Canada’s egg farmers are making gains because of the
devastation avian influenza is causing in Iowa’s egg industry.
The price for eggs for processing has shot up by 63 per cent
to $1.03 a dozen.
That has narrowed the gap between the prices for processing
and table-market eggs and, because Canada’s marketing boards cover that price
gap for eggs, they’re not having to spend as much money.
The national supply-management marketing board system covers
the price gap so Canadian egg processors can hold the Canadian market against
competition from U.S. processors.
The two largest processors in Canada are either outright or
partially owned by Burnbrae Farms Ltd. and L.H. Gray & Son Ltd. They are
also own egg-grading operations in Ontario that hold more than 90 per cent
of the market and are the province’s two
largest egg producers.
Avian influenza has taken out three large egg farms in Iowa
that accounted for 25 per cent of the state’s egg production.
Retail egg price increases have been much less – 17 per cent
in supermarkets in Des Moines, Iowa.
Prices for whole, skinless, boneless chicken breasts have
increased by 10 per cent.
The turkey industry says that despite heavy losses in
Minnesota, it expects there will be enough turkeys at Thanksgiving.
