The Fight to Protect Iowa’s Egg Industry

March 18, 2025

By Gretchen Westdal Centers 

As the No. 1 egg-producing state in the U.S., Iowans are well-versed in conversations about egg prices and the current Avian Influenza outbreak. Since the outbreak began in March 2024, Iowa egg producers have been adhering to the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), responding responsibly to help contain the outbreak. However, with that responsibility come ever-evolving challenges in maintaining healthy flock numbers while ensuring safety standards are upheld. 
 
Recently, egg prices have taken center stage in news headlines and political conversations, with consumers and farmers feeling the stress and strain. To ease tensions, consumers must understand the complexities that producers face as they work to limit the spread of this highly contagious disease — all while continuing to deliver a safe product to grocery shelves. Iowa egg producers take this responsibility seriously and are working hard to mitigate further issues. 

What’s Happening and Why 

The current Avian Influenza strain, H5N1 HPAI, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both wild and domestic bird populations. H5N1 HPAI can spread among wild birds without causing visible illness but is often fatal to domestic bird populations, including chickens and turkeys. It can also impact dairy cattle, and since March 2024, around 957 herds in more than 15 states have been affected. With supportive care, dairy herds generally recover with limited, or no mortality associated with the disease. Unfortunately, that is not the case with poultry. 
 
When Avian Influenza is confirmed on a farm, the USDA guides producers through each step of the process to eliminate the virus. Through a collaborative effort between the producer, the USDA, and state animal health officials, the affected site undergoes several steps to prevent further spread and to mitigate animal suffering. 
 
“The efforts prioritize, above all else, human and animal welfare. Unfortunately, due to the highly pathogenic nature of the disease, the premises must be depopulated for the benefit of other farms' birds and the public good, specifically to control the spread of the disease to neighboring farms,” explains Mindy Larsen, chief executive officer of the North Central Poultry Association (NCPA). “Without depopulation, HPAI would further exacerbate the disease and drastically reduce the supply of birds.” For producers, this is an upsetting but necessary step in limiting the spread of this devastating virus. Without depopulation, the long-term effects of an Avian Influenza outbreak on a farm could be even more severe. 
 
“At NCPA, we consistently remind our farmers to remain vigilant, especially during migration seasons,” says Larsen. “Numerous resources are available through national organizations like the United Egg Producers, the National Poultry Improvement Plan, the USDA, and others that can help farmers enhance their biosecurity measures.” 

Biosecurity 

Biosecurity, another term for “infectious disease control,” refers to practices designed to mitigate diseases and germs to prevent harm to animals, property and people. Since 2015, when the U.S. experienced one of the worst Avian Flu outbreaks, producers have taken significant steps to enhance their biosecurity practices. Many sites have invested time and money into upgrading facilities, training staff, developing biosecurity plans and implementing various other measures to protect their birds. 
 
On a national level, the National Poultry Improvement Plan requires a biennial audit of each site’s biosecurity program to ensure that all potential points of concern are addressed. 
 
Iowa farmers have long valued being good stewards of the land they work on and often partner with state agencies like the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to develop innovative yet responsible farming practices. The department strongly recommends that farmers establish and maintain biosecurity protocols. 
 
During outbreaks like this, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship urges Iowa poultry producers and dairy farmers to reinforce their biosecurity measures to protect their flocks and herds. Additionally, the department offers numerous biosecurity resources for poultry producers. 

 

Multiple Dynamics at Play 

Even with stringent safety protocols and biosecurity efforts, producers and consumers feel the effects of this outbreak. As of January 2025, 18.8 million egg-laying hens have been affected by bird flu, which has had a tangible impact on American consumers. From purchasing limits on egg cartons to rising prices and even empty shelves, eggs remain a high-demand commodity with strict production timelines necessary for maintaining supply. 
 
Consumers have questioned why egg prices continue to rise while chicken and turkey meat prices have remained relatively stable. One key reason is that two distinct types of chickens are used in food production. A broiler chicken is raised specifically for meat production, while a layer chicken, which produces eggs, matures more slowly. 
 
“The production systems for broilers and layers are very different. A laying hen requires around 21 weeks to mature before it can begin producing eggs for the national food supply,” explains Larsen. “In contrast, meat birds reach maturity in about six weeks. This means that a site producing meat birds can return to normal operations more quickly if affected by Avian Influenza, making the poultry meat market more stable overall.” 
 
The situation is evolving daily, and while uncertainty remains, the industry is working diligently to find long-term solutions. “If there is one thing we can be certain of, poultry producers will continue to meet challenges head-on while providing high-quality, safe and nutritious food,” says Larsen. 

NCPA recently collaborated with its partners to support the USDA’s new Five-Point Plan for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The plan includes efforts to revise trade prohibitions on vaccinated poultry, which have had financially devastating effects on producers. 
 
There is ongoing work to ease the burden of rising costs and to help both consumers and producers continue enjoying this essential household staple. 

Consume Confidently and Safely 

Despite the avian flu, consumers can feel confident knowing that they are getting a safe and fresh product when they purchase eggs from their local grocery store. Eggs only take 48–72 hours to reach store shelves once they leave the farm. During that time, they are washed, graded and packed onto refrigerated trucks for delivery. Eggs and poultry products remain safe to consume. However, consumers should always properly handle and cook eggs and poultry, ensuring they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.