The threat of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is growing for Minnesota’s poultry producers. If a flock becomes infected, the birds will be put down and the carcasses will be composted to kill the virus. Composting requires utilizing various carbon sources to create/build windrows, turn windrows and remove windrows after the process completes.  This work is done primarily inside barns so equipment will need to fit through barn doors. Common carbon sources include wood shavings, wood chips, sawdust, wheat straw,  corn stalks, and corn cobs. We are contacting you to help HPAI responders in need of composting. If you have experience to create the pile and cap needed for composting poultry please complete this survey.

This survey is voluntary. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is collecting this information primarily for state and federal responders but may share your contact information with poultry producers in response to an HPAI outbreak. Note that any information you provide is public data under the law, and the MDA would be required to provide it to any person who asks for it.

The information you provide will be available on the Board of Animal Health website for poultry producers.

If a producer requests an actual quote for compost work, it should include a separate cost for each of the processes in composting (building windrows, turning windrows, and removing windrows). If providing carbon sources as well, a separate quote must be completed for the carbon source. The compost work and the carbon sources used must be approved by the Compost Subject Matter Expert and Field Reimbursement Specialist for the site.