Will Federal Funds Stop Rising Egg Prices?

By Y.M. Lowy

Egg prices in New York are cracking wallets again, with some grocery stores charging around $7 to $8 per dozen - an unprecedented high for shoppers.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warns they could climb even higher if federal funding to fight bird flu is slashed.

Since January 2022, the bird flu has ravaged over 130 million birds in the U.S., driving up costs for eggs and groceries. 

So far, the federal government has invested over $300 million in biosecurity measures to curb the outbreak, but incoming budget cuts could disrupt these efforts.

Schumer says that without enough funding, farms could face more problems, and prices could keep going up. Right now, New Yorkers are paying nearly double the national average for eggs. 

“If we don’t sustain funding to fight bird flu, we’ll see chaos in agriculture and higher prices at the register,” Schumer cautioned, urging the federal government to stay the course.