BioSec Bob here on Monday, June 29, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Starting on the poultry side: the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has launched a pilot program to test new Salmonella control strategies at raw poultry processing plants. According to Food Safety Magazine, FSIS is working directly with select establishments to evaluate which interventions are most effective at reducing Salmonella contamination before product leaves the facility. The agency will be collecting data on what works in real processing environments so they can inform best practices across the industry. This is a collaborative effort aimed at strengthening the safety net from the plant level up.
Globally, the bird flu conversation is shifting. The Poultry Site is reporting that twelve human H5N1 cases have been confirmed worldwide over the past ten months. Those cases span multiple continents, which keeps the question of human transmission risk on the radar for producers and health officials alike. The relatively low number of human cases so far suggests the virus isn’t readily jumping to people, but continued monitoring remains important.
Over in the Philippines, conditions are tightening fast. Panay News reports that biosecurity measures have been ramped up in Negros Occidental as African swine fever continues its toll — hog deaths have topped 1,200 as producers there battle the outbreak. The province is implementing stricter movement controls and quarantine protocols to try to contain further spread. ASF remains one of the most devastating threats to the global swine herd.
Back in Kentucky, there’s some relief for small-scale poultry producers. Successful Farming is reporting that a new processing waiver is now in place that allows small Kentucky farmers to process chickens without running into regulatory trouble. The waiver creates a pathway for on-farm or cooperative processing, giving smaller operators options they didn’t have before while keeping food safety standards intact.
Up in Alabama, producers are getting a chance to sharpen their skills. The University of Alabama Department of Agriculture is hosting a workshop focused specifically on poultry house ventilation — according to paxtonmedia.com, the session will cover system design, maintenance, and troubleshooting to help farmers optimize air quality and bird health in their houses.
Finally, a sobering reminder on backyard operations. Phys.org is highlighting that bird flu isn’t just deadly for backyard chickens — veterinary experts confirm it’s also proving fatal in cats and other species that come into contact with infected birds. That’s worth keeping in mind if you’ve got small flocks or neighbors with them in your area.
Keep your biosecurity protocols solid — lot moving on the disease front.