Spanberger Presses USDA to Tackle “Exorbitant” Egg Prices, Protect Virginia Poultry Flocks from Avian Influenza

U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger — the only Virginian on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee — today pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to recognize the threats posed by Avian Influenza to Virginia producers and to take more steps to help lower egg prices at the grocery store for Virginia families.According to last week’s Consumer Price Index, the price of eggs increased by nearly 60 percent from December 2021 to December 2022. This increase marks the sharpest price increase of any item at the grocery store. One major contributor to these skyrocketing prices has been the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influence (HPAI) in American poultry flocks. Last week, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed the Commonwealth’s first case of HPAI in a flock of commercial turkeys. Read more