A vote is set in the Minnesota Senate today (11am start) on a drought relief package that also includes emergency funding to address the avian flu outbreak which has now reached Minnesota. Elbow Lake Senator Torrey Westrom says, “It’s very unfortunate that this happened in our state. We’ve been prepared for it. We’re gonna continue to be prepared for it. We’ve got the Board of Animal Health and other experts on the ground. We’re gonna be watching this closely for our farmers — our poultry farmers especially. It is a very tough, trying time.”
The bill has nearly two million dollars in additional funding for the veterinary diagnostic lab and other measures, including avian flu testing. A bill the Minnesota House passed earlier is somewhat different and the two chambers must work out their differences for a bill to be sent to the governor.