Governor DeWine hosts US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in western Ohio

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine hosted U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in Darke County this week to meet with farmers impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI).

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Ohio has had the most birds affected by HPAI in 2025. HPAI cases are now trending downward in Ohio, but the virus has infected 76 premises since the end of December, leading to the depopulation of 15.5 million birds.

Governor DeWine and Secretary Rollins toured Weaver Eggs, Inc. in Versailles, which was impacted by HPAI in January. They also hosted a meeting with local poultry producers to discuss Ohio’s response to HPAI and how the virus has affected Ohio farmers.

"HPAI has been devastating for poultry farmers in western Ohio, so I appreciate that Secretary Rollins came here personally to speak with local farmers and hear what they've been going through," said Governor DeWine."The visit was very positive and productive."

“USDA is putting Farmers First. Ohio farmers were hit hard by the spread of bird flu under the Biden Administration, and as Secretary, I have worked to implement a five point plan and roll out additional grants to give Ohio farmers the support they need. Thank you to Governor DeWine for inviting me to visit the Buckeye State and for continuing to lead with America First policies at the state level,” said Secretary Rollins.

Ohio is the second-largest state in egg production with 11.8 billion eggs annually, and 10th in the nation in turkey production with 6.1 million annually.

Governor DeWine and Secretary Rollins also visited an area dairy farm to watch a demonstration of an innovative farming practice that is under consideration to become an H2Ohio best practice.

Ryan Schmitmeyer’s farm uses advanced equipment to manage on-farm manure and reduce the risk of nutrient runoff from his fields. The equipment, called 360 Rain, is a self-driving irrigation system designed to apply manure directly to the roots of a growing crop.

H2Ohio, Governor DeWine's statewide clean water initiative, is working to reduce nutrient runoff from farm fields to protect and preserve Ohio's lakes and waterways. Manure management practices are a cornerstone of H2Ohio because nutrient runoff is a contributing factor to water quality issues in the state.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.