Another bird flu outbreak is causing significant shortages and skyrocketing egg prices across the United States. California is particularly hard hit, with prices reaching over $8 per dozen. The situation is expected to persist for months.
There’s no quick fix for soaring egg prices and their limited supply. The bird flu is ravaging the nation’s egg-laying flock in yet another seasonal upswing for the disease, says Brian Moscogiuri, an analyst who tracks the industry for Irvine-based distributor Eggs Unlimited. Destroying infected birds is slashing the nation’s ability to keep up with demand. It’s a shortfall that will take months to repair. As a result, the average price of a dozen eggs in California on Monday was $8.
97, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s more than double the $4.06 price at last year’s start. In 2023, amid another bird flu outbreak, the price of eggs began the year at $7.37, compared with $2.35 at the beginning of 2022 or $1.34 in 2021. “The virus has returned nearly every spring and fall, mainly through wild migratory birds,” Moscogiuri says. “However, the scope seems to be getting broader, with more types of animals being impacted and potentially aiding the spread.” The key is the loss of egg makers. Moscogiuri says the industry is down 20 million hens to flu in the past three months out of the nation’s typical 312 million flock. California farmers culled 9 million egg layers in 2024’s last two months alone.Daniel Sumner, an agriculture professor at UC Davis, says California prices have surged sharply because state law requires “cage free” living for hens. The current version of this flu has been especially rough on this type of chicken. Nationally, U.S. consumers are paying $4.81 a dozen to start the year, according to the Urner Barry Egg Index. That’s up $3.20 — or triple – late September’s most recent low. Previous bird flu outbreaks pushed U.S. egg prices to $3.07 in March 2023. Across Southern California, egg prices vary wildly among merchants, assuming they even have any eggs to sell. Egg shelves are empty on various days everywhere, from small grocers to giants like Trader Joe’s and Costc
BIRDFLU EGP PRICES EGG SHORTAGE FOOD CRISIS AGRICULTURE
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