Highly pathogenic avian influenza moves fast, and the farms that come through it best are the ones that did their paperwork before anything went wrong. This page pulls together the emergency contacts, sampling guidance, and preparation steps Michigan poultry producers need in one place.
If you keep a backyard flock, the part that matters most to you is the first section. Call someone the moment birds start dying unexpectedly.
Key Emergency Contacts
At the first sign of suspected infection, call one or all of the following immediately.
- Dr. Nora Wineland, MDARD: (517) 281-2415
- Dr. Nancy Barr, MDARD: (517) 388-1347
- Dr. Kimberly Dodd, MSU VDL: (631) 827-6633
- Dr. Mick Fulton, MSU VDL: (517) 353-3701
Print the full Emergency Poultry Contacts document and keep a copy at the farm.
Sampling Chain of Events
There are two sampling guidance documents to print and review. One covers the initial suspicion of sick and dead birds. The other covers what to do if you are inside a control zone and will need permitted movement.
MSU VDL is also working to pre-position sampling kits in case control zones become necessary.
Direct sampling questions to:
- Dr. Kimberly Dodd, MSU VDL: (631) 827-6633
- Dr. Mick Fulton, MSU VDL: (517) 353-3701
Steps Your Farm Can Take to Be Prepared
Know your premise ID
Have it written down somewhere you can find it under pressure.
Know your geo-coordinates
Officials will need the coordinates of your front gate or drive entrance and of each barn. These become important when they are drawing Control and Surveillance Zones.
Inventory the backyard flocks around your farm
Prepare a list of addresses, or drop pins on a Google map, for the residences near your farm. A two mile radius may not be practical, but aim for at least one mile.
Prepare a contact list for carbon sources
Carbon sources will be limited when they are needed most. Line up options ahead of time.
Be mindful of travel routes and neighboring farms
Have porta-jon service on your contact list
Porta-jons and hand washing stations are required on site for federal officials in the event of depopulation.
Notify neighboring backyard flocks
Let small flock owners nearby know that HPAI is present in Michigan and what steps keep all poultry safer. The Backyard HPAI Letter, written from your farm to your neighbors, and the Backyard HPAI Flyer are both available for distribution.
EMRS Gateway Preparation
The Emergency Management Response System 2.0 (EMRS2) is the web based application used for permitted movement of non-infected flocks inside a control zone.
Send the following to Dr. Cherie Collins, USDA Emergency Coordinator, to verify you are correctly registered in EMRS. Send it in spreadsheet format.
- PIN (Premise Identification Number)
- Your 911 address
- The geo-coordinates of your front gate
- The geo-coordinates of your barns, if they sit a quarter mile or more from the front gate
- Company affiliation
In Preparation for Indemnity
Is your NPIP biosecurity plan audit current?
NPIP biosecurity plan audits are a condition for indemnity, and audits must be completed every two years. Contact MAPI with questions.
Keep daily mortality records up to date
Prepare indemnity request documents
Fill these out as far ahead as you can. It saves time later.
- Appraisal and Indemnity Request for HPAI, required for all farms
- Appraisal and Indemnity Request for Owners, required for all farms
- Appraisal and Indemnity Request for Contract Growers, required when the owner and grower are separate parties
Register with SAM
SAM is the portal through which a producer receives indemnity funds, and registration is not a fast process. Spend the time now to make sure you are registered properly. SAM registration must be updated annually.
Important Links
Sign up for MDARD avian influenza notices. Look under the Animal Health section and click Avian Influenza.
Monitor HPAI confirmations from USDA. Every case in commercial and non-commercial backyard flocks is listed there. The first positive in a state is announced by press release. After that, cases are added to the site with no announcement.
Review USDA HPAI documents. There is a great deal of reference material available.
Secure Poultry Supply Plan. Get familiar with it before you need it, in case your farm ends up in a control zone and requires permitted movement.
Wildlife Management
For sick or dead wildlife observed on or near your farm, contact Tony Duffiney, State Director, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services: (517) 719-9165.
Wildlife Services publishes biosecurity factsheets on preventing access to barns and other facilities, reducing water access, and protecting food resources.
Media Relations Reminders
If a reporter calls you directly, write down their name, their number, and what they are asking for.
- Do not give out information about your farm, or any other farm, in an HPAI scenario, whether by phone or email.
- Tell them you are passing their information to the proper contact, who will respond.
- Reporters are not your friends. They are doing a job.
Pass every media inquiry to Allison Brink or Burch Partners so the industry stays consistent in how it answers.
Allison Brink: (616) 293-6769
Burch Partners
- Brian Burch: (616) 828-9813
- Erin Cataldo: (810) 423-0017
If You Suspect Something Is Wrong
Do not wait to see whether it gets better. Call one of the emergency contacts above. Early reporting protects your flock, your neighbors’ flocks, and the whole Michigan poultry industry.