June 9

6/9 - According to the CDC’s database, the U.S. has lost 60.75M commercial table egg layers and pullets due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) since mid-Oct 2024. There were 312M table egg layers in the U.S. on Nov 1, 2024 – so we’ve lost 19.5% of the flock this Winter/Spring. As of May 1, the egg laying flock, at 286M head, was 8.6% below year-ago levels. Table egg production in April was down 7.5% from a year ago. So, we are not repopulating fast enough to maintain flock numbers or egg output. Fortunately, outbreaks have declined seasonally, with just 4 since May 1. Last year there were no HPAI outbreaks from July 16 through Oct 15. But come Fall, birds will again begin migrating, and the cycle is likely to restart. Surprisingly, the USDA is optimistically projecting egg prices to average 4.06/dozen in 2025 - and then drop to just $2.16 in 2026. Perhaps the USDA doesn’t want to disappoint the President?