Commonground
Senior Moderator
Declaration allows eligible farmers to apply for zero-interest loans
FEBRUARY 16, 2025
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board has declared an emergency for three animal diseases: avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the H5N1 flu virus. This makes zero-interest Disaster Recovery Loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations have sustained livestock losses due to the diseases from February 12, 2025 to February 12, 2026.
“The RFA Board’s declaration is an important step in helping Minnesota farmers affected by these three animal health diseases,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “I encourage those who have faced livestock losses to explore these zero-interest loans.”
aMPV is a highly infectious respiratory disease affecting poultry. It causes significant immunosuppression in birds which leads to secondary infections and often high mortality. Minnesota has reported 871 aMPV positive tests since April 2024, which is likely an undercount of actual cases across the state. The disease is a burden to producers who lose birds and have no means of financial support like they do with HPAI and other diseases.
continued: https://www.morningagclips.com/rura...es-emergency-due-to-animal-disease-outbreaks/
FEBRUARY 16, 2025
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority (RFA) Board has declared an emergency for three animal diseases: avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and the H5N1 flu virus. This makes zero-interest Disaster Recovery Loans available for Minnesota farmers whose operations have sustained livestock losses due to the diseases from February 12, 2025 to February 12, 2026.
“The RFA Board’s declaration is an important step in helping Minnesota farmers affected by these three animal health diseases,” said Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen. “I encourage those who have faced livestock losses to explore these zero-interest loans.”
aMPV is a highly infectious respiratory disease affecting poultry. It causes significant immunosuppression in birds which leads to secondary infections and often high mortality. Minnesota has reported 871 aMPV positive tests since April 2024, which is likely an undercount of actual cases across the state. The disease is a burden to producers who lose birds and have no means of financial support like they do with HPAI and other diseases.
continued: https://www.morningagclips.com/rura...es-emergency-due-to-animal-disease-outbreaks/