Egg production in the United States is declining as prices continue to rise as cases of bird flu emerge

Egg production U.S. egg prices fell 4% in November as egg prices and bird flu cases continued to rise across the country, according to a report from the USDA.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service announced that in November, egg production totaled 8.92 billion eggs, down 4% from the same period last year.

Of the 8.92 billion eggs produced, 7.68 billion were table eggs and 1.24 billion were hatching eggs, the main difference being that eating eggs are unfertilized and unable to become a chick.

Also in November, there were 376 million eggs laid, down 3% from last year, and for every 100 layers, an average of 2,374 eggs were produced.

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Since November, the number of layers has declined further, with the USDA reporting a total of 375 million layers on December 1, 2024, down 3% from last year.

The news comes as egg prices rise, a trend that industry experts say will continue into 2025 if highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu” infection, persists.

Egg prices have been rising since 2023 due to a combination of seasonal price increases during the holidays and disruption to egg supplies due to bird flu, said Kevin Bergquist, Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute sector director.

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Prices over the past year have “generally” remained higher than 2023 prices and even “often exceeded egg prices as of 2022, which is when HPAI really took over the egg market,” according to Bergquist.

Wholesale egg prices, which jumped nearly 55% in November, don’t necessarily reflect consumer eggs Prices at the grocery store, Which can vary widely.

According to the Consumer Price Index, grocery prices rose 0.5% in November, with the cost of four of the six major food groups rising in grocery stores. Whites showed the largest increase by a wide margin.

Egg prices are high and will continue until 2025

Meat, poultry and fish prices rose 1.7% in November, but egg prices rose 8.2%.

Before the widespread outbreak of bird flu In March 2022, flock numbers were at a level that supported lower egg prices, according to Bergquist. He noted that the wholesale price was less than $1.50 a dozen.

However, the outbreak disrupted the market, sending egg prices to record levels in December 2022. The average price corrected to a lower level by 2023 as producers rebuild their herds.

Flock size was hampered again when bird flu resurfaced in late 2023 and into 2024, leaving egg markets in short supply, Bergquist said.

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Producers are still unable to rebuild the total spawning flock with repeated outbreaks this year.

FOX Business’ Daniela Genovese contributed to this report.