Avian in uenza outbreak presents opportunity to Michigan egg industry

State producers invest in biosecurity to protect their ocks

DUSTIN WALSH

e avian u outbreaks that have decimated the egg industry have left Michigan, one of the nation’s largest egg producers, largely unscathed.

Grocery shopping is a painful endeavor thanks to record high prices for essential food items. e pocketbook agony is possibly most noticeable at the egg cooler.

e average price of a dozen eggs peaked at $4.25 in December, up from just $1.50 prior to the pandemic. Prices have since dropped but remain well above prepandemic levels.

e market for eggs is what economists call inelastic — simply put, eggs are a staple in American households and consumers will sacri ce elsewhere to buy and consume them.

at’s good news for chicken farmers who were devastated by the outbreak that claimed one out of every 10 egg-laying hens in the U.S. since last year.

It’s even better news for Michigan’s large egg farming infrastructure —