Eggs for Easter cost much less in the US than last year. A look at the numbers

<br><br>**Egg-cellent News US Egg Prices Plummet 60% from Record Highs**<br><br>As Easter and Passover celebrations approach, many of us are rejoicing at t [1D [K<br>the prospect of filling our baskets and Seder plates with delicious eggs. A [1D [K<br>And our wallets are rejoicing just as much. According to recent figures, US [2D [K<br>US egg prices have fallen a staggering 60% from last year's record highs, m [1D [K<br>making it easier than ever for consumers to get their hands on these tasty [K<br>treats.<br><br>But what's behind this extraordinary drop in prices? Let's crack open the n [1D [K<br>numbers and find out.<br><br>**The Bird Flu Effect**<br><br>In early 2025, bird flu outbreaks forced farmers and commercial producers t [1D [K<br>to slaughter entire broods of egg-laying hens. This dramatic reduction in s [1D [K<br>supply led to a surge in retail prices, with consumers paying top dollar fo [2D [K<br>for their Easter eggs. However, as cases of the highly contagious disease b [1D [K<br>began to ebb in the second half of last year, egg supplies started to resto [5D [K<br>restore themselves.<br><br>**Egg-stra Production**<br><br>Between July 2024 and July 2025, the number of egg-type chicks hatched in t [1D [K<br>the US rose a whopping 8%. This marked the first sustained increase in spec [4D [K<br>specially-bred layer chick availability since the bird flu outbreak began i [1D [K<br>in 2022. With more eggs being produced, prices are naturally plummeting – a [1D [K<br>and consumers are reaping the benefits.<br><br>**Import-Export Juggling Act**<br><br>The Trump administration's decision to import nearly 1 billion eggs last ye [2D [K<br>year also helped drive down prices. Although imports have returned to norma [5D [K<br>normal levels since then, this influx of foreign eggs helped boost domestic [8D [K<br>domestic supplies and ease pressure on farmers.<br><br>**Farmers Feel the Pinch**<br><br>While consumers are celebrating the lower egg prices, farmers are strugglin [9D [K<br>struggling to recoup their costs as production costs rise due to factors li [2D [K<br>like the Iran war affecting feed prices (corn, soybean meal, and cotton). M [1D [K<br>Many farmers have been forced to sell eggs at or below the cost of producti [8D [K<br>production – a difficult situation indeed.<br><br>**Egg-straordinary Stats**<br><br>Here's a look at US egg prices by the numbers<br><br>* $2.50 per dozen Average US price for a dozen eggs in February<br>* $6.23 per dozen All-time high average US price for a dozen eggs in March [5D [K<br>March 2025<br>* 315.8 million Number of egg-laying hens in the US as of March 1 (8% high [4D [K<br>higher than last year)<br>* 45 million Number of egg-laying hens in Iowa, top U.S. state for egg pro [3D [K<br>production<br>* 205.7 million Number of chickens and other birds killed or culled due to [2D [K<br>to bird flu since February 2022<br>* 5.22 million Number of chickens and other birds killed or culled due to [K<br>bird flu in March 2026 (more than double the previous year's number)<br>* 657% Percentage increase in U.S. imports of shell eggs in 2025 compared [K<br>to the year before<br>* $1.05 Average cost for farmers to produce a dozen eggs, not including la [2D [K<br>labor and transportation (according to the American Egg Board)<br>* In late March, the national average wholesale price of eggs was $1.17 per [3D [K<br>per dozen<br><br>**Wrap-up**<br><br>As we celebrate Easter and Passover with our loved ones, it's clear that th [2D [K<br>the egg market has had its fair share of ups and downs. But for consumers, [K<br>this means more affordable options for their favorite holiday treats. For f [1D [K<br>farmers, however, the situation is more complex – they're struggling to mai [3D [K<br>maintain profitability as prices plummet.<br><br>As we look ahead to future holidays and celebrations, let's remember the im [2D [K<br>importance of supporting our local farmers and recognizing the challenges t [1D [K<br>they face in bringing us the eggs we love. Happy Easter! -- Disclaimer: *The information in this electronic message is privileged and confidential, intended only for use of the individual or entity named as addressee and recipient. If you are not the addressee indicated in this message (or responsible for delivery of the message to such person), you may not copy, use, disseminate or deliver this message. In such case, you should immediately delete this e-mail and notify the sender by reply e-mail. Please advise immediately if you or your employer do not consent to Internet e-mail for messages of this kind. Opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in this message are not given, nor endorsed by and are not the responsibility of *USTP* unless otherwise indicated by an authorized representative of *USTP* independent of this message.*