Nearly all eggs sold in Michigan will need to come from cage-free birds starting just before the New Year. This new rule arrives as egg prices remain high.
In 2019, Michigan lawmakers updated the Animal Industry Act. By December 31, 2024, shell eggs from chickens, ducks, and other fowl must come from cage-free housing systems.
The law, however, does not cover all situations. Farms with fewer than 3,000 egg-laying hens are exempt. Liquid or cooked eggs are also excluded from these requirements.
Affected farms face specific restrictions. Business owners cannot sell eggs if hens can’t move freely within their designated floor space.
The law ensures chickens aren’t confined or tethered in ways that limit basic movements like lying down or turning around. These guidelines stem from United Egg Producers’ 2017 standards for cage-free certification.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer did not respond to Fox News Digital for comments about this law. Her silence leaves questions about the state’s readiness to implement the changes.
Egg prices have been on the rise and are expected to stay high. Industry experts blame factors like bird flu and seasonal holiday demands.
Kevin Bergquist from Wells Fargo noted that prices have stayed above 2023 levels. In some cases, they’ve even exceeded those seen during the bird flu outbreak in 2022.
Wholesale egg prices spiked 55% in November. However, consumer prices at grocery stores vary widely and don’t always mirror wholesale trends.
The Consumer Price Index showed grocery prices rising 0.5% in November. Eggs had the largest increase, climbing 8.2%, far outpacing other food groups like meat, poultry, and fish, which rose by 1.7%.