Senator Joni Ernst, along with a bipartisan group of senators, has urged Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to strengthen the USDA's response to the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak. The letter emphasizes the urgent need for action, as the outbreak enters its fourth year, impacting farms and resulting in the depopulation of over 136 million birds.

The senators advocate for measures proposed by poultry farmers, including a robust vaccination strategy, vaccine stockpiling, and international collaboration to minimize trade disruptions. They also address concerns about a 2024 Biden administration order mandating biosecurity audits for farms receiving indemnities, highlighting the lack of trained auditors and the rushed implementation of the rule.

Furthermore, the letter criticizes current indemnity rates for being too low and based on outdated data. It proposes using data from USDA and land-grant institutions to ensure fairer compensation for farmers. The senators acknowledge that even with revised formulas, indemnities won't fully cover producers' losses and urge comprehensive outreach to all affected farmers.

This bipartisan effort reflects the widespread concern over the devastating impact of H5N1 bird flu, described by industry experts as potentially the worst outbreak in U.S. history. Representative Randy Feenstra and 22 House colleagues also sent a similar letter to Secretary Rollins. During her confirmation hearing, Rollins expressed her commitment to addressing the bird flu crisis. A USDA spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter and assured a prompt response, emphasizing the administration's dedication to implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat avian flu and stabilize egg prices.