USDA declares Minnesota’s dairy farms bird

ST. PAUL — After four straight months of raw milk testing in Minnesota’s dairy farms without detecting the H5N1 avian influenza virus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated the state’s dairy herds as “unaffected” by the virus.

The USDA ordered nationwide testing after multiple states confirmed the virus was present in dairy cattle. Minnesota reported nine cases last year.

In response, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture has tested raw milk batches every month since February.

“Every single time milk is picked up from a dairy farm, there’s a sample collected,” said Nicole Neeser, the director of the state’s ag department dairy and meat inspection division. “Every day of every year, all the time.”

Neeser’s team coordinated with industry labs to create a schedule of farms t