Long Island’s Last Duck Farm, Crescent, Halts Operations Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

 Long Island’s last standing duck farm, Crescent Duck Farm in Aqueboge, faces a severe crisis as an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu necessitated the euthanasia of 99,000 ducks, a major blow described by owner Doug Corwin as the worst disaster since the farm’s inception in 1908. The outbreak poses significant threats to the local poultry industry and could lead to substantial layoffs among the farm’s 75 employees.

Main body: Crescent Duck Farm, renowned for its distinctive, high-quality ducks through selective breeding, was a rare survivor in an industry that dwindled on Long Island by the late 1980s. Owner Doug Corwin credits the farm’s resilience to strategic moves like investing in proprietary equipment, shielding it from market volatility. Despite overcoming challenges posed by economic downturns, such as the recent Covid-19 pandemic, this fresh crisis following the state’s initial bird flu case in 2022 could result in lasting impacts. Though public health risk remains minimal, extensive clean-up and inspection protocols must be completed before operations can recommence, a process estimated to take several months.

Conclusion: The unexpected outbreak at Crescent Duck Farm underscores the fragility of niche agricultural operations in the face of biosecurity threats. While striving to preserve their legacy, Corwin hopes for a future resurgence, pinning expectations on uncontaminated eggs. The outcome will not only determine the farm’s fate but also hold broader implications for the local economy and poultry supply chain.

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