for at least 30 days. Poultry owners are asked, when possible, to keep their birds indoors.
When HPAI is diagnosed in a Wisconsin poultry flock, a control area is established within a 10-kilometer area around the infected premises, restricting movement on or off any premises with poultry. To help producers determine if their poultry are located within an active control area or surveillance zone, poultry owners are encouraged to use DATCP's mapping tool.
Manitoba has Canada's first case of HPAI since May
By Diego Flammini
Farms.com
September 15, 2026
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Manitoba is Canada's first in months.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed the detection on Sept. 10 on a commercial poultry operation in the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry.
Agriculture is the community's second-largest industry, the Economic Development Council of Bilingual Municipalities of Manitoba's website says.
The infected zone includes areas of Provincial Road 200 and Road 14N, Provincial Road 200 and Road 15N, Road 9E & Provincial Trunk Highway 23, and Provincial Trunk Highway 23 and Provincial Road 200, the CFIA's map shows.
Full text: https://www.farms.com/ag-industry-news/manitoba-has-canada-s-first-case-of-hpai-since-may-995.aspx
5. APHIS to Discontinue Zone-Specific Stakeholder Announcements for HPAI in Canada
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Bulletin
September 15, 2026
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will discontinue zone-specific stakeholder announcements regarding zones in Canada that are subject to restrictions on the importation of certain avian commodities due to diagnoses of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) while Canada is experiencing an active HPAI outbreak. APHIS will continue to issue stakeholder announcements for the first zone restriction that initiates a new HPAI outbreak and the final zone release that concludes an HPAI outbreak event in Canada.
The list of restricted zones can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Investigations and orders of avian influenza in domestic birds by province webpage. APHIS considers any zone on the list with a "Date detected" listed and a status of "Active" or "To be determined" to be restricted; any zone on the list with a status of "Revoked" is no longer considered restricted effective the date of the zone revocation order.
Importation into the United States of poultry, commercial birds, ratites, avian hatching eggs, unprocessed avian products and byproducts, and certain fresh poultry products originating from or transiting restricted zone(s) remains prohibited. APHIS will continue to report individual zone-specific stakeholder announcements related to outbreaks of animal health diseases of concern other than HPAI.
Full text: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/42acedb
6. Spotting Signs of Colic in Your Horse
Posted by Stacey Oke, DVM, MSc
TheHorse.com
September 14, 2026
Colic remains the leading cause of illness and death in horses, affecting an estimated four out of 100 horses each year. Researchers have also identified colic as the most common equine emergency. In one recent study Sarah Freeman, BVetMed, PhD, Cert.VA, Cert.VR, Cert.ES, Dipl. ECVS, FHEA, FRCVS, professor at the University of Nottingham's College of Veterinary Medicine and Science, in the U.K., analyzed 2,600 emergency veterinary calls and found that colic accounted for 35% of after-hours emergency visits.
Freeman says horse owners typically notice the first signs of colic and must decide when to call a veterinarian. This can be challenging, but it is an essential skill because early treatment improves outcomes. Researchers on a 2022 study said common reasons for delayed response to clinical issues in horses include lack of understanding or knowledge of the subject and difficulty recognizing subtle signs of abdominal pain.
Know Your Horse's Normal Vital Signs
Those findings echo a 2020 study in which Freeman and her colleagues surveyed 1,331 horse owners about their understanding of a "normal" versus a colicky horse and their general understanding of colic. One key finding was only 45% of owners correctly reported a horse's normal resting heart rate. "An increased heart rate is a key measure of pain in horses," says Freeman.
This means many owners are unfamiliar with their horse's normal heart rate and, therefore, might not recognize an elevated heart rate in a colicky horse or call their veterinarian in a timely fashion. A normal resting heart rate in an adult horse ranges from 28 to 44 beats per minute.
Full text: https://thehorse.com/1147166/spotting-signs-of-colic-in-your-horse/