SAINT PAUL, MN –Representative Jeanne Poppe (DFL – Austin), the agriculture finance lead for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor caucus, release the following statement on the avian influenza crisis:
“First of all I want be very clear that this is not a public health issue and there is no food safety risk. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s number one priority is a secure food supply and avian influenza is not jeopardizing our food supply. The Minnesota Department of Health has made it very clear, there is no risk to humans from avian flu.
Farmers across Minnesota are in a financial and emotional whirlwind. Turkey processing plants are being forced to idle production lines because of the drastic decline in turkey supplies and workers are being laid off.
This crisis is not a joke and not a political issue. Any attempt to turn it into either is disrespectful of farmers across Minnesota and unbecoming of our shared Minnesotan values.”
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