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Bird flu has killed chickens and scrambled egg prices

Mar 18, 2024
Since early 2022, more than 80 million birds, most of them egg layers, have been stricken by the disease.
Poultry caretakers and processors take strict biosecurity measures to keep avian influenza and other viruses away from their birds.
Kerry Klein/KVPR

How the orange egg yolk trend was hatched

Sep 22, 2023
With eggs a more costly commodity, yolks of a richer color have come to signify luxury, writer Marian Bull observes.
Richer-hued yolks are a feast for the eyes to some. They may also signify luxury and "almost purity," says writer Marian Bull.
Brent Lewin/Getty Images

Salmonella testing can be a slow process. These researchers want to change that.

Aug 29, 2023
A research team from multiple universities is developing technology that can detect salmonella contamination in a matter of minutes. They aim to take the results from sensors and pair them with other data to strengthen the safety and resilience of the supply of chicken.
University of Missouri Ph.D. student Mai Abuhelwa demonstrates how one of the new sensors detects salmonella contamination on July 28, 2023. This sensor uses a laser and fiber optic cables to sense small concentrations of the bacteria.
Eric Schmid/Harvest Public Media

Why the price of eggs is down — and likely to keep falling

May 12, 2023
Fewer bird flu cases and a natural increase in egg supply in the spring is leading to lower prices.
Egg prices dropped more than $1.50 on average between January and April 2023.
John Thys/AFP via Getty Images

Egg prices have doubled over the last year

Dec 26, 2022
Bird flu has decimated flocks. Meanwhile, demand for eggs has increased.
Bird flu has infected millions of chickens, putting stress on egg production and moving prices up.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Added to consumer price woes: avian flu is raising the cost of eggs

Apr 21, 2022
The American Egg Board estimates about 6% of the laying hen population has been affected.
Sam Krouse, co-head of MPS Egg Farms, says that the industry is recovering well from a widespread outbreak of avian flu that caused egg prices to skyrocket.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Chickens come home to roost for new baby chick owners

Jun 17, 2020
Hatcheries across the country saw a surge in orders when the lockdown began. The chickens came first, then the eggs.
Douglas Friedman was stuck at home because of shelter-in-place orders, so he decided to raise chickens with a neighbor.
Carlos Morales/Marfa Public Radio

For public good, not for profit.

As Americans shift breakfast to home, wholesale egg and orange juice prices soar

Mar 30, 2020
Staying home is making Americans cook breakfast at home. Demand for eggs and other breakfast staples is pushing prices up for retailers.
Egg prices are up as consumer habits change during the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

An animal welfare rule aimed at organic egg production is on the chopping block

Jan 11, 2018
The Trump administration has proposed doing away with a rule that mandated that organic egg laying chickens spend time outdoors.
Chickens congregate on a New Hampshire farm.
Kevin Phelps/Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs

Homesteading in the digital age

Jan 9, 2018
Is there a future in growing our food and trading it for the things we want?
An urban farm in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images