Around Easter – In addition to the fertilizer crisis, the situation with eggs is coming to a head

“The supply of eggs for Easter is secured,” says Christian Lang, chairman of the young farmers in Upper Austria and egg producer in the Perg district. But the high feed prices are “a huge challenge for the laying hen industry. The war in Ukraine has brought everything to a head.” Eggs could now be more expensive.

“Grain and protein feed have become more and more expensive in recent months, and the war has exacerbated this even more,” says Christian Lang, farmer and egg producer in Baumgartenberg. “My industry feels it extremely.” The poultry industry is dependent to a large extent on imports, above all of Danube soy from Danube countries. “But many have reduced or even stopped their exports because the next harvest in Ukraine will fail due to the war.” Stocks are being hoarded. But the drought in southern Austria and Hungary is already dampening harvest expectations for 2022. Manageable price increases That could increase feed, for example for a young hen, by up to 50 percent. At Lang, the (fodder) grain comes from his own fields, “but I also have to calculate with the current price”. He assumes that farmers will have to pass the costs on to customers. Specifically, Franz Karlhuber, chairman of the poultry industry consortium, calls for an increase of five cents per egg. That makes the pack of ten eggs 50 cents more expensive at the checkout. Uncertain future after Easter There are currently 1.22 million laying hens in Upper Austria. After Easter, the number could be drastically reduced: “It will depend on the availability of feed – and whether the price increases in production can be passed on to consumers,” says Franz Waldenberger, LK Upper Austria. If this does not succeed, stables could empty in many places.
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