MatthewDahlhausen's Quick takes

The USDA secretary released a strategy yesterday on lowering egg prices. Explained originally as a WSJ opinion (paywall). Summarized here without the paywall.

Five points to the strategy:

• $500 million for a biosecurity program to limit transmission of avian flu
• $400 million to farmers to recover after an outbreak
• $100 million for vaccines
• Look to ease regulations, especially overriding California Proposition 12 that banned the sale of eggs from caged hens.
• Look to allow temporary imports of eggs

Key concerns:

• Enacting a key-goal of the EATS act to override state humane treatment regulations without legislation
• Imports from lower-welfare countries
• All companies that have committed to going cage-free this year using the USDA response as an excuse to delayed or revoke their commitment.