Grocers in some parts of the country are taking steps to stretch their egg inventory because of supply chain issues triggered by the weather, the Agriculture Department reported.
“The weather only compounded already challenging supply issues resulting from recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in states that had largely escaped outbreaks in 2024,” USDA said in its Egg Markets Overview.
“Shell egg availability remains limited and inconsistent in many retail markets with many affected grocers employing steps to limit consumer purchasing to stretch their existing supplies.”
Retailers have taken additional steps including limiting or ending promotional activity, placing limits on units purchased per shopping trip, and holding prices at record or near-record highs – none of which helps to spur demand, USDA noted.
Egg prices have soared in recent months as the outbreak decimated flocks.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the average price for a carton of eggs in December increased to $4.15 from $3.65 in November. Last week the wholesale price for a dozen large eggs rose to $6.84 a dozen in the Midwest, $7.24 in New York and $8.35 in California. USDA projected prices to increase 20% this year. Eggs averaged $2.17 a dozen in 2022.
About 8.3 million birds died or were destroyed in January, following a loss of more than 21% of the flock last year amid 151 outbreaks across the country. Since the outbreak began, more than 100 million birds have died.
“Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re in this for a while,” Emily Metz, CEO of the American Egg Board, told CNN.
“Until we have time without a detection, unfortunately this very, very tight egg supply is going to continue.”
Meanwhile, in other ag-related news:
Human cases: Britain’s Health Security Agency confirmed a case of bird flu in a person who acquired it on a farm with a number of infected birds. The individual was hospitalized with a strain circulating in the U.K. but differing from those currently circulating in the U.S.
Health officials in both the U.K. and U.S. say the risk to the general public remains low and no human-to-human cases have yet been detected. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 67 cases in people, including one death.
USDA: Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s nominee to head the USDA, told senators at her confirmation hearing she would back the president’s agenda all the way. Politico’s Morning Agriculture reported some Democrats are looking for clearer answers on Rollins’ approach to bird flu, nutrition, immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at the department.
Agriculture’s inspector general, who had taken the lead on questionable fund distribution, was among the federal watchdogs purged Friday night. Trump also has issued an executive order eliminating DEI programs in government. Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., told Morning Agriculture cutting staff at the already underfunded and understaff agency is “not helpful.”
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