Retail egg prices have fallen from record highs, but as producers work to rebuild flocks decimated by High Path Avian Flu, USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam says there is still a lot of work to do.
This time of year usually draws the highest demand for eggs both commercially and in the home.
“As we move into this period of strong demand, we are looking at relatively tight supplies of eggs. If we look at the most recent information on table eeg production, we’re down about 6% from where we were a year ago. The egg laying flock is also down. It’s down about 4% from last year,” Shagam said.
Right now the average price for a dozen eggs is around $3.50. Just a year ago the same carton cost about $2.41.
USDA says the latest detection, confirmed June 5, involved a one-month-old calf about 5.6 miles from the first case.
Seasonal beef production gains may moderate retail price pressure, while tight cattle supplies continue supporting producer values.
New Fed surveys show farmland values remain historically high, though some Upper Midwest markets are beginning to soften.
IDA Texas’s Cooper Little discusses producer response to New World Screwworm in Texas, ongoing coordination with animal health officials, and the steps being taken to manage and protect livestock movement across the region.
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez says producers are concerned about the potential impact on cattle operations and livestock values.
Merck Animal Health shared insights on calf health at the Moly Manufacturing Beef and Greet.