Gallego urges action on rising egg prices
ahead of holidays
WASHINGTON, D.C.
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) on Nov. 21 called on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to take immediate action against the spread of avian influenza, which has caused a sharp rise in egg and dairy prices.
As the holiday season approaches, grocery stores are reporting an egg shortage, and prices are expected to keep rising. Gallego pointed out that Arizona farms are also affected, citing a recent avian flu outbreak on a poultry farm in Pinal County.
“Arizona farmers are facing rising costs, and Arizonans can’t afford more price hikes,” Gallego said in his letter to Vilsack.
Glenn Hickman, the president of Hickman’s Family Farms in Buckeye, Arizona, echoed the call for urgent action. “Without immediate emergency approval of bovine and avian vaccines and mandated use, we are going to continue to play corporate whack-a-mole with the continued devastating results to supply and prices,” he warned. “We thank Rep. Gallego for his efforts to address this issue and keep prices for Arizona shoppers from skyrocketing.”
Gallego’s letter also asked for answers to several key questions regarding efforts to contain the virus and mitigate price increases.
- How are you working with egg and poultry farmers to protect supply chains and alleviate the impacts of outbreaks, while also keeping egg prices from increasing for Arizonans?
- What research is being done into how the virus is spreading and the greatest risks for accelerated transmission, including into other livestock?
- What additional transportation and biosecurity measures are the department considering to prevent potential viral transmission through livestock and human movement?
- What additional vaccine trials and technological developments are being explored to mitigate viral spread while protecting trade and business interests, and how are we working with partner nations to find shared solutions to address the outbreak and keep costs down?
- Would the USDA consider temporarily allowing egg imports from other nations, including Canada, should there be a critical shortage of eggs and egg products? How are you working with our neighbors to address any potential health and safety risks associated with importation?
- What additional resources does the USDA need from Congress to accelerate response efforts?
- What is the USDA’s plan to maintain uninterrupted response to the virus during the Presidential transition period?
“Preventing further spread of the avian flu will not only protect the domestic egg, poultry, and dairy industries, it will keep down grocery costs and protect the health and safety of all Arizonans,” Rep. Gallego concluded. “It is truly in all of our best interests to work together on a bipartisan basis to prevent further avian influenza spread.”
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