Ernst Ensures Relief for Iowa Poultry Farmers, Consumers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, secured critical relief for Iowa poultry farmers who have been affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) while simultaneously moving forward a strategy to drive down egg prices for consumers.

Following an announcement from Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be implementing many of Ernst’s recommendations to enhance the agency’s response to the ongoing outbreak, Ernst continued to amplify the experiences of producers at today’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing.

She emphasized the impact of the outbreak on Iowa producers and asked witnesses about the importance a vaccination strategy to protect laying hens and turkeys from the virus while also maintaining export access to international markets.

Watch her full line of questioning here.

Download audio from Senator Ernst here.

“In the last few months, we have seen over 7 million birds just in Iowa alone that have been impacted, and unfortunately, it is a number that continues to grow every single day — even with farmers who are adopting the heightened biosecurity protocols and states that are implementing strict movement controls,” said Ernst. “While there is a significant amount of work ahead — I am thankful that this remains a top priority for the administration — and we did see earlier today Secretary Rollins announcing several steps she is taking to mitigate the ongoing outbreak.”

Background:

Ernst has long been a champion of foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts including the bipartisan Animal Disease and Disaster Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act and her Beagle Brigade Act, which was recently signed into law.

Following the increase in HPAI outbreaks in both Iowa poultry flocks and dairy herds, she has also worked to hold federal agencies accountable to provide public and state agencies with coordinated, up-to-date, and accurate information on the spread of HPAI. Most recently, she has worked directly with President Trump’s USDA togive a roadmap for HPAI response.

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