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- Egg prices aren’t coming down anytime soon, experts say (foxbusiness.com)
Local egg prices are expected to remain high through 2025 due to ongoing supply shortages. Experts blame the persistent outbreaks of bird flu, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which began in 2022.
The USDA predicts egg prices could climb over 20% this year. Prices were already up 36.8% this past December compared to December 2023, though still lower than the peak seen in January 2023.
Bird flu has decimated the U.S. laying hen population, according to economist Bernt Nelson with the American Farm Bureau Foundation. He expects egg prices to continue fluctuating alongside bird flu cases.
Nelson estimates over 136 million birds have been affected since 2022, including over 18 million this past December. This has resulted in empty store shelves and higher prices for consumers.
Kevin Bergquist, sector manager at Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, shares similar concerns. He noted recent bird flu outbreaks are further shrinking flock sizes.
When bird flu is detected, entire flocks are eliminated to prevent the disease’s spread. This process, coupled with the time it takes to repopulate and bring new hens to laying age, creates significant supply chain disruptions.
It can take several months to sterilize and repopulate facilities after an outbreak. Bergquist highlighted the concentration of laying hen operations, with some sites housing over a million birds. Losing an entire flock at one location has a major impact on egg production.
Furthermore, there’s a mandatory 21-day quarantine period after an outbreak. Then, it takes roughly 18 weeks for a hen to start laying eggs, further delaying recovery. Bergquist anticipates more outbreaks in the coming months, which will continue to impact egg supplies and prices.
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- Egg prices aren’t coming down anytime soon, experts say (foxbusiness.com)