That has extended to Canada, reports Ron Friesen in the Manitoba
Cooperator.
Tim Lambert, chief executive officer for Egg Farmers of
Canada, said the national supply-management agency is working closely with
other industry players to locate adequate egg supplies outside the country
while ramping up domestic production by placing more layer hens.
Other strategies include extending flock cycles and
expanding the national Eggs For Processing program, which enables provincial
marketing boards to issue special permits for processed eggs to meet market
requirements.
“Our solution is, pay the price for as short a time as
possible and gear up our own production as fast as possible,” Lambert said.
The U.S. price for eggs for processing has risen from 65
cents to $2.35 a dozen in the last five weeks.
One of the issues for Canadians is a ban on imports from
states that have had avian influenza outbreaks. That also means eggs can’t be
trucked through Minnesota.
This week Michigan reported the discovery of three
goslings with avian influenza, but so far no farms have been hit there.
