Polski
Bird Flu Isn't Letting Up, Yet Polish Chicken Production Keeps Growing
The bird flu season in the US started earlier than usual, and Minnesota — the country's largest turkey producer — is already counting its first losses. At the same time, Poland, Europe's leading chicken producer, is showing that even a tough year for disease doesn't have to stall the industry's growth — quite the opposite, forecasts for 2027 are clearly optimistic.
01 · Bird Flu
Bird flu returns to Minnesota earlier than usual [1]
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus appeared in Minnesota as early as September 1 — a full month ahead of the typical seasonal surge, which usually doesn't hit until autumn. By September 27, ten infected flocks had already been confirmed: seven commercial and three backyard, together accounting for more than 260,000 infected birds [1].
This matters because Minnesota is the largest turkey producer in the United States, so any early outbreak strikes directly at the heart of the American poultry industry — even before the season producers usually fear most. Experts cited by MPR News warn that the virus has simply become unpredictable — it keeps coming back season after season regardless of past patterns, while the option of mass poultry vaccination remains heavily constrained by trade rules that could cut off exports from vaccinated flocks [1]. The takeaway for producers is clear: biosecurity — controlling the movement of people and equipment, flock monitoring, rapid diagnostics — needs to be treated as a constant, year-round part of operations, not an annual alert triggered for a few months.
02 · Production and Exports
Polish chicken production set to keep growing in 2027 [2]
Against the backdrop of America's HPAI troubles, Poland is showing a very different dynamic — at least in terms of production numbers. Analysts forecast that Polish chicken production will grow by 3.7% in 2027, following a very strong 8% increase recorded in 2026 [2]. Poland remains the undisputed leader within the European Union — accounting for more than 21% of EU chicken production and exporting close to 70% of what it produces, which makes the domestic sector heavily dependent on foreign markets [2].
What's behind this growth? The sector is benefiting from lower feed costs and the extension of the suspended GMO feed ban until 2030, which gives producers cost predictability for years ahead and makes investment planning easier [2]. The biggest risk to these forecasts, however, remains disease — and here we come back to the very topic that opened this roundup. In 2025 alone, Poland recorded as many as 128 HPAI outbreaks, and the country only regained its disease-free status on July 28, 2026 [2]. In other words: Poland's production growth isn't happening in a vacuum, and flock health is just as important a factor for this forecast as feed costs or export demand — just look at what's happening right now on the other side of the Atlantic to see how quickly a good forecast can change.
Summary
Summary
The picture that emerges from these two stories is fairly clear: bird flu is no longer a one-off incident but a constant backdrop to production planning — whether in Minnesota or in Poland. At the same time, they show that a well-managed sector, benefiting from lower feed costs and a stable regulatory environment, can keep growing even amid recurring disease outbreaks. Those who invest in biosecurity, rapid diagnostics, and new flock management technologies will have the advantage, no matter how early the next HPAI season begins.
Want to talk about how to reduce bird flu risk while scaling production in the spirit of Poland's export success? Join us at Poultry Tech – Branżowe Targi Hodowli Drobiu i Produkcji Jaj, where producers, veterinarians, and agritech technology suppliers from across the industry will come together.
Invitation
Bird flu keeps coming back season after season, yet Polish chicken production keeps growing regardless — showing just how important biosecurity and new farming technologies are today. Visit the Poultry Tech trade fair to discover solutions for reducing HPAI risk and supporting growing poultry production. You'll meet producers, veterinarians, and agritech suppliers from across Europe.
Poultry Tech 2026Footnotes
[1] MPR News — https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/09/27/bird-flu-back-early-in-minnesota[2] The Poultry Site — https://www.thepoultrysite.com/news/2026/09/polands-chicken-production-set-to-rise-3-7-in-2027
This review was prepared by the Ptak Warsaw Expo editorial team.