Gov. Kim Reynolds issued the following statement in response to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship requesting resources from the United States Department of Agriculture and announcing additional response measures: 

“Earlier today Secretary Naig informed me about the plan to test dairy cows in areas where cases of HPAI have been confirmed in poultry flocks. I appreciate his and the department’s proactive response. Because Iowa farmers produce 10 percent of the nation’s food supply, protecting the health of our livestock is one of our highest priorities. 

“Additionally, last week I sent a letter to Sec. Vilsack urging the USDA to prioritize and expedite the approval process for animal vaccines designed to combat diseases threatening the agriculture industry. I will continue to advocate for these vaccines to help prevent and control future disease outbreaks.” 

You can find the full press release from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship here.  

You can find Gov. Reynolds letter to Sec. Vilsack here.