Bird Flu Pushes Egg Price Up Sharply

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

The price of Midwest eggs more than doubled in the past week because of the growing avian influenza epidemic, which has caused millions of chickens, turkeys and other birds to die or be euthanized.

On Friday, the average wholesale price of a dozen large eggs from the hard-hit Midwest was $2.62, according to estimates from Urner Barry, a food commodity market research firm that compiles daily egg price reports.

The price has risen 120 percent from the average of $1.19 a dozen on April 22.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported three deadly flu strains in commercial and backyard poultry flocks totaling more than 43 million birds in 15 states since mid-December. In Iowa alone, the outbreak at commercial farms has led to the loss of nearly 30 million chickens, or nearly 10 percent of the nation's egg-laying hens.

Read more: http://www.agrinews.com/news/nation/world/bird-flu-pushes-egg-price-up-sharply/article_8d20ea89-2fbb-552e-8262-a558954507ce.html

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Poultry Banned From Michigan's County Fairs This Year

There will be something missing from the state's 80 county fairs and 4-H exhibitions this year.

Michigan's State Veterinarian, James Averill, has banned showings of chickens and other birds as a precaution, in response to the epidemic of avian flu that's caused the deaths of tens of millions of birds in other states like Iowa.

Michigan Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Jennifer Holton says it was a difficult decision.

"We know the tremendous amount of time, money, and passion kids and all these other exhibitors invest in their birds," says Holton, "and the importance of having animals at these events to interact with the public. But the rapid spread of this virus has been historic, and we had to make the decision to protect the health of all the state's poultry flock, both backyard and commercial farmers."

Michigan has not yet had a case of the highly infectious strain of avian flu that's forced farmers in a number of states to slaughter their flocks, and Holton says the state wants to keep it that way.

more...

http://michiganradio.org/post/poultry-banned-michigans-county-fairs-year#stream/0

[onehandle]

1. For some reason, Whole Foods doubled their prices weeks ago.

And stuck out signs blaming suppliers.

While Trader Joe's and Wegmans have only risen slightly.

My guess is that Whole Foods sources Midwest eggs, while Trader Joe's and Wegmans source local eggs (East Coast).

[jwirr]

2. That may be it. Hopefully the flu will get stopped soon. Eggs are the poor man's meat.

[shanti]

6. this is true

eggs are good, relatively cheap protein.

[cstanleytech]

3. Or Whole Foods is just using it as an excuse to raise prices, they wouldnt be the first retailer to

do that.

[AngryDem001]

4. There's a reason they're called 'Whole Paycheck'.

[shanti]

5. yup, bought some today

$2.99 a dozen, i was shocked because it seemed to have been going down until now. i'm in CA and they'd been pretty high for awhile due to legislation. the guy stocking the shelf said that they just marked them up TODAY.

[DiverDave]

7. 99 cents a doz. at kwik trip in Eagan MN.

Yesterday.