Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge recently traveled to Washington, D.C., where he joined Governor Mike DeWine at the National Governors Association Conference for a critical meeting with U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Rollins. The discussion, which included representatives from multiple states, focused on strategies to combat the ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu.
“The last several weeks have been devastating for Ohio’s poultry industry,” Baldridge said. “We continue to work with our communities to address these challenges.”
In addition to meeting with federal officials, Director Baldridge attended the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) conference, where state agriculture commissioners, directors, and secretaries convened to discuss key issues facing the industry. This year, HPAI was a major topic of concern, as outbreaks have significantly impacted poultry farmers across the country.
“We are grateful for the ongoing communication, efforts, and support of Secretary Rollins and the USDA as we continue to respond to cases in Ohio and assist our impacted communities,” Baldridge added.
Ohio remains committed to working with federal and state partners to protect its agricultural industry and mitigate the effects of the avian flu outbreak.
