The price of eggs in the U.S. was used incorrectly by the political opponents of the Biden Administration over the past few years as an indicator of the overall impact of inflation on the cost of consumer goods because of increased government spending and a loose monetary policy. The reduction in the number of layers caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks and the subsequent farm depopulations have been completely ignored in the ongoing blame game and finger pointing by political adversaries. Recently the kerfuffle has seen the Trump administration blamed for egg price increases occurring after the January 20, 2025, inauguration.
Everyone in the poultry industry knows that HPAI caused laying hen losses and reduced the supply of eggs, and this is why retail egg prices, which have always been demand inelastic, have reached historic highs. While I am frustrated that politicians and the popular press are so naïve when it comes to economics, the intense focus on egg prices raises an opportunity for the poultry industry.
The phrase “never let a good crisis go to waste” has been attributed to several individuals from Winston Churchill to Rahm Emanual. The political “crisis” over egg prices can be used to open eyes and ears to new ideas on how best to deal with HPAI. We are over three years into the current outbreaks and the situation is arguably worse than it has ever been with the virus found in nearly 1,000 dairy herds, dozens of species of wild mammals and, of course, in all sorts of waterfowl and other wild bird species.
Chad Gregory, president and CEO, United Egg Producers (UEP), has called on government and the poultry industry to address the outbreak in new ways. In a recent press release he said, “Expanded government attention to solutions that will halt the onslaught of HPAI is essential. That starts with expanded research and funding to understand how this disease is spreading, why it remains so resilient, and whether it is evolving into new more lethal strains. UEP also supports development of effective HPAI vaccinations for dairy cows and poultry that can be deployed ASAP to help end or significantly mitigate the circulation of the virus in dairy herds, commercial poultry flocks and egg layer operations. The availability of animal vaccines effective against current and future strains of H5N1 is imperative to securing our nation’s public and animal health.”
“Global animal scientists and experts in epidemiology and avian health should be tapped to forge more aggressive approach to combating this disease. We must have effective and enforced rules on testing and animal movement designed first and foremost to stop disease spread, as well as cooperation and collaboration among animal health experts serving industry, states, and the federal government. Finally, we need state and national animal laboratories adequately funded and staffed to ensure quick and accurate test results.”
I agree with Gregory that the time is now for a new approach to stamping out efforts. I hope that the spotlight on high egg prices and the misguided discussion of which political party is to blame for these prices will provide the political capital needed to fund the research and testing needed to find workable solutions.
