Egg production dropped 4% in November amid bird flu fears, Fox Business reported, noting that the price of eggs has also increased.
Citing data from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the report said that 8.92 billion eggs were produced in November, down 4% from last year. Of the eggs produced 7.68 billion were eggs for consumption and 1.24 billion were hatching eggs.
The number of egg-laying hens also declined, down 3% from last year.
In some California areas, the price of a dozen eggs is nearly $9, jumping 70% from November to December. Save Mart, whose eggs are about $7 a dozen, told ABC 30 Action News, “We are working diligently with our suppliers to provide and replenish quantities of safe, quality products to serve the needs of our shoppers.”
“Demand for shell eggs posted a slight rise into the last two weeks of the year, supported by concerns over tight supplies due to persistent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in layer flocks,” the USDA wrote in an egg market report. “These flock losses, coming at a critical demand point, have driven wholesale prices past the record levels set in December 2022 when HAPI outbreaks had a similar impact on the market.”
“The overall shell egg inventory declined 5% and the national inventory of Large class shell eggs declined 3%,” the report adds.
American Faith reported that millions of chickens have been culled after coming into contact with bird flu. In May, 4 million chickens were culled in Iowa, the leading egg producer in the United States.
