Battling HPAI: USDA provides update on strategy to combat HPAI and lower egg prices
In her first month in office, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins has taken a strong stance against highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), announcing a $1 billion comprehensive strategy to combat HPAI and lower egg prices just two weeks after she was sworn in as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 33rd secretary.
More recently, Rollins released an update on the USDA’s advancements, announcing an expansion of biosecurity assessments and emergency funding.
A press release published by USDA on March 20 notes, less than a month after the five-pronged plan’s rollout, the agency has seen significant improvements across all areas.
“Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting the relief they need and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” Rollins states. “USDA is making targeted investments and driving innovation to keep our food supply strong and affordable – delivering real results for American families and producers.”
Biosecurity measures
Under the first component of their plan, USDA will expand biosecurity assessments and audits available to commercial poultry producers nationwide, with priority placed on egg-laying facilities in top-producing states to help lower egg prices for American consumers.
The agency notes more than 130 facilities have undergone assessments in 2025, with 38 assessments completed during the week of March 17 alone.
Now, USDA will offer two free and voluntary biosecurity assessments – one focused on wildlife risk mitigation and the other on general biosecurity improvements.
Through Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) Wildlife Services will conduct on-farm assessments and provide recommendations to producers regarding facility repairs and wildlife management techniques.
USDA notes these assessments will include a series of “regular engagements” including wildlife hazard identification and wildlife abundance surveys and wildlife management strategies on the premises.
Through Biosecurity Incentives-Focused Assessments APHIS’s Veterinary Services will work with producers to review biosecurity plans.
“This is a proactive approach for premises outside of HPAI control areas to identify and mitigate potential biosecurity gaps to prevent disease introduction,” the agency explains.
Additionally, as outlined in a December 2024 interim final rule, commercial poultry operations which have been confirmed positive for HPAI must pass an Infected Premises Restock Biosecurity Audit before they can resume restocking if they wish to be eligible for indemnity for the restocked poultry.
“The interim final rule also requires commercial poultry premises moving poultry into designated buffer zones to pass a USDA Buffer Zone Placement Biosecurity Audit to be eligible for federal indemnity for any birds moved on to the premises,” USDA explains. “USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.”
Relief, regulatory burdens and supply
In an effort to provide financial relief and support faster bird repopulation, USDA also increased the indemnity rate for layer heads by 2.31 times on Feb. 27, raising compensation to $16.94 per bird.
Additionally, USDA is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several industry stakeholders to find solutions to help safely expand supply, minimize burdens on producers and consumers and promote innovative approaches to disease management.
Another component of USDA’s five-pronged approach is to explore temporary import and export adjustments to stabilize supply.
Under this part of the plan, USDA announced they have secured new egg import commitments from Turkey and South Korea, with ongoing discussions in other countries to further expand short-term supply.
“Additionally, U.S. shell egg exports have declined by eight percent, ensuring more eggs remain in the domestic market to help stabilize prices,” USDA says.
Research and vaccine development
Research and vaccine development have been hot topics in regards to the current HPAI situation, and on March 20, USDA APHIS – in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health and FDA – announced the launch of a $100 million funding opportunity to support research of HPAI prevention, therapeutics and potential vaccines.
With the help of HHS, USDA will also explore prevention strategies and promote biosecurity to ensure there is a limited impact on American farmers, and the agency will test the efficacy of therapeutics to prevent HPAI and treat infected flocks.
Funding will be awarded through a competitive process and is available to for-profit organizations including vaccine, biologics and therapeutics manufacturers; states; universities; livestock producer organizations and other entities.
Priority will be given to projects focused on the development of novel therapeutics to address HPAI in poultry, advance research on HPAI risk pathways to improve biosecurity and outbreak response and explore vaccines to protect poultry while minimizing trade disruptions.
To provide more information on this funding opportunity and tips for submitting a project proposal, USDA will host a webinar on April 1 at 10 a.m. Webinar registration is available at events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/745d11c3-012e-4d98-b827-40e34416318f@ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697 .
Project applications are due on May 19.
For more information or to fill out an application, visit aphis.usda.gov/funding, usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-chief-financial-officer/ezfedgrants or grants.gov/search-grants.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
