In an effort to alleviate its egg price predicament, the United States is seeking assistance from Turkey, the nation.
American egg prices are skyrocketing due to the ongoing avian flu outbreak that's claimed over 140 million egg-laying birds in the United States since 2022. According to the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey, Turkey plans to export a record-breaking 420 million eggs to the U.S. this year, taking advantage of the supply shortage.
The higher prices and egg scarcity in the U.S. can be attributed primarily to avian flu. A carton of a dozen large Grade A eggs cost around $4.95 last month, and retailers like Costco and Trader Joe's are limiting customer purchases. Waffle House, too, added a 50-cent surcharge per egg.
The US Department of Agriculture estimates an additional 20% increase in egg prices this year, with the price of eggs rising 15.2% in January and 53% compared to the previous year. It will take some time to replenish the lost flocks and address the shortage.
However, experts believe that the increased egg imports from Turkey won't significantly alleviate the shortage, despite the United States importing eggs exclusively from Turkey, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. Bernt Nelson, an economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, explains, "While this is enough to offset some production losses, it won't provide much support if HPAI (avian flu) continues at its current pace."
The U.S. typically produces more than 7.5 billion eggs annually. However, the avian flu is impacting egg production, and it's projected that this year's production will fall significantly. The Trump administration's aversion to increasing funding and staffing in research and surveillance of the virus is stirring concerns in the agricultural community, further complicating the situation.
Meanwhile, there are discussions about vaccinating birds against the virus, but concerns over potential trade problems have delayed progress. Doug Corwin, who lost his 99,000-duck flock on Long Island due to the virus, advocates for vaccinations. The USDA approved a conditional license for an avian flu vaccine for chickens last week; Zoetis, the producer, demonstrated the vaccine's safety and potential efficacy.
Vaccinations could, however, create a chicken-and-egg issue. Countries may view vaccinated birds as being infected with endemic disease, making it harder to distinguish between vaccinated and infected birds. This could potentially diminish demand for U.S. poultry products as the world's largest poultry producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat.
The White House has been working on combating the avian flu with a biosecurity, medication, and perimeter plan. But experts in the agricultural community demand more funding and staffing for research and surveillance in this critical period, particularly given the Trump administration's reduction of resources within relevant agencies such as the CDC and USDA.
- Despite the record-breaking egg exports from Turkey expected in 2022, the American Farm Bureau Federation suggests that these imports won't significantly reduce the egg price surge caused by avian flu, as stated by their economist Bernt Nelson.
- The U.S., being the world's largest poultry producer and second-largest exporter of poultry meat, faces potential trade problems if it decides to vaccinate birds against avian flu, due to concerns that vaccinated birds may be viewed as carrying endemic disease, reducing demand for U.S. poultry products.
- The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved a conditional license for an avian flu vaccine for chickens last week, marking a step toward preventing future egg shortages, but there are ongoing discussions about the potential impact of vaccinations on U.S. exports and demand for poultry products.
