Over the last 30 days, more than 6 million birds have been impacted by avian flu outbreaks.
Americans are now paying almost double the price for eggs compared to just a few weeks ago due to the ongoing bird flu cases affecting supplies and lower volumes of frozen egg storage compared to last year.
The
price of a dozen eggs has surged from $2.11 in early October to $4.16 currently, marking a hike of over 97% in less than two months.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated in a report on Nov. 29 that the recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in California resulted in the loss of 1.5 million egg-laying birds, causing supply constraints and driving up market prices.
Data from the USDA indicates a decrease of 3% in the number of egg-laying birds in October compared to last year, leading to a reduction in egg production and subsequently higher prices. Additionally, frozen egg storage volumes have dropped by 22% since November 2023, reaching their lowest levels since spring 2023.
Thanksgiving egg demand hit its lowest point since 2015, but the USDA anticipates that with a shorter period between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, wholesale demand will remain steady in preparation for the December cookie baking season.
The latest wave of bird flu is causing disruptions in the supply of cage-free eggs, particularly in states like California, Nevada, Washington, and Oregon where the sale of cage-free eggs is mandated.
Emily Metz, President of the American Egg Board, mentioned the need to redistribute eggs from other regions of the country to cover the shortage of cage-free eggs in states with such regulations.
Chad Hart, an agricultural economist and professor at Iowa State University, explained that efforts to rebuild the poultry flock can limit supplies as farmers must retain some eggs for hatching new chickens.
There is a positive development for U.S. poultry farms as the cost of chicken feed, which constitutes 70% of farmers’ expenses, has dropped significantly after doubling between 2020 and 2022, according to Hart.
Flu Situation
Data from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) shows that as of Nov. 29, 6.26 million birds have been affected by avian flu in the past 30 days, encompassing both commercial and backyard flocks. California reported the highest number of infected birds, exceeding 5.12 million.
APHIS emphasized the importance of reviewing biosecurity measures for all players in poultry production, from small backyard operations to large commercial producers, to safeguard bird health. The U.S. has a robust avian influenza surveillance program, actively monitoring commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and migratory wild bird populations for the disease.
A recent
report from the USDA highlighted that the egg-laying hen population is still recovering from the losses in October, with additional culling of hens taking place in early November.
The report mentioned, “Egg prices for 2024 have been adjusted based on recent trends and limited supplies. Price forecasts for eggs in 2025 are higher in the first and second quarters as supplies gradually recover.”
Since January 2022, the U.S. has witnessed over 111 million birds affected by bird flu, with 1,242 outbreaks reported across 547 counties, as per data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The largest outbreak this year occurred in Sioux, Iowa, involving a flock of more than 4.28 million birds back in May, followed by Ionia, Michigan, with an outbreak affecting 2.42 million birds in April.
The avian flu has also impacted humans, with the CDC confirming 55 cases to date. California reported the highest number of infections, followed by several other states.
“While the current public health risk is low, CDC continues to monitor the situation closely and collaborate with states to track individuals with animal exposures,” the agency stated.
Contributions by The Associated Press.
