Nevada hopes relaxing cage-free law will relieve their egg shortage

Back when egg prices remained securely under $2 a dozen in 2021, Nevada joined several other states concerned about animal welfare in requiring cage-free eggs.

Now four years later, a dozen eggs costs an average of nearly $5 in the U.S. because of the lingering bird flu, so Nevada passed a law the governor signed Thursday that will allow the state to suspend that law temporarily in hopes of getting residents some relief at the checkout counter.

But it is not quite that simple, which is why the other six states with the same laws are so far reticent to follow suit.

By relaxing the rule, Nevada might get access to additional eggs, but the supply of all eggs remains tight because nearly 159 million birds have been slaughtered since the bird flu outbreak began in 2022 to help limit virus spread. The virus prompts the slaughter of entire flocks anytime it is found.

It is not clear dropping cage-free laws will have a significant effect on egg prices that have peaked at an average of $4.95 per dozen because the farmers who collectively invested several billion dollars in making the switch can’t easily go back to raising chickens packed together in massive barns that they already spent the money to convert.

Even if all the cage-free laws went away, big corporations like McDonald’s and Sodexo remain committed to buying only those kind of eggs, ensuring strong demand for cage-free eggs.

University of Arkansas agricultural economist Jada Thompson said opening up Nevada to all kinds of eggs “could ease egg prices in Nevada very slightly,” but that it might make prices worse elsewhere because supplies are so tight.

But Nevada is going to give it a try even if California, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Michigan don’t seem to be considering it. Arizona, Rhode Island and Utah also have cage-free laws on the books, but theirs won’t take effect for at least a couple more years.

Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo approved the 120-day suspension of the law Thursday. Ciara Ressel, a spokesperson for the Nevada Department of Agriculture said it will be about a month before people see an impact at grocery stores.

Brad Burdsall, owner and chief eggineer at Egg Works, said he is paying more than twice as much for a case of eggs than he was two years ago — $129 for 15 dozen case of eggs. The restaurant implemented a 50-cent surcharge per shelled egg until prices come down.

The Nevada bill signed Thursday will give the restaurant access to more sources of eggs, and Bursdall says he is hopeful he can drop that surcharge soon.


(AP Photo Erin Hooley)