Latest news with #RonKean
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Egg prices are finally starting to fall in Wisconsin. Will it last?
Though egg prices in the Midwest and nationally are finally starting to tick back down, grocery prices are still higher across the board compared to a year ago. Between March and April, the national average price for Grade A eggs decreased by 12.7% to $5.12 per dozen according to the latest consumer price index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though that's the first month-to-month decline since October 2024, egg prices are still far below pre-avian flu levels of under $2 a dozen. In March, the average price for a dozen eggs hit $6.23 — the highest in at least 20 years. Still, bolstered by the dip in egg prices, the national average price for meat, poultry, fish and eggs overall also decreased by 0.9% between March and April. In the Midwest, meat, poultry, fish and eggs prices declined by 0.7% — though both national and Midwest prices in this category are still about 7% higher than a year ago. Here's how other grocery prices shifted in Midwest last month. Though the price of nonalcoholic beverages rose by 0.8% in the Midwest, prices decreased across all of the other major grocery categories, according to the consumer price index: Cereal and bakery product prices fell by 1.5% Meat, poultry, fish and egg prices fell by 0.7% Dairy and related product prices fell by 1.2% Fruit and vegetable prices fell by 0.3% The overall price of groceries the Midwest decreased by 0.6% between March and April. That's a shift from the 0.2% increase between February and March, but prices are still 2.4% higher than a year ago. Egg prices across the U.S. have been rocketing since 2022, primarily due to a nationwide avian flu outbreak that has have killed millions of hens and triggered widespread egg shortages. As of April 7, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection had detected avian influenza in commercial poultry flocks in Burnett and Barron counties and backyard flocks in Kenosha and Sheboygan counties. Though bird flu detections "eased significantly in March," the U.S. Department of Agriculture still predicted egg prices may rise as much as 54.6% throughout 2025 in an April report. Still, if bird flu cases remain relatively low, the price decrease could hold in the coming months, according to USA TODAY. In March, University of Wisconsin-Extension poultry specialist Ron Kean also told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he expected egg prices to start declining after Easter. "As we hit warmer weather, it's a little less baking going on, and people are maybe not eating as heavy breakfasts, so usually demand will go down as we get into the spring," Kean said. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin egg prices dip slightly in April 2025
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US egg prices are expected to rise by more then 40% in 2025. What's in store for Wisconsin?
As egg prices reach record levels nationwide, Wisconsin is neither immune to the trend nor likely to see prices come down anytime soon, experts say. Since 2022, avian flu outbreaks have killed of millions of hens across the country, triggering a nationwide egg shortage and rocketing egg prices. In January 2025, the national average price for a dozen large eggs reached $4.95 — surpassing the previous record set in January 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So far, Wisconsin's bird flu outbreaks have been among turkey flocks, not hens, according to University of Wisconsin-Extension poultry specialist Ron Kean. Still, the state has felt the strain of egg shortages, with some Milwaukee grocery stores even setting egg purchase limits in recent weeks. "Unfortunately, I don't see prices improving in the near future," Kean said. "We still don't have a handle on stopping bird flu." Here's what's in store for egg prices for 2025, including when prices in Wisconsin may finally ease back down. More: What to know about bird flu as wild birds across Wisconsin have tested positive for the virus Nationally, it looks like egg prices will rise a bit more before they come back down. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report last month predicting egg prices will increase 41.1% this year, along with a 3.4% general increase for the prices of all food. Retail egg prices increased 13.8% in January 2025, on top of an 8.4% increase in December 2024, the agency said. The agency said more than 18 million commercial egg layers were infected by bird flu in January 2025, which was the highest monthly total since the outbreak began in 2022. In the first two months of 2025, the U.S. lost 30 million hens, or about 10% of the country's total hen population, according to Kean. "For some reason, biosecurity is not working, at least the current methods," Kean said of the national bird flu response. In particular, Wisconsinites shopping for cage-free eggs should expect even steeper prices, Kean added. Cage-free eggs, which are typically pricier than conventional eggs anyway, will get even more expensive as only 40% of the nation's flock is cage-free, and some states only allow the sale of eggs produced in cage-free housing. Though Wisconsin does not have such a law, it will still feel the impact of the shortages, Kean said. "It's kind of like oil prices or gas prices," he said. "If they go up in one place, they tend to go up everywhere." Though it's unclear when the bird flu outbreaks will subside, Kean said a decrease in egg demand could slightly lower prices in the next few months. "Once we get past Easter, I would expect prices to come down somewhat," Kean said. "As we hit warmer weather, it's a little less baking going on, and people are maybe not eating as heavy breakfasts, so usually demand will go down as we get into the spring." Here are other foods expected to become more expensive in 2025, according to the USDA report. Beef and veal prices are predicted to increase 3.2%. Pork prices, 1.2%. Prices for fresh fruit, 2.4% Prices for sugar and sweets, 6.4% Prices for nonalcoholic beverages, 4.4% Poultry prices are predicted to experience no change on average in 2025, the USDA said. More: Might rising egg prices affect frozen custard in Wisconsin? This is what we heard This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: When will eggs get cheaper in Wisconsin? The latest on grocery prices
