PoultryWorld: Trying to reduce US egg prices: Nevada governor takes action

Mass culling of US laying hens due to highly-pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks has been the main factor in long-term increases in egg prices there. The situation is not expected to change much as 2025 progresses.

A sizable percentage of chickens (almost 160 million birds) have been euthanised in the US since 2022 to help limit highly-pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks and prevent suffering. Meanwhile, due to resulting production shortages, a dozen eggs now costs nearly US$5 (€4.80) on average across the country.

A different angle

While there isn’t much anyone can do about the shortage of hens – and more highly-pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks and consequent culls may occur this year – Nevada’s governor Joe Lombardo is trying to solve the problem for those in his state. He has decided to remove another factor believed by some to be causing high egg prices, while other state leaders are watching carefully to see if prices will indeed fall as a result.

On 13 February, Lombardo approved a 120-day suspension of the requirement to sell only cage-free eggs in the state. This should mean that Nevada will get access to additional eggs, and due to that larger egg supply, egg prices may fall to some extent, perhaps as soon as within about a month.

Some US egg farmers have converted to cage-free hen housing over the past 10 years, and prices stayed between US$1.40 and US$2 per dozen throughout that time (except for the usual holiday price spikes due to increased demand) until highly-pathogenic avian influenza hit a few years ago.

Skepticism from some

Not everyone agrees that easing housing restrictions for egg production will lower egg prices. For example, Rep. Jerry Neyer in the Michigan House of Representatives believes the notion that cage-free hen housing laws are a factor in high egg prices is a misconception.

However, he and others have also stated that “most” US egg farms have already switched to cage-free housing, so dropping housing mandates in any states will not increase supply and therefore cut egg costs. This is not accurate.

The United Egg Producers note that in 2022, only 34% of all US hens were in cage-free production. One animal welfare group puts the current US cage-free flock fraction at only about 40%, or 124.8 million laying hens.

In Colorado, a bill to repeal the cage-free requirements was introduced and took effect on 1 Jan 2025. However, the bill has now been abolished in that state.

Egg farmers are not to blame

Some US consumers are accusing egg farmers of making huge profits from the high prices, small supply and continued steady egg demand. In response, a young farmer named Emily Martin made a TikTok video to address this misconception, which has gone viral. She notes that egg farmers are not making millions due to the high store prices, but only make ‘cents’ per dozen, typically under contract, regardless of the store price that consumers have to pay.