Shoppers could face a possible egg shortage amid a threatened 'mass exodus' of farmers. Industry leaders have warned British free range and organic chicken farmers are turning away from the trade due to spiralling feed and energy costs.
And that could lead to empty shelves in the supermarkets later this year, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association warned. The BFREPA say egg farmers have been hit with huge hikes in production costs in recent months.
Feeding hens is now 50% more expensive and energy prices have risen 40%, while labour and packaging also costs more than it did six months ago. And a survey carried out by the BFREPA showed scores of farms are considering stopping production at the end of their current flock.
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Around one in two farmers are seriously considering stopping production until the price they are paid improves, while further 18% said they will make their decision about future production at the end of their current flock. And more than 70% said they would leave the industry within a year if prices don't rise.
Robert Gooch, CEO of BFREPA, said supermarkets aren't doing enough to help farmers cover the cost of rising prices. He said: "There are clear and obvious cost increases being heaped upon farmers, and retailers simply aren’t sufficiently adjusting the retail price. Any increases being made are too little and too slow. They are suffocating businesses.
"Many of my members are losing money on every egg laid, and our data shows that even those who are making a small profit do not see a long-term future. The appetite for eggs from the public is extraordinary, but I’m afraid we will see shortages of British free range and organic eggs on the shelves before long."
Maxine Wharfe runs Sapling Home farm near Knutsford in Cheshire with husband Ben. They keep around 12,000 free range hens, which is one of the smallest flocks in the country. Around six years ago they made the decision to largely stop dealing with supermarkets in order to sell their eggs direct to the customer.
Maxine said: "It's a real issue. Farms will just close because they are not getting the prices they need to survive. I am not surprised so many farmers are considering closing. It's an ongoing battle to survive. It's a massive pressure. We employ 15-20 local people, so it's not our livelihoods we're talking about.
"Price increases have to happen. If they don't push the prices up and farms start closing then I think there will be egg shortages because people just won't be able to afford to keep their flocks."
