Second Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Caroline County Poultry Operations

DELMARVA — Caroline County’s poultry industry took another hit this week as Maryland agriculture officials confirmed a second bird flu outbreak at a commercial operation. The highly pathogenic avian influenza detection marks the 3rd case across the state this month, with Wicomico County also reporting an earlier incident. Officials have quarantined all impacted facilities with […]

DELMARVA — Caroline County’s poultry industry took another hit this week as Maryland agriculture officials confirmed a second bird flu outbreak at a commercial operation. The highly pathogenic avian influenza detection marks the 3rd case across the state this month, with Wicomico County also reporting an earlier incident.

Officials have quarantined all impacted facilities with depopulation either completed or underway. This represents a challenging week for Delmarva’s poultry sector as producers remain on high alert for additional cases.

Markets

Grain futures closed the week with solid gains. March corn settled Friday at $4.38¾ per bushel, up 5½ cents. March soybeans advanced 9½ cents to $11.57¼. Wheat showed the strongest performance as a weakening dollar and global weather concerns pushed prices higher.

Livestock markets moved the opposite direction with live cattle dropping sharply. April contracts fell $4.67 to $232.22 per hundredweight. Kansas reported cash cattle trading at $244, down $5 from last week.

Forecast

Mild conditions continue this evening with temperatures around 51° under mostly sunny skies. Tonight brings patchy fog with lows dropping to 32°. Sunday looks wet with rain showers likely and highs only reaching 43°. Fields will stay too wet for any work through the weekend.

By Monday the region will dry out with sunshine returning and highs climbing back to 36°, but a slight chance of light snow returns Monday night into Tuesday morning.

This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, February 28, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.