Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Biosecurity Assessments

To help you bolster biosecurity, USDA is offering two free, voluntary biosecurity assessments for operations not affected by HPAI. The first is a Wildlife Biosecurity Assessment; the second is a Biosecurity Incentive-Focused Assessment. Producers can request one or both. USDA-trained staff will visit your facility and identify actionable strategies that you can immediately implement to strengthen your operation’s defenses against HPAI. Additionally, USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments.

While the biosecurity assessments are available to all commercial poultry producers not impacted by HPAI, USDA will prioritize assessments at commercial egg-laying facilities in the highest egg-producing States as part of its commitment to help lower egg prices for the American consumer.

• Available to all commercial poultry operations not affected by HPAI

• Flocks must have more than 500 birds to be eligible for biosecurity incentives reimbursement associated with the Biosecurity Assessment Programs.

• Producers that were previously affected by HPAI but are not currently affected are not disqualified from the cost-sharing.

• In order to receive cost-share reimbursement, an assessment must be made to identify the items that need to be corrected.

• To receive reimbursement from this new program, facilities need to have a Wildlife Biosecurity Assessment done after February 26, 2025.

• There are no reimbursements for new construction at a future facility.

• This program is intended for poultry facilities; dairies are not included.

USDA will share up to 75 percent of the costs to fix the highest-risk biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments. Producers may be eligible for reimbursement support ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 per premises depending on the flock size (inventory). APHIS will communicate information about the maximum available for any given premises as producers request assessments.

Total reimbursement for which each premises is eligible, by what the facility raised in the previous year:

• Commercial table egg layers: ≥75,000 birds, up to $25,000; 56,250–74,999 birds, up to $20,000; 37,500–56,249 birds, up to $12,500; 18,750–37,499 birds, up to $7,000; 500–18,749 birds, up to $2,500

• Egg-type gamebird and egg-type waterfowl: ≥25,000 birds, up to $25,000; 18,750–24,999 birds, up to $20,000; 12,500–18,749 birds, up to $12,500; 6,250–12,499 birds, up to $7,000; 500–6,249 birds, up to $2,500

• Broilers: ≥100,000 birds, up to $25,000; 75,000–99,999 birds, up to $20,000; 50,000–74,999 birds, up to $12,500; 25,000–49,999 birds, up to $7,000; 500–24,999 birds, up to $2,500

• Meat turkeys: ≥30,000 birds, up to $25,000; 22,500–29,999 birds, up to $20,000; 15,000–22,499 birds, up to $12,500; 7,500–14,999 birds, up to $7,000; 500–7,499 birds, up to $2,500

Total reimbursement is for all biosecurity audits and/or assessments conducted and is subject to resource availability. Producers may request both the Biosecurity Incentive-Focused Assessment and the Wildlife Biosecurity Assessment, but the total amount for the cost-share for both assessments may not exceed the cap set for the size of the premises.

To help expedite the intake of your biosecurity assessment request, please provide the following information when you email or call USDA:

• Premises name

• Premises ID (if known)

• Premises 911 street address (the actual location of your flock)

• Premises city, State, and zip code

• Premises coordinates (decimal degree format, if known)

• Production type

• Requestor’s name, phone number, and email address

A producer with multiple premises can submit one request listing all the locations and all required information for each location. Once APHIS receives a request for an assessment, staff will review and assign someone as the point of contact for producers. Producers should hear from the point of contact in about a week.

Once an assessment is completed, please connect with the provided point of contact for information on reimbursement. After satisfactory completion of assessments, producers may submit a claim for reimbursement. The timeline for payment processing is variable.

• Frequently Asked Questions: HPAI Biosecurity Assessments

• Helping Producers Prevent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial Poultry Flocks (printable version)

• Dashboard: APHIS Poultry Biosecurity Assessments Completed