(Radio Iowa) - Iowa dairy producers who've been impacted by bird flu can now apply for federal emergency funding.
The U-S-D-A expanded its Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm Raised Fish Program to help cover lost profits from the virus. Dairy farmers are required to discard milk from sick cows to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Matt Russell, executive director of U-S-D-A-Iowa Farm Service Agency, says expanding the program supports dairy farmers and creates an incentive to get tested. To be eligible, Russell says producers need a positive test result from the National Veterinary Services Laboratories.