Egg prices continue to set all-time per-dozen price records, and a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert does not expect that trend to reverse in the near future.

David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station, said inflationary pressure and the worst avian flu outbreak in U.S. history have combined to send egg prices upward over much of the last year.  

For a year-to-year comparison, prices reached $4.25 per dozen on average in December 2022 across the nation, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture retail egg report. A dozen eggs was $1.79 at the same time last year.

The previous peak price occurred in September 2015 – $2.97 per dozen – and was also attributable to an avian influenza outbreak.

Anderson said he has been inundated with media requests on the subject as the topic of egg prices has become a major talking point among the consuming public.

“One reporter in Houston interviewed a backyard producer who told them this is the first time ever that it’s been cheaper to produce eggs than buy them at the store,” he said. “The situation with egg prices is something people are following now, but I think it is also something that happened over the course of time with several factors aligning.”

Avian flu driving egg prices upward

Higher production and logistical costs like feed and fuel have contributed, but the top factor driving egg prices to record highs is an ongoing outbreak of avian influenza, Anderson said. The highly pathogenic viral disease hit the U.S. poultry industry in early 2022 and cases continue to pop up at poultry farms nationwide.

The USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA-APHIS, reported almost 58 million commercial poultry birds, including broiler and egg-laying chickens, turkeys and various fowl have been lost to the virus, now reported in 46 states.

The USDA estimated around 43 million egg-laying hens were cut from the U.S. flock through December. The disease hits egg-laying chicken flocks harder because birds are in production much longer than broiler chickens, which increases their risk of exposure to the pathogen. 

The losses resulted in U.S. egg inventories that were 29% lower than January 2022, according to the report.

Anderson said the avian flu struck at a time when egg layer numbers had already been reduced.

There were 340 million table egg layer hens in the U.S. flock in December 2019. By December 2020, table layer numbers had been reduced by 13 million hens, to 327 million, as egg production responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and higher feed costs. The number of table layers remained static through December 2021, and then the avian influenza outbreak dropped the number of hens below 300 million by June.

Profit incentive has pushed poultry producers to restore flock numbers amid the outbreak, but egg-producing operations continue to be hit by the disease. USDA-APHIS disease control and containment protocol calls for euthanization and disposal of all birds in a house exposed to the disease.  

“We’ve seen producers respond by building back the flock numbers, but farms are still getting wiped out,” he said. “They were up to 308 million by December 2022, but it’s two steps forward, one step back.”

Egg demand peaks around Easter

Wholesale prices continue to rise, which indicates retail egg prices have not peaked, he said.  The teetering flock numbers couldn’t come at a worse time for consumers.

The January USDA egg report showed prices were steady to slightly lower than December, but yearly prices for eggs often peaks each spring due to Easter holiday egg hunts and baking, he said.

“We have a built-in holiday-driven demand for table eggs,” he said. “That demand bump is on the horizon, but the higher prices are also a signal to consumers to use less, so it will be interesting to see if there will be a demand adjustment this Easter.”

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Preventing vehicle burglary theft this stock show season

Livestock stock show season brings about travel with trucks, trailers and expensive equipment, which can also lead to unfortunate theft.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service experts are advising show families and friends to implement common safety practices when traveling this show season.

“It’s amazing how many people leave expensive things unsecure, even on the seat of the car,” said Jeff Fant, AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Recovery agent, San Angelo. “San Angelo has a big stock show and rodeo, yet you would not believe how many people leave expensive coolers and other items in the back of a pickup.”

Expensive saddles and tack items are another area of concern, said Bryan Davis, Disaster Assessment and Recovery team lead, Seguin.

“It’s easy to get in a hurry and jump out of the vehicle without thinking about what you’ve left in the bed of the pickup or leaving trailer gates unlocked,” Davis said. “You’d also be surprised at how many people leave a vehicle unlocked. Approximately 50% of all vehicles stolen are left unlocked.”

Traveling tips

 The following are traveling tips:

• Hide or remove valuables from plain sight to avoid attracting thieves, especially firearms and computers.

• Never hide a second set of keys in or on your car. Extra keys can easily be found by thieves.

• Park in well-lighted areas or attended lots. More than half of all vehicle thefts occur at night. Auto thieves do not like witnesses and prefer unattended parking lots.

• Never leave your car running, even if gone for a minute. Vehicles are commonly stolen at convenience stores, gas station, ATMs, etc. Many vehicles are also stolen on a cold morning when the owner leaves the vehicle running to warm up. Leaving your key in an unattended motor vehicle is a crime in Texas.

• Don’t leave the registration, title or insurance card in your vehicle. A thief will use these to sell your stolen car. File the title and registration at your home or office and carry your insurance card in your purse or wallet. Consider carrying this information digitally on a mobile phone.

• Park with your wheels turned toward the curb and use your emergency brake. Make your car tough to tow away. Wheels should also turn to the side in driveways and parking lot.

• If you have a garage, use it rather than parking outside where your vehicle is more vulnerable. Lock your garage and your vehicle doors.

• Engrave your Vehicle Identification Number, VIN, or a personal identification number on expensive accessories and parts. Stolen cars/parts are more easily traced when VIN’s have been etched on major parts and expensive accessories.

• Lock your car and take your keys.

• Do not keep any papers with personal identification on them — name, address, phone number, etc. If the criminal finds this, they know who you are, where you are, and how to make contact.

Added Vehicle Protection

Davis also suggests investing in an ignition or fuel kill switch.

“Splice an inexpensive toggle switch into your ignition wire or starter to stop it from starting,” Davis said. “The fuel kill switch cuts off the flow of fuel when the switch is off.”

Another option is a visible steering lock inside the vehicle.

“These visible steering wheel locks prevent the steering wheel from being turned properly. Gas or brake pedal locks disable the fuel and braking functions,” Davis said. “Gearshift locks disable shifting of the transmission by locking it in place. Tire or wheel locks wrap around the wheel and prevent the vehicle from moving. Hood locks prevent the thief from gaining access to your security system and battery. An armored collar around the steering column protects the column and ignition.”

Car alarms with sensors that detectglass breakage, motion tampering and towing also work well.

“Panic buttons, back-up batteries, flashing parking lights or headlights, and automatic engine disable features are also recommended,” Davis said.

Vehicle tracking devices also feature a silent transmitter hidden in a car that enables the police to track it.

“Overall, use common sense and remember to lock up important equipment and valuables,” Fant said.