Egg prices expected to rise 'dramatically' across US after California law takes effect requiring

AP ^ | January 1, 2015 | Staff

[C19fan]

The new year is expected to bring rising chicken egg prices across the U.S. as California starts requiring farmers to house hens in cages with enough space to move around and stretch their wings. The new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements. To comply, farmers have to put fewer hens into each cage or invest in revamped henhouses, passing along the expense to consumers shopping at grocery stores. California is the nation's largest consumer of eggs and imports about one-third of its supply.

[C19fan]

If this law is legal then I guess if the voters of California wanted to they can pass a vote saying one can only eat organic, non-GMO, free range, halal, fair trade, and what ever other restrictions the hipster foodie types want food. In other words, if California wanted to they could force people to $10+ prices for a pound of chicken.

[Smokin' Joe]

The new standard backed by animal rights advocates has drawn ire nationwide because farmers in Iowa, Ohio and other states who sell eggs in California have to abide by the same requirements.

EffEm. Don't sell them eggs.

[proxy_user]

What is to stop some entrepreneur from selling non-Califonia eggs to the other 49 states? He could undercut everyone on price, and get the whole market.

[Texas Eagle]

In other words, if California wanted to they could force people to $10+ prices for a pound of chicken.

That's exactly what they're shooting for.

[Sasparilla]

Careful, those west coast hipsters may read your comment and get ideas.

[Red Badger]

Only eggs from gay chickens are allowed.........................

[Mechanicos]

More people will start raising chickens and selling eggs locally as a side job.

[Red Badger]

EGGSACTLY!....................

[MrB]

That would be a great way to show Californicans the consequences of their ways.

Just keep it all market driven.

Perhaps some farmer will do the analysis and come to the conclusion it would be better to have two sets of cages and charge the Californicans the increase and the rest of the market at the normal prices.

[Haiku Guy]

There is no reason non-California sold eggs should be California compliant. If a egg producer wants to sell high priced eggs in California, that is a profitable business, no doubt. But if he tries to sell eggs at the same price anywhere else, he will be undercut by lower-cost producers.

Unless, of course, the egg producers are acting as an oligarchy, in which case we are all screwed.

[MrB]

“Home” eggs are much better anyway.

Plus, with a couple of chickens, you don’t run nearly the amount of food waste down the drain or in the garbage/landfill.

[alloysteel]

Too late, they already have those ideas and a whole slew of others. So little time, so much to be done. But given time, they will finally reach the fullness of their demands, and Nirvana shall arrive.

If a boiling culture war does not break out first.

[TribalPrincess2U]

Then they would make a new law that you can’t have chickens in your backyard.....for some stupid reason.

[alloysteel]

“Perhaps some farmer will do the analysis and come to the conclusion it would be better to have two sets of cages and charge the Californicans the increase and the rest of the market at the normal prices.”

That is the more likely outcome. But don’t expect the “California boutique” eggs to be a very widespread or particularly profitable line. Californians, vegan or not, will simply stop consuming eggs, or get them black market, from backyard flock keepers, without going through supermarkets and the normal commercial network. The criminal aspect might just play in here as well. Works nicely with pot growing.

Now, if the chickens get fed a little hash....

[cuban leaf]

We have 14 layers and eggs coming out of our ears. A lot of people around here do. Eggs are the one thing we have not bought since our first year after moving to Kentucky.

[cuban leaf]

Plus, with a couple of chickens, you don’t run nearly the amount of food waste down the drain or in the garbage/landfill.

---

We have a compost pile that the chickens have access to. It seems to remain pretty much empty, even after several months.

[unixfox]

Why ANYONE would do business in Kalifornia is beyond me.

[MrB]

You probably know this, but you need to throw some “browns” in with it, as well. That means wood mulch, leaves, etc.
Otherwise, the nitrogen content will be too hot to use your compost because of the chicken poop.

[cuban leaf]

EffEm. Don’t sell them eggs.

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Naw. What will happen is those who sell to california will have a separate area for chickens laying for California and charge more for them. When a government requires all providers of a good or service to do something that costs “x” dollars per unit, then the cost to consumers will be increased by “x+y” dollars, “Y” being the extra profit each provider chooses to tack on. It may be zero, but they will all be increased by “x”.

[yldstrk]

What is wrong with making sure the poor chickens that supply you eggs have a decent life? Just because the chicken farmers don’t want to do a little exercise, these poor birds are supposed to exist stacked upon each other pooping on each other existing just to provide eggs for fat people? No. I agree with this law and animal lovers the world wide do too. Chicken farmers, move into modern times.