Mike Pearson takes a look a testing program being rolled out by the USDA to detect the H5N1 (bird flu) virus.

Since March 20224, 400 dairy herds across 15 states have been confirmed with the virus.

The virus has been found in California, Texas, Wisconsin, Michigan and Kansas.

The virus has also impacted 36 people primarily farm workers across the USA.

A milk testing program was instituted voluntarily but only 64 herds volunteered. So now, a comprehensive bulk milk testing is being instituted across the USA.

The program will start with states where virus has been reported.

The decision follows the recommendation after officials determined that previous surveillance methods are not working.

The testing of bulk milk to check for presence of H5N1 is helping to find it early resulting in prompt containment.

The bulk milk testing program will begin early this month.

Colorado launched a bulk milk testing program in July and the state has had no outbreaks since then.

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.