According to a recent article on feedstuffs.com , U.S. egg farmers, led by the United Egg Producers (UEP), are convening on Capitol Hill to advocate for immediate and decisive action. Since the onset of the current HPAI outbreak in 2022, the industry has suffered the loss of approximately 117 million egg-laying hens, with nearly 20 million birds lost in 2025 alone. The crisis has severely disrupted egg production nationwide, affecting both consumers and the supply chain. (feedstuffs.com)
The UEP emphasizes that the aggressiveness and lethality of HPAI show no signs of abating. Egg farmers are contending with virus’s spread through migratory birds and waterfowl, as well as a particularly virulent strain transmitted via dairy cattle. Chad Gregory, UEP’s President and CEO, saying, “The costs of inaction are too high to ignore.” (feedstuffs.com)
In their meetings with House and Senate agriculture leaders, members of Congress, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, egg producers are advocating for several key actions:
- Development and implementation of vaccine strategies: To protect flocks from HPAI and prevent further losses.
- Enhanced testing and surveillance: To detect and respond to outbreaks more swiftly.
- Increased funding and resources: To support these initiatives and bolster the industry’s response against HPAI.
The UEP is calling for collaboration among regulatory agencies, animal scientists, academia, epidemiologists, public health experts, and other livestock and poultry groups to drive solutions with great speed. (feedstuffs.com)
The egg industry stresses that immediate action is essential to mitigate the ongoing crisis and ensure the stability of the nation’s egg supply. Read the full articel here: https://www.feedstuffs.com/agribusiness-news/egg-farmers-meet-on-capitol-hill-to-push-for-urgent-action-on-bird-flu