WASHINGTON — After developing its strategy in February to address the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak and escalating egg prices, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new progress report on the effectiveness of its strategy nationwide.

Since the beginning of 2025, wholesale egg prices dropped 64%, with retail prices falling 27%, according to the agency.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins pointed out that it completed more than 900 biosecurity assessments in 25 states.

Agency data detailed that assessments were conducted for broiler chicken farms (212), layer chicken farms (286), meat turkey farms (379) and others (71).

The USDA explained it would cover the full cost of the assessments along with part of the cost of biosecurity improvements for farms.

The agency said its two free voluntary assessments focus on wildlife risk mitigation and general biosecurity enhancements.

“On my first day as secretary, we got to work to implement a five-pronged strategy to improve biosecurity on the farm and lower egg prices on grocery store shelves,” Rollins said. “The plan has worked, and families are seeing relief with egg prices driving food deflation in the April Consumer Price Index. While we are proud that over 900 biosecurity assessments have been conducted to date, resources remain available, and we are urging poultry farmers of all sizes to get your assessments done today before a potentially challenging fall.”

The USDA has taken other actions in the poultry industry to lower prices and reduce regulatory burdens, such as in April when it withdrew the proposed “Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products” after a proposed framework came out in 2024. Rollins and FSIS also allowed waivers for pork and poultry facilities for high line speeds in March.

Since Feb. 27, indemnity values for producers were more than $70 million for layer flocks to help repopulate. Up to $400 million can be used for indemnity who must depopulate their flock to control HPAI spread.

A funding opportunity for HPAI research and vaccine development attracted 417 applicants, with a total of $793 million in funding requests.

The projects would look at various ways to support research in HPAI prevention, therapeutics and potential vaccines. USDA plans for awards to be finalized by this fall.

As of January 2025, the USDA confirmed that more than 26 million dozen shell eggs were imported from Brazil, Honduras, Mexico, Turkey and South Korea. An additional 14 million egg products were imported this year. Total US egg production for 2024 was 109 billion eggs.

Read more about pet food safety on our Operations page.