11/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/22/2024 13:48
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) urged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to take immediate action to address the ongoing spread of avian influenza, which has led to a spike in egg and dairy prices. The letter comes as grocers report a shortage of eggs going into the holiday season and builds on Rep. Gallego's previous work on the issue.
"Arizona farms and farmers have not been immune to the ongoing [avian flu] outbreak," Rep. Gallego wrote. "Just last week, the Arizona Department of Agriculture announced that avian flu had been confirmed on a poultry farm in Pinal County. As the virus continues to spread, supply shocks threaten to increase the price of eggs going into the holiday season - an added cost Arizonans cannot afford."
"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," said Glenn Hickman, President of Hickman Family Farms. "We thank Rep. Gallego for his efforts to address this issue and keep prices for Arizona shoppers from skyrocketing."
To address the continuing spread and lower costs, Rep. Gallego requested answers to the following questions:
"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."