SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – All nine of the state’s affected turkey farms are restocked and raising birds again just five months after the first tested positive for the deadly bird flu virus.
Dakota Provisions Board Chairman Jeff Sveen says their final farm was restocked with young turkeys recently. Sveen says the hope is that the processing plant will be back to full power by the end of October.
Avian influenza led to the deaths of 1.7 million turkeys and chickens in South Dakota and took a toll financially on the state’s farmers and processing plants.
Dakota Layers was the only egg-laying chicken operation to be affected in the state. Vice President Jason Ramsdell says they’re still recovering because of the more extensive cleaning process needed for chickens. Dakota Layers hopes to start restocking by December.