BioSec Bob here on Saturday, July 4, 2026 — let’s get right into it.
Bird flu’s got poultry owners tightening their operations. According to SBS reporting on poultry news, free-range chicken owners are being advised to keep their hens inside as avian influenza spreads. The guidance comes as the threat widens, pushing producers to move away from outdoor housing systems that’ve been standard practice for many backyard and commercial operations. That’s a significant shift for anyone running birds on range.
Swine disease is moving through Asia at a troubling pace. The Times of India is reporting that African Swine Fever’s been detected in Lakhimpur — that’s the fourth district in Upper Assam to report an outbreak. The disease continues to expand its footprint in the region, hitting swine operations across multiple geographic areas in a relatively short window.
On the U.S. poultry front, highly pathogenic avian influenza is making a comeback in some regions while pulling back in others. Meatingplace reports that HPAI’s resurgent in Mountain West cattle herds, nearly halted in poultry operations. That split picture means producers in different regions face very different risk profiles right now depending on where their flocks are located.
Arkansas is opening a new tool for feral hog control. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette is reporting that changes to state pesticide rules now clear the way for warfarin use in feral hog bait. The regulatory shift removes a barrier that’d previously kept that rodenticide option off the table for producers managing wild hog populations on their land.
The emotional and financial toll of bird flu culls is real. The Guardian followed up with a U.S. poultry farmer who depopulated his entire flock and is now living with the aftermath. He described the silence after the birds were gone as the hardest part — a sobering reminder of what producers face when HPAI moves through a farm.
Over in Mississippi, heat stress is becoming the immediate concern. SuperTalk Mississippi Media reports that MSU Extension is offering practical tips to protect backyard chickens and livestock from extreme heat. With temperatures climbing, that guidance’s hitting at the right time for producers managing birds and animals in the Deep South.
Keep your eyes on your birds — it’s a fluid situation out there.