by 
IONIA — Alex Courts observed the value of eggs beginning to rise final fall.
Courts, the final supervisor of Ken’s Farm Market in Ionia, wasn’t alarmed on the time — however that modified.
“Once (prices) get to a sure level, which is basically the best we’ve ever seen — someday within the mid-to-late fall of (2022) — that’s after I was like, ‘OK, this can be a little bit out of the extraordinary,’” Courts mentioned.
More:Zeeland discusses potential allowance for ‘food-producing’ pets, together with bees and chickens
More:Why are egg prices so excessive? And when will they arrive down?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, the typical value for a dozen Grade A eggs within the U.S. was $4.25 in December 2022 in contrast to $1.79 in December 2021. That’s a rise of about 237 %.
Why are prices so excessive? It’s a toss-up between greater manufacturing prices and an avian flu outbreak. The U.S. Department of Agriculture experiences greater than 43 million egg-laying hens died for the reason that starting of the outbreak in February 2022.
Nancy Barr, government director of Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, mentioned there are “quite a few variables” affecting the value of eggs in Michigan. She mentioned farmers don’t set the value — they promote their eggs on an open market, with prices altering every day.
“(Impacts in the marketplace) embrace inflation, provide chain and employment prices, which affect everybody,” she mentioned, including Michigan egg farmers are extremely delicate to the price of gas prices, as nicely, which immediately impacts the price of feed and packaging.
“On the opposite aspect, eggs are nonetheless the lowest-cost protein Americans can purchase, and budget-conscious customers who’re seeing large spikes in beef are selecting to purchase eggs, growing demand in grocery shops statewide.”
Barr mentioned the well being and welfare of birds in farmers’ care is of the utmost significance.
“Avian flu killed greater than 40 million egg-laying hens within the U.S. throughout 2022, and whereas Michigan farmers prevented a big outbreak, our farmers proceed to be vigilant with preventative biosecurity techniques,” Barr mentioned. “These well being and security protocols additionally contribute to growing prices.”
And then, there’s the shift to producing cage-free eggs — which is dearer.
Ken’s Farm Market in Ionia anxious clients could be upset by greater prices. At one level, a big dozen eggs price $5, Courts mentioned.
“It actually stayed that course via the late fall, into the vacations and into the brand new 12 months,” he mentioned.
The enterprise has discovered some manufacturers that present higher worth, Courts mentioned. They’ve additionally explored the cage-free egg market, asserting the week of Jan. 9 that cage-free giant eggs have been obtainable for $3.99 per dozen
“It’s been actually good for us, it’s been (good) for our clients and it’s supplied a bit worth for us,” Courts mentioned.
But some Michiganders are bored with ready for prices to drop. Jamestown Township resident Patricia Kraus told WOOD TV-8 she’s acquired an inflow of requests for eggs after she started elevating her own chickens final 12 months.
Subscribe:Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage!
Kraus informed the station she normally sells eggs for $7-$8 per dozen, however mentioned the product is high-quality.
“Farm contemporary eggs are … they’re higher they usually actually ought to be dearer than those you discover within the retailer as a result of we all know what we feed our chickens; we all know that they’re taken care of,” Kraus mentioned.
At least one municipality is contemplating altering its ordinance to permit residents to preserve food-producing pets, together with chickens and bees. The metropolis of Zeeland in Ottawa County started exploring the shift after seeing a rise in requests in response to the pandemic and rising prices.
It’s unclear when egg prices will return to regular, however there’s been a dip for the reason that begin of 2023.
“I believe there’s hope that issues will type of go down from right here,” Courts mentioned.
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.
