By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Wednesday May 25, 2022

May 25, 2022 | 10:53 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed two more outbreaks of avian influenza in small flocks in southern British Columbia and southeastern Alberta.

A statement from CFIA said the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza was identified Saturday in a flock in Cypress County, Alta., and on Sunday among birds in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen in B.C.

The B.C. case came one day after 4,000 turkeys on a Fraser Valley farm were due to be euthanized as avian flu was verified last week on two commercial poultry farms in B.C.’s poultry producing hub of Abbotsford.

The infection in Cypress County, near Medicine Hat, is the 29th in Alberta but the first in more than a week.

The agency warned avian flu is spreading globally and outbreaks have been confirmed in every province except Prince Edward Island.

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The White House said it is treating the shortage of infant formula as a top priority and there is growing concern that Canada could be sideswiped by the rush to action in the United States.

Over the weekend, military transports ferried more than 35,000 kilograms of prescription-grade formula into the U.S. from Europe, with more shipments on the way.

The shortage was triggered by the shutdown in February of a key plant in Michigan, but international trade experts said the real issue is the U.S. industry is controlled by only a handful of major players.

Most infant formula is made with cow’s milk that’s been altered to resemble breast milk. Soy-based formulas are an option for babies who are intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk formula or to lactose.

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Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI) has three new members on its board of directors.

Stéphane Beaudoin, President of GestBeau, Nicole McAuley, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at BASF Agricultural Solutions, and Timothy Kennedy, President and CEO of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance are the newest members.

CCFI also thanked the four departing board members whose terms have expired, Sylvie Cloutier, James Donaldson, Gwen Paddock, and Janet Riley.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW