Egg prices and production levels are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, despite lingering impacts from bird flu and ongoing concerns from some local farmers about high feed costs.
According to the latest Northeastern chicken and egg report from the USDA, Pennsylvania’s egg production was down 8% in April compared to last year, while the total number of egg-laying birds was down 5%. It’s a marked improvement from December, when monthly production had tanked 17% and the number of egg layers was down 15% compared to 2021.
The price of eggs peaked in late March and early April at Safron’s Supermarket, a grocery store in Sewickley Borough owned by Lew Safron.
“They’ve come down every week since Easter,” Safron said. “In fact, there were a couple of weeks where they came down a dollar a dozen.”
At Giant Eagle, a dozen conventional eggs currently retails for $1.99, according to spokesperson Dick Roberts.
“As the egg industry has rebounded, both product supply and commodity costs are stabilizing, and demand is starting to return,” Roberts said.
Several smaller, organic egg producers in the area are still dealing with high costs, leading them to keep prices at or near their recent peaks.
At Morgan Family Farm in Sewickley Township, eggs are $5 a dozen, which is $1 less than they were in January. Owner Brett Morgan said costs remain high for feed, fencing and chicks, which have gone from 99 cents to $5 each since 2020.
Adam Mason, owner of HEAL Farms in Apollo, has encountered similar problems. A dozen eggs from HEAL Farms currently costs $7, the same as January.
Mason said the price of feed has climbed almost 40% since he started the farm in 2020. More expensive grain has also hurt farmers who raise chicks, further inflating costs for Mason.
“When you look at feed prices increases, that compounds,” Mason said. “When they have to pay more for feed, they have to charge more for the chicks.”
Related:
• Egg prices have fallen after record highs left consumers scrambling
• Coop costs jump: Chicken feed 1 culprit behind rise in price of eggs
