View Presentation Application

Keeping Your Farm Safe from H5N1: Guardians of the Herd

Animal Science

Jacqueline Wilkins

Abstract

The purpose of this presentation is to describe the national Extension response to highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in dairy systems and to highlight how coordinated, producer-focused education strengthened biosecurity preparedness across the United States. Launched in October 2024, the EXCITE H5N1 National Project aimed to increase awareness and practical understanding of H5N1 among Extension agents, dairy producers, and farmworkers, while supporting adoption of prevention practices that protect both animal and human health. The project’s approach emphasized collaboration, adaptability, and practicality. In partnership with the National Center for Farmworker Health, the project team developed and tested easy-to-use educational resources—including fact sheet booklets, banners, signage, and biosecurity checklists—using neuromarketing insights to ensure messages resonated with dairy audiences. Educational delivery occurred through multiple channels, including national monthly H5N1 Spotlight sessions, a project website, and extensive on-farm outreach. While five land-grant institutions received funding to lead formal programming, an additional 43 institutions voluntarily participated, significantly broadening national reach. Funded and non-funded institutions alike contributed to a coordinated response through training, outreach, material development, and on-farm engagement, collectively reaching thousands of producers, workers, and industry partners across the country. Funded LGU institutions alone (Michigan, Texas, California, Idaho, Utah) conducted over 200 activities reaching more than 3,000 participants, while non-funded institutions reported more than 500 activities reaching over 4,000 participants. Institutions adapted education to local contexts—embedding H5N1 messaging into broader farm safety and biosecurity programs, responding to producer hesitancy, and adjusting timing when outbreak dynamics shifted. Demonstration kits, portable biosecurity stations, bilingual materials, and on-farm dialogues helped translate information into action. Producers and farmworkers reported increased adoption of biosecurity practices, installation of signage, improved understanding of pasteurization, and greater use of PPE. Collaboratively, their efforts increased awareness of H5N1, improved adoption of biosecurity practices, and enhanced connections between Extension, public health agencies, and agricultural partners. The approaches, lessons learned, and sustainability plans for continuing this work will be shared during this presentation with the goal of building awareness about the methodologies and resources to keep farms safe from H5N1 and support our guardians of the herd.

 

 

Authors: Jacqueline Wilkins, Tina Horn, Justin Clawson, Mario E del Haro-Marti, Catalina Picasso, Juan Pinerio, Noelia Silva-del-Rio
  1. Jacqueline Wilkins Professor, Extension Specialist, The Ohio State University, Ohio, 43210
  2. Tina Horn One Health EXCITE H5N1 Dairy Specialist, Clemson University Cooperative Extension, South Carolina, 29745
  3. Justin Clawson Extension Associate Professor, Utah State University, Utah, 84321
  4. Mario E del Haro-Marti Professor and Extension Educator, Dairy and Livestock Environmental Education, University of Idaho, Idaho, 83330
  5. Catalina Picasso Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, Michigan, 48824
  6. Juan Pinerio Associate Professor, Extension Dairy Specialist , Texas A&M University, Texas, 79106
  7. Noelia Silva-del-Rio Associate Professor, Extension, UC Davis, California, 93274