The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) recently announced new pullorum testing information for all poultry exhibitors participating in the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s Livestock Show and Fair, August 20–23.
This year, poultry testing will be done at the Agricultural Hall fairgrounds in West Tisbury. Due to limited staffing, MDAR will not be able to visit each location to test exhibitor’s flocks.
MDAR staff will be on Martha’s Vineyard for one day only on Tuesday, July 21, from 8 am to 4 pm, to test poultry. According to MDAR, exhibitors planning to show their birds at the fair will have to bring their entire flock to the fairgrounds to be tested during the hours listed above. The flock owner must be present, and be available to handle their birds and assist the inspector.
For scheduling purposes, requests for testing should be made no later than Friday, July 15 (MDAR cannot guarantee that requests received later than July 15th can be accommodated). Please contact the inspector and include the number of birds in your flock no later than July 15 to schedule an appointment: Call Megan Megrath at 617-626-1798 or via email at megan.megrath@state.ma.us. The testing by MDAR is free of charge.