Free-Range Egg Supply Under Threat as Price Remains Unsustainable – IFA

IFA Poultry Chair Brendan Soden warns consumers that the supply of Irish free-range eggs is in jeopardy on shop shelves unless a more realistic premium is passed back to producers.

“Farmers only receive a premium of 4c per dozen (0.3c per egg) to produce free-range instead of barn according to Teagasc figures. This equates to 3% of the premium paid by the consumer,” Brendan Soden highlighted.

“With free-range eggs accounting for 45.3% of all eggs produced, it’s very clear they are a product that consumers want,” he added.

“However, the risk and costs associated with producing them are much greater than producing barn eggs. Free-range producers are battling a great threat of Avian influenza, while extra labour and costs are incurred due to land upkeep.”

Brendan Soden said that this has been realised at retail level, but producers have not seen a sustainable price return to farmgate. IFA’s ask of a 2c per egg increase remains unanswered for free-range.

“Producers want to continue supplying quality Irish free-range egg to Irish consumers, but they may be left with little option but to close the doors and take a step backwards to barn egg production,” the IFA Poultry Chair stated.

“If significant progress is not made immediately the farmers are poised to strike out to protect the industry they have built,” Brendan Soden concluded.