
(TheConservativeTimes.org) – The last duck farm on Long Island faces devastation as a concerning “COVID for ducks” outbreak forces the euthanasia of over 100,000 ducks.
This drastic action to contain a bird flu outbreak threatens to destroy a century-old family business and local heritage.
The farm’s operator now grapples with potential permanent closure and mass layoffs, exposing the vulnerability of American agriculture.
Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue, Long Island, a proud family-owned business operating since 1908, has been dealt a crushing blow.
The farm has been ordered to euthanize its entire flock of more than 100,000 ducks due to a detected outbreak of H5N1 bird flu.
Farm operator Doug Corwin faces the heartbreaking reality of potentially laying off many of the farm’s 75 staff members.
“It was like COVID for ducks. Everything ended,” Corwin stated to highlight the devastating impact of this measure.
Built on generations of selective breeding and significant investments in modern farming techniques, the farm’s success now hangs in the balance.
Despite surviving economic challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, Crescent Duck Farm faces an uncertain future due to this latest setback.
“I’ve got a lot of hurdles to overcome to start up again,” Corwin said. He hopes that the 7,000 duck eggs he acquired before the outbreak can be hatched off-site.
While health officials claim the risk to human health is minimal, the farm must undergo extensive cleaning and inspections, a process expected to take 2-3 months.
This prolonged shutdown could prove fatal for the business, potentially ending a rich local tradition that has spanned generations.
The first New York case of bird flu was reported in Suffolk County in 2022, raising questions about the effectiveness of existing preventive measures.
The swift spread of H5N1 among flocks highlights the need for more robust, proactive strategies to protect American farms.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of the American food supply chain and the potentially devastating consequences of bird flu in agriculture.
As Crescent Duck Farm fights for survival, concerned communities will have to wait and see how the situation plays out.
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