Poultry farmers face significant challenges in obtaining bird flu insurance

A Member of Parliament has issued a caution that poultry producers are exiting the sector due to the perceived difficulty, described as “near impossible,” in securing insurance coverage for avian influenza outbreaks. This viral disease resulted in the culling of millions of infected birds during the period from 2021 to 2023. During a parliamentary debate, Ben Goldsborough, the Labour Member of Parliament for South Norfolk, urged the government to explore establishing its own insurance program for farmers unable to obtain existing coverage. Daniel Zeichner, the farming minister, stated that government representatives were “in discussions” regarding potential actions. He further characterized the issue as “an important point and a complicated point.” Following the Westminster Hall debate, Goldsborough commented that insurance represented “a huge problem” for the farmers with whom he had communicated. He elaborated, stating, “They’re either having to pay extortionate premiums now – or insurance companies are just turning around and saying ‘no, we’re not going to offer you any insurance at all’.” Subsequent to the debate, the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency verified the initial instances of avian influenza in Norfolk for the current year. The agency reported that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 was detected in a commercial poultry flock at a site near Watton, and all affected birds would be “humanely culled.” In England, only two additional farms have documented cases of avian flu during 2024. However, farmer Mark Gorton, who experienced the loss of 100,000 turkeys and chickens during the previous significant outbreak, described the virus’s impact as “absolutely devastating.” He added, “It’s as if the bottom of your world is about to fall out.” Mr. Gorton, who operates Traditional Norfolk Poultry, noted that insurance frequently remains inaccessible for farmers, while also expressing criticism regarding the government’s support for the industry. He stated, “If the compensation that they had to pay us was fit for purpose, then we wouldn’t need insurance.” A representative for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs conveyed that the department “appreciated the distress that avian influenza can cause all bird keepers who are affected by this awful disease.” They further explained, “In recognition of this, in October 2022 we changed compensation to ensure swifter payments and earlier certainty about keepers’ entitlement to compensation.”