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Egg prices plummet as supplies outpace demand

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Recent market trends are pushing prices back down from when egg prices hit historic highs in January.  Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael MillerRecent market trends are pushing prices back down from when egg prices hit historic highs in January. Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller

By Adam Russell
Texas AgriLife Extension

Egg prices appear to be taking a supply and demand market-driven tumble, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

Consumers might have noticed lower egg prices over recent weeks, and David Anderson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station, expects that trend to continue.

Egg supplies are still below where production was a year ago, but supplies continue to rise amid declining purchases, he said. Rising supplies and weaker demand are driving egg prices downward.

Producers continue to rebuild the table egg-laying flock that was hit hard by the avian flu outbreak beginning in February 2022. While egg production has increased, Anderson said demand typically dips after Easter before climbing again around Thanksgiving Day and through the fall holiday season.

“Some of the demand issue is seasonal, but consumer response to higher egg prices is also part of it,” he said. “Meanwhile egg producers continue to increase production, and the market is responding to the supply and demand factors. It’s a good example of how the market works.”

Egg prices falling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agriculture Marketing Service reported retail eggs nationally were $2.74 per dozen between April 14-20 and were expected to be around $1.08 per dozen this week. Egg prices peaked at $4.82 in January, according to the Consumer Price Index.

Anderson expects the cost of a dozen eggs will continue to decline in other markets around Texas and the U.S. because wholesale prices are already down to 84 cents per dozen. Prices that low could be concerning for producers and are likely to trigger thoughts about slowing production growth. Declining costs for feed like soybean meal and corn are also helping livestock and poultry producers and may contribute to even lower prices.

Anderson noted that wholesale egg prices peaked at over $5 per dozen when eggs were hitting historic highs. On the other hand, retail prices did not reach $5. He suspects contracted prices may have held back wholesale costs grocers paid or that grocery stores strategized losses on eggs to keep customers.

“Consumers don’t react well when prices are so volatile, so some stores may have taken losses on eggs to keep people in their stores,” he said. “The falling wholesale egg prices could be a good indicator that the next Consumer Price Index might show falling retail prices.”

The contributing factors – increased production and supplies coupled with lower demand – are already pushing retail egg prices below $1 per dozen in about 1% of grocery stores surveyed in the South-Central U.S.

Avian flu causes significant poultry losses

Egg prices have been historically high over the past year. The decline in the number of table egg-laying hens in the U.S. contributed to this trend.

Since February 2022, a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has caused significant losses in the poultry industry. In total, 58.7 million poultry birds, including over 43 million laying hens, were lost in 47 states.

In December 2021, the U.S. flock had 327 million laying hens producing table eggs, and the average cost for a dozen eggs was $1.79. Egg prices climbed as outbreaks spread and reached $2.05 per dozen by March 2022. Prices continued to rise as egg-layer hen losses mounted, but historic production costs, including for feed, also contributed to the record-high prices consumers paid at grocery stores.

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Governor calls first of several special sessions

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From Enterprise Staff

Although May 29 was slated to be the last day of the 88th session of the Texas Legislature, Gov. Greg Abbott called an immediate special session to focus on property taxes and border issues, issuing a proclamation identifying agenda items for the special session that began at 9 p.m. May 29.

“I will soon be signing laws that advance our state and the future of all Texans, including laws that:

•End COVID restrictions and mandates;

•Provide more than $5.1 billion to secure the border and fund the Texas National Guard, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the border wall;

•Designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations;

•Prosecute fentanyl deaths as murder;

•Protect women’s sports and female collegiate athletes;

Focus community colleges on preparing Texas students for high skill careers;

Increase electric power generation to secure the Texas power grid;

Hold rogue district attorneys accountable;

Protect children from life-altering gender mutilation;

Ban illegal DEI hiring practices in our colleges and universities;

Add $1.4 billion to make Texas schools safer;

Require armed security at all schools;

Provide access to mental healthcare for students at all schools; and

Require regular safety checks of school buildings.

“Despite these major achievements, more must be done for the people of Texas. Many critical items remain that must be passed. Several special sessions will be required. To ensure that each priority receives the time and attention it deserves to pass into law, only a few will be added each session,” Abbott said.

“Special session No. 1 will focus only on cutting property taxes and cracking down on illegal human smuggling. We must cut property taxes. During the regular session, we added $17.6 billion to cut property taxes. However, the legislature could not agree on how to allocate funds to accomplish this goal. Texans want and need a path towards eliminating property taxes. The best way to do that is to direct property tax reduction dollars to cut school property tax rates,” Abbott said.

