In this 4/12 update on HPAI affecting dairy cattle, read the following important updates: 1) Notice provided by PA Dept. of Agriculture outlining milk movement permit requirements. 2)Resources and assistance for developing your everyday/enhanced biosecurity plans. 3)Update from the USDA confirming the disease is now affecting herds in eight states.

The Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is the regionally agreed on list of priority projects required by federal transportation legislation. It lists all transportation projects in Berks County that intend to use federal funds over the next four years (FFY 2025-2028), along with non-federally funded projects that are regionally significant. The list is multi-modal, meaning that it includes highway, bridge, and public transit projects as well as non-traditional bicycle & pedestrian projects.  

The DRAFT FFY 2025-2028 TIP for Berks County contains 112 projects totaling $365.8 million for the phases to be advanced during the next four years. It includes 95 projects valued at $284.2 million addressing the highway system and bridges and 17 projects valued at $81.6 million addressing the transit system.

Pennsylvania will purchase development rights for 2,250 acres on 28 farms in 15 counties, forever protecting them from residential or commercial development. The farms, approved for conservation easement purchases by the State Agricultural Land Preservation Board, represent an $8.07 million investment to ensure that Pennsylvania farmers will have prime farmland to feed our families and economy in the future.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is now required to be notified when fish are stocked in Pennsylvania. This Notice of Stocking (NOS) to the PA Fish and Boat Commission is needed for both flowing and non-flowing water on public and private property. This includes private pond owners who plan to stock fish in their own private pond along with anyone else who wishes to introduce fish into the waters of the Commonwealth. 

Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced major updates to the state’s fertilizer law on Thursday. Joined by legislators, industry associations, and business leaders at Cashman’s Hardware Store in Adams County, Redding outlined the changes designed to reduce pollution in the state’s waterways and promote cost savings for residents through more informed fertilizer use.

In this rapidly changing health situation, robust biosecurity protocols are critical to preventing and managing HPAI on your dairy farm. According to the USDA and partners, HPAI is primarily spread by birds to animals and will spread on farms by people carrying matter from infected birds — such as dust, dander, and bird droppings — on their clothing, gloves, soles of their shoes, vehicle tires, animal trailers and other equipment, in addition to contaminated water. Keeping your equipment, clothing and footwear clean helps protect cattle from many viruses.

On April 10, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it has adopted the first-ever national drinking water standard for PFAS 'forever chemicals' in drinking water. For PFOA and PFOS, EPA is setting a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, a non-enforceable health-based goal, at zero.