Dear Neighbor,
Springtime brings the annual wild bird migration north to nest and rear their young. Unfortunately, with that migration also comes the potential for highly pathogenetic avian flu which can be deadly to domestic poultry. The last major outbreak in Minnesota was in 2015. About 9 million domestic birds were lost in Minnesota before the outbreak subsided.
Avian influenza does not pose a food safety risk to poultry products, they remain safe and nutritious.
However, the high-path strain of avian flu is typically fatal to domestic poultry flocks, large or small. Since 2015. the poultry industry, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the Minnesota Board of Animal Health have instituted significant biosecurity measures to prevent its introduction and rapidly contain any outbreak.
If you raise poultry, even if it’s only a small flock, it's important to be aware of those biosecurity measures and the signs of this disease. For more info visit the Board of Animal Health website at: https://www.bah.state.mn.us/hpai/
Legislation championed by Sen. David Tomassoni (I-Chisholm) funding research to find a cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has passed both bodies. The bill includes $20 million for research and $5 million for ALS-specific respite care. The bill passed the Senate 67-0 and the House 121-9.
It was a bittersweet moment to cast a vote for this legislation in support of my friend Sen. Tomassoni’s effort to help others in the future, as he continues to wage a heroic battle against this fatal disease.
The legislature tends to be Minnesota-focused, however not everything is local. The House recently fast-tracked legislation that directs the State Board of Investment to divest from companies headquartered in Russia and Belarus. HF4165 passed 129-0 and is now in the Senate awaiting action.
I also co-authored a House Resolution “urging the President of the United States to consider the current geopolitical tensions and support policies and take measures to ensure America’s long-term energy affordability, security, leadership and progress, including actions that result in the continued operation of existing oil and natural gas pipelines, the construction of new pipelines, and an end to restrictions on developing our nation's onshore and offshore oil and natural gas resources.”
A reliable, domestically produced energy supply is fundamental to our nation’s security in this time of major global instability.
Sincerely,
Dale