US egg production is declining as prices continue to rise and bird flu cases continue
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US egg production fell 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continued to rise across the country, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced that in the month of November, egg production reached 8.92 billion, which was 4% lower than the same period last year.
Out of the 8.92 billion eggs produced, 7.68 billion were table eggs and 1.24 billion were hatched, the main difference being that the eggs are not fertilized and cannot become chicks.
Also, in November, there were 376 million eggs laid, down 3% from last year, and for every 100 layers, there was an average of 2,374 eggs produced.
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Test tubes labeled “Bird Flu” and eggs are seen in this image. (Photos by Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Reuters)
Since November, the number of layers has dropped significantly, as the USDA reported a total of 375 million layers on Dec. 1, 2024, down 3% from last year.
The news comes as egg prices rise, which industry experts say will continue until 2025 if the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu”, continues.
Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute Sector Manager Kevin Bergquist said egg prices have increased since 2023 due to a combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and egg supply disruptions due to bird flu.
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Modern chicken farm for breeding white chickens and eggs, high quality transportation, indoor, coop, poultry farming (iStock / Stock)
Last year’s prices “generally” remain above 2023 prices and “often exceed egg prices from 2022, which is when the HPAI took hold of the egg market,” according to Bergquist.
Supermarket egg prices, which jumped nearly 55% in November, do not reflect consumer egg prices at the grocery store, which can vary widely.
According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery prices rose 0.5% in November, with four of the 6 largest food groups increasing in cost. Eggs showed a significant increase in the number of eggs.
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In the hands of a woman packing eggs in a supermarket (iStock / Stock)
Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.7% in November, but egg prices rose 8.2%.
Before the major bird flu outbreak in March 2022, flock numbers were at a level that supported low egg prices, according to Bergquist. He noted that the total cost is less than $1.50 per dozen.
However, the outbreak disrupted the market, leading to record egg prices in December 2022. The average price was adjusted to a lower level in 2023 as producers rebuilt their flocks.
Bergquist said flock size was disrupted again when bird flu re-emerged in late 2023 and 2024, leading to tighter egg markets.
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Producers have not yet been able to rebuild the total egg-laying flock with outbreaks that have occurred again this year.
Daniella Genovese of FOX Business contributed to this report.
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