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.
American Farm Bureau economist Bernt Nelson says consumers are still buying meat despite ongoing price pressures.
Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese is using cattle waste to help power its dairy operation and cheese production.
Analysts say drought, tight cattle supplies and summer grilling demand continue shaping the protein market outlook.
Soybeans accounted for nearly half of the $15 billion in losses on U.S. ag exports to China due to tariffs, according to researchers at North Dakota State University.
Industry leaders say restored access is a major step forward, though exports remain well below previous levels.
Changes to several Risk Management Agency programs are set to begin with the 2027 crop year.