The state has not seen any new cases of HPAI reported in birds since January, though there are positive tests on a dairy farm this week.

Walz added that Minnesota’s turkey and dairy farmers are continuing to struggle. The most recent proposed budget from Walz includes $4 million to combat the avian flu statewide. Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota announced it has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fight H5N1.

Minnesota’s State Veterinarian Brian Hoefs said that declaring the state's poultry free of avian influenza to this point is a "small victory" and to expect cases to come this spring.