WASHINGTON (DTN) -- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Wednesday announced a $1 billion plan to tighten biosecurity and reduce the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza on domestic egg prices.

Speaking to members of the National Association of State Directors of Agriculture (NASDA), Rollins also said USDA is "making great progress" in working on the $30 billion in economic and disaster aid passed by Congress in December.

"In particular, we are poised to start applications for the $10 billion in economic relief (to get it) out the door in advance of the March 21 deadline given to us by Congress," Rollins said.

Rollins did not directly address the extent of layoffs or job terminations at USDA or the freeze in billions of dollars of conservation and renewable energy grants that were approved under the Biden administration. She did say USDA's "streamlining" will continue with canceled media contracts and eliminating grants issued tied to diversity, equity and inclusion.

"I am proud to work -- proud to work -- with the Department of Government Efficiency, with DOGE, to streamline inefficiencies across the United States Department of Agriculture. Does that mean we may make some mistakes along the way? Yes, but it also means we'll realize that and fix it while we're streamlining and making it more efficient."

On avian influenza, Rollins laid out a plan that would provide more funds to poultry producers for biosecurity and indemnities, but USDA also will increase imports of eggs and reduce egg exports.

Rollins noted USDA is focusing on curbing bird flu and reducing the price of eggs, but she added, "There is no silver bullet to eliminate the flu."

USDA on Tuesday released a Consumer Price Index report on food prices showing average egg prices are 53% higher than they were just a year ago. Egg prices for 2025 are expected to remain roughly 41% higher throughout 2025 compared to 2024.

She noted her plan on avian influenza would be presented at the Trump administration's first full Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

USDA is adopting a new five-prong strategy that will focus more heavily on taking a pilot program on biosecurity nationally. Rollins said USDA will spend $500 million to help poultry producers implement "gold standard" biosecurity measures. USDA will provide free audits and wildlife biosecurity assessments for producers.

Rollins pointed to a pilot program involving 150 farms across the country in which just one of those farms has been hit with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

"So now we take this across the industry. We will provide that service at no cost to all commercial egg-laying farms," Rollins said.

Poultry farmers could see USDA pay up to 75% of the costs to deal with any specific biosecurity vulnerabilities found in the audits, Rollins said.

USDA will also spend up to $400 million to increase the rates of indemnification to poultry producers "to better reflect market values," Rollins said, and USDA will increase approval time so producers can more quickly operate after outbreaks, she said.

Without detail, Rollins also said USDA has a list of regulations in the poultry industry that the department will roll back. Rollins said USDA will work with states "to remove unnecessary regulatory burdens in the industry, and I'm committed to working with Congress to protect farmers from such costly regulations moving forward."

When it comes to vaccines, Rollins said USDA is "exploring pathways to develop a new generation of vaccines and therapeutics" while working with trading partners to limit the impacts on poultry exports.

"This does not mean we have authorized the use of a vaccine at this time, we are not doing this right now," Rollins said. "Before making that determination, we will continue to solicit feedback from you, your state veterinarians, your governors and the American public."

Rollins said USDA will begin holding more bi-weekly meetings to update states about avian influenza and get more input from states.

Lastly, the U.S. also will be looking to temporarily increase egg imports and decrease exports "to keep eggs here in America," Rollins said.

Rollins did not say how the Trump administration would curb egg exports, which were a $744 million market for egg companies in 2024. Canada and Mexico are the dominant markets for U.S. egg sellers.

"As you know better than anyone, we will not solve this issue overnight, but we are confident that our comprehensive strategy will help to stabilize the market in the next three to six months, if not sooner, and importantly, it will set us up to overcome this challenge for years to come," Rollins told state agricultural directors.

Touching on trade, Rollins noted the projected $45 billion trade deficit in agriculture and highlighted that the costs of production are also up 30% from a year ago. Rollins said the Trump administration is working to get a "fair deal for American agriculture in trade." She noted the concerns by producers over the effects of Trump's tariff agenda.

"I know many of you, if not every one of you in this room, are concerned about the effect of the tariff agenda on the American farmer, and I want you to know that your concerns are heard and that I will always be your fiercest advocate in this administration," Rollins said.

Also see, "Canadian Ag Minister Warns of $200 Million in Daily Ag Trade Disruption,"

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Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com

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