As we prepared to enter the second quarter of the year—and the second year of the pandemic—it appeared that COVID-19 was finally moving into the rearview and that the nation was poised to return to some semblance of normalcy. But for those in the egg industry, that was not to be, as another kind of virus was waiting in the wings—highly-pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). First detected in wild birds along the eastern seaboard in January, the virus has since infiltrated commercial laying flocks, sending more than 10 million hens to slaughter thus far.

The shell egg market, which started to soften in the first week of March amid lackluster retail demand and mounting inventory levels, saw an abrupt end to the sell-side pressure that had been developing at that time, as fears began to mount about potential supply disruptions. And at the start of last week, those fears were realized when it was confirmed that a large commercial farm in Wisconsin had fallen prey to the virus...

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UB Cage Free Notice - November 22, 2021

Karyn Rispoli
Urner Barry
1-732-240-5330
krispoli@urnerbarry.com