The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Rural Finance Authority has declared emergency due to the recent outbreak of animal disease.
Zero-interest Disaster Recovery Loans will be available for Minnesota farmers who have sustained livestock losses due to avian Metapneumovirus (aMPV), highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), or the H5N1 flu virus.
The Disaster Recovery Loan Program offers affordable financing to support Minnesota farmers after events of hardship, such as animal disease outbreak. These loans are available to help with expenses that are often not covered by insurance, including livestock replacement, building improvements, or to cover revenue loss due to confirmed disease.
aMPV is a highly infectious respiratory disease that affects poultry and has a high mortality rate. 871 positive aMPV cases have been reported in Minnesota since April 2024, though this is likely an undercount.
HPAI is a contagious viral disease and is a major threat to animal health, the poultry industry, trade, and worldwide economy. The first cases were confirmed back in 2022; since then, approximately 9.1 million domestic birds, mostly turkeys, have been affected. There have been four reported cases so far in 2025. HPAI affects both domestic and wild birds, and is fatal.
H5N1 is the same virus that causes HPAI, but also affects dairy cows and other animals, although it rarely kills cows. The first H5N1 case in Minnesota appeared in June 2024. No cases have been reported so far in 2025.
Farmers who wish to learn more about Disaster Recovery Loan programs should visit www.mda.state.mn.us/disasterloan
