Do You Believe the USDA’s Prediction of a 20% Rise in Egg Prices Due to Bird Flu is Overblown?

Do You Believe the USDA’s Prediction of a 20% Rise in Egg Prices Due to Bird Flu is Overblown?

Here’s The Scoop

Hold onto your wallets, folks, because it looks like those egg prices aren’t coming down anytime soon. According to the USDA, we can expect a hefty 20% hike in egg prices throughout 2025. The culprit? A relentless wave of bird flu that’s been wreaking havoc since 2022.

This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a full-blown crisis that’s slashing our egg supplies and sending prices through the roof. Last December alone, prices were nearly 37% higher than the previous year. And while they haven’t hit the insane peaks of January 2023, they’re still painfully high for American families trying to make ends meet.

Bernt Nelson from the American Farm Bureau Foundation explains that this avian influenza has been a rollercoaster for egg prices, and unfortunately, it’s a ride we’re stuck on. Over 136 million birds have been affected, leading to empty grocery shelves and sticker shock at the checkout.

Kevin Bergquist from Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute warns that the situation is only getting worse. Recent bird flu outbreaks are decimating flocks, and when a case is detected, the entire flock has to be culled to stop the spread. It’s a drastic but necessary measure to protect our food supply.

The USDA confirms that this disease is highly contagious, spreading like wildfire from flock to flock. Depopulating affected birds is crucial to safeguarding the health of U.S. animals, but it also means a lengthy process to get egg production back on track.

Rebuilding these flocks isn’t quick or easy. After a site is cleared of the disease, there’s a mandatory 21-day quarantine. Then, it takes about 18 weeks for a new chicken to start laying eggs. With operations often housing over a million birds, a single outbreak can wipe out an entire site, putting a massive dent in our egg supply.

Bergquist predicts more outbreaks in the coming months, which will only keep the pressure on prices. Fewer birds mean fewer eggs, and that means continued high costs for consumers.

As we brace for these ongoing challenges, it’s clear that this bird flu epidemic is more than just a farming issue—it’s a national concern affecting every American household. Stay informed and prepared as we navigate these turbulent times.

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