USDA Rolls Out Plan To Address Bird Flu, Egg Prices

On Wednesday, the USDA rolled out a comprehensive strategy to curb impacts of highly pathogenic avian influenza on the nation's poultry and egg industries as well as the American consumer.

“We are investing up to $1 billion to combat avian flu and reduce egg prices for consumers," noted USDA chief of Staff Kailee Tkacz Buller.  She added the Department will roll out a five-prong strategy.

“We are going to be expanding our wildlife bio security assessment to producers across the Nation. We will begin with the egg layers, but we do hope to get further down the poultry chain and the pilots that we've seen 150 facilities, only one has been infected.  We are making up to $500 million available here. USDA will be cost sharing 75% of the cost that are the highest risks of bio security concern.  We will continue to identify producers. And we will increase that rate based on the fair market value and we are putting up to $4 million available in this bucket for the remainder of the fiscal year.”

Tkacz Buller added the USDA is in lockstep with partners at the Food and Drug Administration to figure out ways to reduce regulatory burdens on the commercial market for eggs.  She added the Department is also working closely with HHS, as well as member of the trade sector and the poultry and dairy industries to explore potential vaccines, to explore potential therapeutic options, and other strategies to really protect egg laying chickens.

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