The USDA has issued a new order requiring raw, or unpasteurized, milk nationwide to be tested for bird flu
Fox – Fox 29
Nearly 6 million laying hens in Sioux County have been affected by bird flu outbreaks over the past four days as wild birds that carry the virus migrate across Iowa.
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The Iowa Department of Agriculture said Monday that a Sioux County commercial egg-laying operation with 1.6 million birds was infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. It’s the second outbreak in Sioux County since Friday, when the infection was detected in a 4.3 million-bird flock.
The state reported Sunday that a Palo Alto County turkey operation with 31,000 birds tested also positive. The three detections followed a period since June when there were none.
All the birds are destroyed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus, which is deadly to poultry. The outbreak that began in 2022 has affected 29.2 million birds in Iowa, the nation’s leading egg producer, according to state and U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Nationwide, 115.3 million birds have been affected.
Gov. Kim Reynolds already had declared a disaster for Sioux County and extended it to Palo Alto County. The declaration allows the use of state resources to combat the spread of the disease.
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It is believed to be spread by wild birds, which may show no apparent symptoms, and has been especially prevalent in Iowa during periods of migration. This fall’s above-normal temperatures may have delayed migration, with outbreaks recently reported in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and other Midwestern states.
The uptick in infections comes as the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepares to implement a national testing program for bird flu in milk after outbreaks of the virus, HN51, in dairy cattle in states including Iowa. Thirteen cases of H5N1 have been detected in dairy cattle in Sioux, O’Brien and Plymouth counties, though there have been none since June.
The first round of milk testing under the USDA order is set to begin Dec. 16.
While most infected dairy cattle experience mild symptoms from bird flu, there is concern among epidemiologists that it could be spread to humans through unpasteurized milk.
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So far, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in Iowa.
Infected products do not enter the food supply and it remains safe to consumer poultry and eggs, as well as milk that has been pasteurized, a process that kills the virus, the Iowa Department of Agriculture has said.
The outbreak reported Monday was sixth in Iowa poultry this year.
Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com.
It’s an underrated storyline that I can’t help but think will rear its head at some point this season for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The complete overhaul of the special teams unit is a massive change for this team after years of continuity under LeVar Woods, who is now coaching at Michigan State.
The Hawkeyes will see a new placekicker, punter, and return man. Drew Stevens is kicking in the NFL, Rhys Dakin followed Woods to Michigan State to punt, and Kaden Wetjen took his return talents to the NFL as well.
Chris Polizzi is at the helm now and has a blank canvas to fill out with his depth chart before Week 1 versus Northern Illinois.
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Kicker
Kicker: Eli Ozick
The Hawkeyes only roster two kickers, Eli Ozick and Caden Buhr, who will compete for the starting job.
Ozick comes to Iowa from the North Dakota State Bison, where he was 16-for-18 last year, which earned him Second-Team FCS All-American notoriety. That performance translates well to Iowa, where I think he gets the nod in Week 1.
Should things go sideways, Caden Buhr could step in to kick. He was with Iowa last year and has one kickoff under his belt.
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Punter
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Punter: Boston Everitt
Only at Iowa is the starting punter such a focus. It’s what makes Iowa, well, Iowa. Iowa has dipped into its Australian pipeline with Boston Everitt, who comes from the University of Melbourne. Iowa’s trend of Australian punters gives Everitt the slightest of nods.
The other punter rostered is Tanner Philpott, a D3 AP All-American last year at Simpson College. Philpott has much more collegiate experience and could easily push for the job. It won’t be a shock to see Iowa give him in-game opportunities.
Long Snapper
Long Snapper: Ike Speltz
Long snappers simply don’t get enough love. No one knows their name or hears of them unless the snap has gone bad. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it.
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Ike Speltz saw some long snapping action in 2025, which gives him the track here. He is also Iowa’s only long snapper listed on the roster.
Kick and Punt Returners
Punt Returner: Zach Lutmer
Kickoff Returner: Nathan McNeil
I make this prediction very begrudgingly. Zach Lutmer is going to be such a focal point on defense that exposing him to injury here is a bit scary. He is that talented with the ball, though.
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Other names to watch for in the return game come from the running back room. I think Iowa could give kickoff return duties to the running back room. Nathan McNeil or Brevin Doll, two athletic backs, could get their chance on kickoffs.
On the eve of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Iowa basketball’s Bennett Stirtz has been talked about on several mock draft boards as potentially being the Hawkeyes’ first opening-round selection since Kris Murray was chosen No. 23 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2023.
As the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, prepares to join a collection of future stars in the NBA draft green room on Tuesday night, CBS Sports’ most recent NBA mock draft projects the former Hawkeye to slide to the back of the first round and be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the No. 29 overall slot.
Here is what CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno had to say about his projection for Stirtz:
One of the point guards is bound to slide a bit on draft night. I could see that being Stirtz. The Iowa star has had an incredible rise from playing at the Division II level to being a likely first-round pick. This would be a BPA (best player available) pick from the Cavs.
In his one season with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Drake, Stirtz was the centerpiece of Iowa’s historic March Madness run that saw the program reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987, averaging 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting in his 37 games played.
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While a slide for Stirtz is not ideal given his immense talent, falling to a Cavaliers squad that has appeared in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals is certainly not something to scoff at.
With a 36-year-old James Harden at the starting point guard position alongside 32-year-old Dennis Schroder, the Cavaliers will likely look for more youth at the position to add alongside Craige Porter Jr. and 2025 2nd-round pick Tyrese Proctor.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will be nationally broadcast on ABC from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT on June 23.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
Iowa Realtors Association data shows the number of Iowa home sales in May jumped 17.3% compared to April.
Iowa Realtors President Erik Melloy says Iowa’s housing market was active and balanced in May. Homes were on the market for about 10 days, compared to 12 days in April. The median sales price for a home in May was $260,000. That’s 5.1% higher than April.
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The number of pending home sales was up 4.1% in May compared to the same month a year ago. The Realtors report tracks the sale of Iowa condos and townhomes, too, and shows both a reduction in the median time on the market and an increase in the number of closed sales of condos and townhomes in May.
