The price of eggs has skyrocketed over the past 18 months, with prices now nearing $5.00 per dozen. The high cost is largely attributed to a virus that has led to the deaths of tens of millions of chickens worldwide.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as “bird flu,” is highly contagious among chickens and requires producers to cull entire flocks or facilities to prevent its spread. This has reduced the available egg-layers and increased costs for producers.
Additional factors contributing to the high prices include states requiring more space for chicken movement, Americans’ growing preference for cage-free eggs, higher wages, and inflationary pressures on energy and transportation.
As Iowa is the top egg-producing state in the country, with 45 million hens laying 15 billion eggs per year, the impact of this outbreak has been significant. Researchers are working on a vaccine for humans, although there have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission.
The situation highlights the need for answers from politicians and decisionmakers to address the challenges faced by farmers and consumers alike.
Source: https://www.ktiv.com/2025/02/15/inside-iowa-politics-expensive-eggs-politics