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stocking up on eggs? Here's what a Wisconsin poultry specialist says about safe storage, usage
Eggs are flying off the shelves in supermarkets and major retailers like Trader Joe's and Costco as shoppers fear the shortage fueled by the bird flu outbreak will leave them without their favorite breakfast staple. Prices for eggs have skyrocketed as bird flu has taken a toll on commercial egg farms across the country. According to the American Egg Board, nearly 50 million laying hens were culled in the U.S. in the past year due to bird flu. Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics unveiled its latest monthly price data, showing the average cost of a dozen large grade A eggs is the highest in 45 years. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials expect the price of eggs to jump another 20% this year. Thieves have even resorted to stealing eggs from a restaurant in Seattle and a distribution trailer in Pennsylvania. Photos of empty shelves in grocery store refrigerated cases have appeared on social media as well as a viral video posted by TikTok user @ on Feb. 1 of a shopper filling her grocery cart with over 200 dozen eggs at a California Costco. Similar to the shortage of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in the early days of the COVID pandemic, customers have been stocking up on eggs. However, eggs are perishable and buyers should keep in mind that they won't stay fresh. Here are some tips about storing and using eggs safely. Across the end of the egg carton are two lines: a three-digit code indicating the date the eggs were packaged based on the Julian calendar, and a 'best by' date informing the buyer how long the eggs will be at their optimal taste and quality. Ron Kean, University of Wisconsin Division of Extension Poultry Specialist says most eggs on store shelves are pretty fresh. Eggs produced in a commercial egg facility are processed and packed within a day or two of being laid. "The American Egg Board says eggs are good for 2 to 3 weeks beyond their 'use by' date on the carton," Kean said. Before bringing eggs home from the store, buyers should inspect the shells for cracks, even small hairline fractures. Kean says older eggs will lose moisture and the quality will decrease — whites will be thinner and the yolk will break more easily. The "float" test is often used under the premise that good eggs will sink while bad eggs will float. Kean says the procedure mostly tests the age of the egg. "As the egg ages, moisture evaporates through the shell, so older eggs will have a larger air cell, which causes them to float," Kean said. "But 'old' doesn't mean 'spoiled'. According to the USDA, an egg that floats may still be edible as long as it doesn't smell after you crack it." Kean says that breaking an egg in a separate bowl can be helpful to check for any off-odors or discolorations. In that case, the egg should be discarded. "Small blood spots occur occasionally, and they can be gently removed — those eggs are safe to eat," Kean said. U.S. consumers are often surprised to learn many European countries don't subscribe to refrigerating eggs. They rely on the egg's "bloom" — a natural coating which prevents the shell from being porous — to keep water and oxygen in and bad bacteria out. Washing can damage that layer, Yi Chen, a food scientist at Purdue University told NPR. According to the USDA, U.S. egg producers and processors began washing and refrigerating their eggs in the early 1970s over concerns over foodborne illnesses. Kean says he's in favor of refrigeration for two reasons. "The quality of the egg (thickness of the whites and strength of the yolks) decreases much more slowly when refrigerated. And even though Salmonella is very rare in eggs today, it is still possible," he said. "If there happens to be Salmonella present in the eggs, it will multiply more quickly at room temperatures, but the growth will be much slower when refrigerated." At the time of egg-rationing during World War II, this reporter's great-grandfather would preserve eggs by water glassing them. He would dip them in a sodium silicate solution thought to prevent eggs from spoiling by sealing their pores. However, food safety experts at the University of Utah Extension warn against water glassing eggs due to potential risks of bacteria growth if not handled properly. You can also freeze eggs, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation. The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans typically purchase around 180 million eggs to dye and decorate for Easter each year. Kean doesn't expect egg production to improve by mid-April. Demand may decrease a bit because of the high prices, so prices might come down slightly. Some stores may also lower prices despite the losses, much like sales on turkeys before Thanksgiving. "I think the tradition of dying eggs is a little less common than it used to be, so the 'Easter bump' in egg demand has not been as big as it once was," Kean said. "That may temper any 'extra' price increases we might expect." He anticipates egg prices will soften a bit for summer, as demand tends to decrease over the warmer months. This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Wisconsin poultry specialist talks safe storage, usage of eggs
