The ripple effect of HPAI on everyone from poultry and dairy producers to consumers

The ripple effect from the ongoing outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza continues to put pressure on poultry and dairy producers. 

Ohio has been suffering the most in recent months as nearly 25% of its poultry population has been lost to HPAI. In Iowa, the nation’s number one egg producing state, farmers have been working hard to control the spread of the virus. 

Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Agriculture: “Just the experience over the last couple of years has shown us that this is a threat nearly year round, and that's where producers are having to think about biosecurity strategies around that, that, accommodate for that. And we, from a response standpoint, are having to accept the fact that we're essentially in a response mode almost an entire year.”

The price of eggs has been the most noticeable impact to consumers as the higher percentage of bird deaths has been among laying hens. Broilers, raised for meat, have experienced less impact to date.

USDA data shows the average wholesale price for eggs went up to $7.34 per dozen last month.  While some places have seen retail prices reach $10 per dozen in recent days, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put the nationwide average at $4.95 per dozen. Last year at this time, the average retail price was $2.99 per dozen. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, proper preparation of eggs and other poultry products makes them safe to eat. 

Bird flu has been detected in poultry, dairy cattle and wild birds in all 50 states. So far, 38 million laying hens and pullets have been euthanized to control the spread of the disease. Since 2022, 30.1 million birds in Iowa have been affected.

Wild birds are considered to be the main source for spreading the disease. In Iowa, like the 15 other states where HPAI has been detected in dairy cattle, strict biosecurity protocols are in place.

Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Agriculture: “Is it now the time to ask the questions that maybe we didn't have to ask before? Vaccine being one of those next level biosecurity investment and research.

You know, those are the types of things that I'm anxious to hear from USDA. And, I think Secretary Rollins, arriving at USDA now officially, really is a good thing when it comes to that.”

Since December of 2024, there has been an order to test all milk for avian influenza at dairy processing facilities nationwide. In March of last year, USDA began providing funds to dairy producers to create biosecurity plans. 

Officials with the CDC also say the number of cases where the disease has passed to humans is now at 68 with 1 death. The federal government has spent more than $1.4 billion fighting the current outbreak, which includes $1.25 billion in indemnity and compensation payments.

Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Agriculture: “You’re not going to be made whole. But it is something that allows a, a farm to get back into production and hopefully weather the storm that they're going through.” 

An experimental vaccine designed to fight H5N1 circulating in U.S. cattle was successful in protecting mice according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Department of Agriculture: “It's not, it's not a silver bullet. And, there are trade implications that we have to think about for us, where we've got such a strong egg laying industry vaccine really has to be, I think, part of the equation.”

For Market to Market, I’m David Miller.