U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins provided an update on the USDA's five-pronged strategy to combat avian influenza and reduce egg prices. The department reports significant progress in less than a month since the plan's implementation.
"Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu," said Secretary Rollins. "USDA is making targeted investments and driving innovation to keep our food supply strong and affordable — delivering real results for American families and producers."
Since February 26, wholesale egg prices have dropped nearly 50%. The New York wholesale egg price has decreased from $8.53 per dozen to $4.08 as of March 19. While Easter demand may cause fluctuations, the trend highlights the effectiveness of USDA’s approach.
The USDA's strategy includes strengthening biosecurity measures by expanding assessments to commercial poultry producers nationwide, with over 130 facilities assessed in 2025 alone. USDA offers two free voluntary biosecurity assessments focused on wildlife risk mitigation and general improvements, covering up to 75% of costs for high-risk improvements.
To expedite relief for farmers, USDA increased the indemnity rate for layer hens by 2.41 times on February 27, raising compensation to $16.94 per bird.
USDA is also working with FDA and industry stakeholders to evaluate solutions that expand supply safely while reducing regulatory burdens. The department continues exploring ways to minimize depopulations while maintaining food safety standards.
A $100 million funding opportunity was launched by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in consultation with HHS, CDC, NIH, and FDA to support research into HPAI prevention, therapeutics, and potential vaccines. Priority will be given to projects developing novel therapeutics for poultry, advancing research on avian influenza risk pathways, and exploring vaccine candidates.
USDA APHIS will host a webinar on April 1 at 12 p.m. ET for interested applicants.
Additionally, USDA has secured new egg import commitments from Turkey and South Korea while U.S. shell egg exports have declined by 8%, ensuring more eggs remain domestically available.
USDA continues collaborating with HHS, CDC, NIH, and FDA to coordinate a science-based response to HPAI and remains committed to regular public updates on progress.
