Here’s what could happen in the near future.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that egg prices could soar by over 40% in 2025, following a surge in costs due to the bird flu crisis. On Wednesday, the Trump administration unveiled new measures aimed at combating the virus and reducing the financial burden on consumers.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins emphasized that tightening biosecurity on farms will be central to the plan, which will include a $1 billion investment to fight bird flu. This is in addition to the $2 billion already spent since the outbreak began in 2022. While the administration’s efforts were expected, Rollins highlighted that the situation remains challenging due to the widespread nature of the virus, which is primarily spread by migrating wild birds.
Farmers have already taken extensive precautions since the 2015 bird flu outbreak, including stringent hygiene measures, such as requiring workers to change clothes and shower before entering poultry barns. Despite these efforts, over 166 million birds have been slaughtered to limit the virus’s spread, including a significant portion of egg-laying hens. The latest projections predict that egg prices could jump at least 41% this year alone, further burdening American families. In some regions, consumers are paying over $1 per egg.
This price surge is also affecting businesses, with popular chains like Denny’s and Waffle House imposing surcharges on egg dishes. Last year, U.S. consumers spent an estimated $1.4 billion more on eggs due to the high prices, according to agricultural economists.
While Rollins noted that it will take time before Americans feel the relief from the new measures, there’s hope for improvement by summer. The administration plans to invest in enhanced biosecurity, offer aid to affected farmers, and even research potential vaccines for poultry. However, challenges remain with vaccine development and the logistics of administering shots to individual birds.
Additionally, while the USDA is considering importing eggs to ease the shortage, the scale of those imports seems unlikely to make a substantial difference in the market.
The plan also includes revisiting animal welfare regulations that some argue are too restrictive. As the bird flu crisis persists, many hope that these efforts will help stabilize the market and eventually lower prices for consumers.