This Weeks Spring Fever Garden Forum

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North Dakota State University is offering a series of workshops for gardeners. The Spring Fever Garden Forums will run on Monday evenings, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. CT, from March 25 to April 15.

Session 4, April 15th  Special Topics

• Bees and Bee Mimics in Gardens
• Crabgrass Management in Lawns
• Mike Who? Fungi That Help Gardens

In person attendees at the Burke County Courthouse Community Room in Bowbells will receive a special gift.

All sessions are free and recorded for future viewing but registration is requested. Please register at https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/spring-fever-garden-forums/

Avian Influenza Found in Cattle! Update!

          Confirmed cases of HPAI continue to spread in dairy herds in the US.  HPAI is now confirmed in ten herds in six states. The good news is that it appears that most, if not all,  confirmed cases beyond the original one in Texas purchased heifers from the  dairy in Texas where the first case was confirmed.

This highlights the importance of good biosecurity procedures such as quarantining of newly purchased livestock of any species. While no confirmed cases have been reported in beef cattle it is possible or maybe even probable that beef cattle have been infected.

Decreased herd level milk production; acute sudden drop in production with some severely impacted cows experiencing thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk; decrease in feed consumption with a simultaneous drop in rumen motility; abnormal tacky or loose feces, lethargy, dehydration, and fever. Based on these symptoms, beef cattle with mild symptoms may not even be noticed in many beef cattle herds.  These symptoms may also be caused by a variety of other viral and/ or bacterial diseases.  Initial cases indicated older cows in mid-lactation may be more likely to be severely impacted than younger cows and fresh cows or heifers. Additional data indicates younger cattle have been affected; more data and reporting from impacted producers will help to clarify the range of animals affected.

Livestock producers need to practice good biosecurity including quarantine of newly purchased animals. While it is not possible to completely protect all feed sources from contact with wild birds, keeping feed storage bins and buildings closed and sealed against sparrows, pigeons, and other species of wild birds can lessen the possibility of HPAI transmission and other infectious disease transmission through feed sources.