Blame for high US egg prices is now a political pinata
The lack of understanding of basic economics is frustrating, but the misguided blame game over the cause of high egg prices presents an opportunity for change.
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Terrence O’Keefe
January 30, 2025
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The price of eggs in the U.S. was used incorrectly by the political opponents of the Biden Administration over the past few years as an indicator of the overall impact of inflation on the cost of consumer goods because of increased government spending and a loose monetary policy. The reduction in the number of layers caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks and the subsequent farm depopulations have been completely ignored in the ongoing blame game and finger pointing by political adversaries. Recently the kerfuffle has seen the Trump administration blamed for egg price increases occurring after the January 20, 2025, inauguration.
Everyone in the poultry industry knows that HPAI caused laying hen losses and reduced the supply of eggs, and this is why retail egg prices, which have always been demand inelastic, have reached historic highs. While I am frustrated that politicians and the popular press are so naïve when it comes to economics, the intense focus on egg prices raises an opportunity for the poultry industry.
The phrase “never let a good crisis go to waste” has been attributed to several individuals from Winston Churchill to Rahm Emanuel. The political “crisis” over egg prices can be used to open eyes and ears to new ideas on how best to deal with HPAI. We are over three years into the current outbreaks and the situation is arguably worse than it has ever been with the virus found in nearly 1,000 dairy herds, dozens of species of wild mammals and, of course, in all sorts of waterfowl and other wild bird species.
Chad Gregory, president and CEO, United Egg Producers (UEP), has called on government and the poultry industry to address the outbreak in new ways. In a recent press release he said, “Expanded government attention to solutions that will halt the onslaught of HPAI is essential. That starts with expanded research and funding to understand how this disease is spreading, why it remains so resilient, and whether it is evolving into new more lethal strains. UEP also supports development of effective HPAI vaccinations for dairy cows and poultry that can be deployed ASAP to help end or significantly mitigate the circulation of the virus in dairy herds, commercial poultry flocks and egg layer operations. The availability of animal vaccines effective against current and future strains of H5N1 is imperative to securing our nation’s public and animal health.”
“Global animal scientists and experts in epidemiology and avian health should be tapped to forge more aggressive approach to combating this disease. We must have effective and enforced rules on testing and animal movement designed first and foremost to stop disease spread, as well as cooperation and collaboration among animal health experts serving industry, states, and the federal government. Finally, we need state and national animal laboratories adequately funded and staffed to ensure quick and accurate test results.”
I agree with Gregory that the time is now for a new approach to stamping out efforts. I hope that the spotlight on high egg prices and the misguided discussion of which political party is to blame for these prices will provide the political capital needed to fund the research and testing needed to find workable solutions.
要約
卵価格の高騰は、高病原性鳥インフルエンザ（HPAI）の発生による鶏の減少が主な原因であり、政治的な要因ではない。この危機を機に、HPAI対策の新たなアプローチが必要である。政府と養鶏業界は、HPAIの蔓延原因の解明、効果的なワクチンの開発、検査体制の強化、専門家の活用など、より積極的な対策を講じるべきである。卵価格高騰を政治利用するのではなく、根本的な解決策を見出すために必要な研究と対策に資金を投入することが重要である。
詳細
卵価格高騰の真因： 卵価格の高騰は、HPAIの発生による鶏の減少が主な原因であり、政府支出や金融緩和政策の影響ではない。
HPAIの現状： HPAIは発生から3年以上が経過し、状況は悪化している。乳牛や野生哺乳類からもウイルスが検出されており、より致死性の高い新型株に進化している可能性もある。
新たなアプローチの必要性： HPAI対策には、従来のやり方にとらわれず、新たなアプローチが必要である。
具体的な対策：
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- HPAIの蔓延原因の解明とワクチン開発のための研究と資金提供の拡大
- 乳牛や家禽に対する効果的なHPAIワクチンの開発と迅速な配備
- 検査や動物の移動に関する規則の徹底と、関係機関の連携強化
- 州および国の動物検査機関への十分な資金と人員の提供
政治利用の弊害： 卵価格高騰を政治利用することは、根本的な解決策を見出すための資金提供を妨げる可能性がある。
結論
卵価格高騰は深刻な問題であり、早急な対策が必要である。政治的な対立に時間を費やすのではなく、科学的な根拠に基づいた効果的な対策を講じるべきである。
＊アメリカの養鶏者からは「高い卵価の責任を政治的な攻撃対象の具にするものではなく、早急にワクチンを配備し、ウイルスの蔓延を止めるべき」との発言が出てきています。
米国の鶏卵価格は2024年11月時点で12個入りパック3.65ドルに達しています。
外国では優れたベクターワクチン（HVT+AIやHVT+IBD＋AI）が開発されています。日本でも、そろそろワクチンの配備を検討し、淘汰ではないAIの蔓延を食い止める方法を検討する時期が来たのではないでしょうか。
