USDA Secretary Brook Rollins outlined “five extended strategies” to reduce egg costs on Wednesday Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Avian influenza is cited as a factor in the price rise.
“The Agriculture Bureau will invest up to $1 billion to curb this crisis and make eggs affordable again. We are working with the government's Efficiency Bureau to reduce wasteful spending of hundreds of millions of dollars,” Rollins wrote.
“We will reuse some of these dollars by investing in long-term solutions for avian flu. As a result, we have culled around 166 million laying hens since 2022.”
The farm secretary said $500 million will be allocated to help poultry producers implement “gold standard biosecurity measures,” focusing on protective equipment and procedures that reduce the risk of contamination.
She said authorities would consider temporarily importing eggs to a lower cost, and laws like California's Prop. 12, which supports the space requirement for egg-soaked chickens, will increase production costs and investigate.
Rollins also highlighted that researchers are investigating the use of vaccines and therapeutics for egg-soaked chickens.
“While vaccines are not standalone solutions, they provide up to $100 million in research and development in vaccine and therapeutic drug research and development, improving their effectiveness and efficiency. This should help reduce the need to “depopulate” herds. This means killing chickens on farms where there is an outbreak,” the Agriculture Secretary said.
“The USDA has not yet permitted the use of the vaccine. Before making a decision, the USDA will consult with state leaders, poultry and dairy farmers, and public health professionals.”
Rollins added that department officials have paid 75% of the costs needed to assess 150 sites to address risks and repair biosecurity vulnerabilities, making the flocks available to farmers affected by the avian flu.
“This five-point strategy won't erase the issue overnight, but I'm sure it will restore stability to the egg market over the next three to six months,” Rollins concluded.
“This approach will ensure stability over the next four years or more.”
