Mike Pearson takes a look at how the H5N1 virus or Avian flu continues to take a toll on the poultry and livestock industry.

California has emerged as the hardest hit state by the H5N1 virus in 2024.

According to the USDA and California state data, 3 1/2 million domestic birds died in November alone.

And in the dairy industry, 436 dairy herds have been impacted which is 2/3 of the herds nation wide (650 nation wide).

The USDA says biosecurity is a real problem and has released some new standards including avoiding contact with wild birds as much as possible and implementing strict contact with who can enter barns.

The CDC has said workers must wear protective gear when dealing with infected animals.

However, the USDA says these standards are not being followed as necessary and the virus is spreading.

Egg production has taken a hit nationally. Table egg production is down to 7.7 million dozen down from 2023, which is a 1 percent drop.

That is not including the domestic flocks lost in Utah, Washington and Oregon which lost 2 million birds in October alone.

Domestically, over 9 million birds were lost in 2023.

Egg production has fallen nationally. It's already causing higher prices and shortages in some grocery stores.

However. USDA is optimistic about 2025 and expect laying flocks to rebound and are hopeful for a 4 percent increase in domestic flocks in 2025.

Related:Farm Progress America, Jan. 16, 2025

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.