In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined a comprehensive new strategy to address two major concerns facing the agriculture industry: the spread of bird flu and rising egg prices — issues that have become central to the 2024 election.
Rollins announced that the USDA would invest $1 billion into this new plan, which will be funded, in part, by cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency. The plan includes a variety of measures aimed at reducing the impact of bird flu on both poultry producers and consumers.
A significant portion of the new plan focuses on strengthening biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of bird flu on farms. Rollins revealed that $500 million would be allocated for this purpose. These funds will go towards restricting access to farms, enhancing sanitation protocols, and improving overall hygiene. Additionally, the USDA will expand a pilot program initiated under the Biden administration, which sends inspectors to assess biosecurity protocols on farms. The goal is to ensure farms are better prepared to defend against outbreaks of avian influenza.
The USDA will also dedicate $400 million to reimburse farmers who have been impacted by bird flu outbreaks. This funding will help compensate farmers for the loss of their flocks, ensuring that they can recover and maintain operations. In December, the USDA implemented a new rule that requires poultry producers to pass a biosecurity audit before receiving compensation. This added step is intended to ensure that farms are adhering to the best practices in biosecurity, further mitigating the risk of future outbreaks.
While the USDA has yet to authorize the use of vaccines for poultry, Rollins mentioned that the department is exploring potential vaccines and therapeutics. Although the idea of vaccinating poultry has been met with resistance from U.S. producers — who are concerned about the impact on exports — the World Organization for Animal Health has stated that vaccination may now be necessary to control the spread of bird flu. As bird flu continues to evolve from a seasonal issue to a year-round threat, the need for vaccine strategies may become more pressing, especially as the virus has started affecting other species, such as dairy cattle.
In an effort to reduce the burden on egg producers, the USDA plans to cut back on regulations and make it easier for families to raise backyard chickens. This move is expected to support the availability of eggs on a smaller scale and ease some of the strain on large-scale producers. The USDA will also consider allowing temporary imports of eggs to help alleviate the ongoing shortage and stabilize prices.
The bird flu outbreak has already had a significant impact on egg prices. According to the USDA’s updated projections, egg prices are expected to rise by 41% in 2025, more than double what was anticipated just a month ago. The average price for a dozen eggs reached a record high of $4.95 last month, with some shoppers facing prices as high as $10 or more. This sharp increase in egg prices is a direct result of the bird flu outbreak, which has caused a nationwide shortage.
U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) expressed his support for the USDA’s efforts.
“Producers and consumers alike have experienced the economic burden of this outbreak since 2022. I applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for prioritizing a strategy to combat this evolving threat. I look forward to working with USDA to ensure all poultry and livestock producers’ unique challenges are taken into consideration and they have the tools they need to address animal disease risks.”
Leaders from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) issued statements today regarding the Trump Administration’s updated response plan for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which is impacting dairy herds across the country.
NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud expressed his appreciation for USDA’s leadership, saying, “Dairy farmers and cooperatives value USDA’s efforts to support American agriculture and protect animal health as we face a second year of H5N1 bird flu disruptions in dairy cattle. Biosecurity is a priority for dairy farmers and all of agriculture, and we are grateful to the USDA and the Trump Administration for their actions to strengthen these efforts. We fully support initiatives aimed at advancing vaccine development and deployment to help control, and eventually eliminate, the virus in dairy cattle. It’s also important to reassure consumers that, despite the ongoing efforts to address this animal health issue, milk remains safe to drink due to the effectiveness of pasteurization.”
IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., expressed gratitude for the USDA’s investment in research, stating, “The International Dairy Foods Association appreciates Secretary Rollins’ commitment of up to $100 million for new and ongoing research into animal vaccines and therapeutic tools to combat avian influenza in U.S. dairy herds and commercial poultry flocks. We urge USDA and federal partners to expedite the development and approval of safe, effective bovine vaccines to protect against current and future strains of avian influenza. It is crucial that the federal government collaborate with our industry to ensure a vaccination strategy that is both feasible and cost-effective for farmers, while also working with international trading partners to ensure vaccine use does not interfere with U.S. agricultural exports.”
With these new measures, the USDA aims to combat the bird flu crisis and its devastating effects on egg prices, providing support for both farmers and consumers as the country grapples with the fallout from this ongoing outbreak.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
