No poultry or dairy cattle exhibitions at next summer’s 2025 Redwood Empire Fair. That’s because the California Department of Agriculture has banned all poultry and cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows across California due to the risk of the bird flu. Fair officials say while they understand the news that there won’t be any poultry or dairy exhibitions is disappointing, it’s an important decision to make sure animals and participants at the fair stay safe. The Department of Food and Agriculture says cow and bird owners play an important role in controlling the bird flu because it is easier to contain the spread of the disease when exposed cows and birds are not moved or commingled. The department says it will assess the threat over the next few months and hopes to rescind the ban if and when the situation changes. Last month, the state declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu which has affected dairy cattle in California and across the US. The virus, also called Type AH5N1, was first seen in US dairy cattle in March; it’s been confirmed in dozens of herds since. It could be especially devastating to the poultry industry. Affected d poultry has to be destroyed and the farm where it was found quarantined
A warning about scams associated with the fires around Los Angeles. GoFundMe campaigns have sprung up since the fire began but some of them may not be legitimate. The La Times reports about one person who had a fund in their name but knew nothing about it until they started getting messages from friends. The app says it s working carefully to make sure any campaigns are legitimate and that the money goes to people who need it. If you have any questions, GoFundMe suggests you should contact the organizer and ask directly about their campaign. If you aren’t satisfied with the answer you can contact the app through the “Report a Fundraiser” at the bottom.