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Traffic stop yields large amount of fentanyl

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Over 500 fentanyl pills were discovered during the vehicle search. COURTESY PHOTO

A traffic stop in May ended in two arrested and dangerous drugs taken out of circulation on Highway 59 in Polk County.

Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 59 for traffic violations.

The officers identified the driver as Michael Scott, 62, of Livingston, and the passenger as Lamar Gardner, 33, also of Livingston. While investigating the stop, deputies arrested Scott for the traffic offense.

An inventory search was then completed on the vehicle prior to having it towed. While searching the vehicle, five large, clear plastic bags of white pills, identified by law enforcement to be made of fentanyl, were found in the vehicle.

Scott and Gardner were arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail, where they were both charged with manufacturing and/or delivery of a controlled substance, a first-degree felony.  Each of the five bags contained over 100 fentanyl pills.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, this amount of fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, are said to be the primary driver of overdose deaths in the United States and has made its way into small towns and the local area.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says they are committed to finding, identifying and charging those involved in the illegal possession and distribution of these narcotics. They encourage all to remain vigilant in order to protect our children and the citizens of Polk County.

Those with information in reference to illegal drug distribution in Polk County are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and speak to a narcotics detective at 936-327-6810, or an anonymous tip may be submitted at p3tips.com, the P3 App, or by calling Polk County Crime Stoppers at 936-327-STOP, where tipsters can remain anonymous and may collect a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

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Celebrate 100 years of Texas State Parks

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From Enterprise Staff

“Fishing 101!” will be offered at the Lake Livingston State Park Saturday. This year marks 100 years of Texas State Parks and this is just one of many 100-year celebration events happening in Texas state parks this year.

This event allows you to join park rangers for a day full of programs designed to teach you all of the skills you need to start fishing.

The day will start with “Fishing Knots to Know!” at 9 a.m. at Sunset Marina Fishing Pier where you may learn one of the best and easiest fishing knots during this brief hands-on lesson.

Knots are essential for camping, survival, fishing and many other outdoor activities. Join Ranger Joel Janssen to learn one of the most basic and easiest fishing knots. This will be a hands-on activity appropriate for most older children, although some may need help from their parent or guardian.  Adults are welcome to join in.

The day continues with “Backyard Bass Fishing Game” at 11 a.m. at Sunset Marina Fishing Pier where you may learn to cast with Backyard Bass, a lawn fishing game. Rangers will demonstrate the use of a spincast reel, then participants will try to hook fish of varying difficulty. No hooks are involved, so it’s safe for all ages.

The day will conclude with “Fishing with a Ranger” at 2 p.m. at Sunset Marina Fishing Pier. Rangers will be on hand at Sunset Marina Park Store inside Lake Livingston State Park throughout this time frame to help bait hooks, rig tackle and teach the basics of fishing. Bait and tackle are provided and limited quantities of loaner fishing poles will be available.

Regular park admission fees of $6 per adults ages 13 and up apply although there is no additional charge for activities.

Lake Livingston State Park is located one mile south of Livingston on U.S. Highway 59. Travel four miles west on FM 1988 and 0.5 miles north on FM 3126 to Park Road 65. The park is approximately 75 miles north of Houston. The park address is 300 Park Rd. 65 in Livingston. The park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and the park store is open Wednesday through Sunday and the hours vary by season. The phone number for the park is 936-365-2201 and the email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In addition to celebrating the past, the 100-year anniversary is about looking ahead to the next century. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has kicked off a Centennial Fundraising Campaign to raise funds for priority projects at all state parks across Texas.

The fundraising effort aims to raise $2 million for equipment and visitor enhancements at all 89 state parks. Donations are being matched dollar for dollar, up to $1 million, thanks to the foundation’s Centennial Champions, including the Fondren Foundation, John M. O’Quinn and Elkins Foundation. There’s an enhancement project at every state park and you can make a gift to the park closest to your home or heart at TexasParks100.org.

You may learn all about the history of Texas State Parks at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s web site located at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/. According to the website, in 1923, Governor Pat Neff persuaded the legislature to create the State Parks Board. He later regarded this action as his most important achievement as governor. In a 1925 speech, Neff noted that a parks system would afford a place where people “might go and forget the anxiety and strife and vexation of life’s daily grind.”

Since 1923, Texas State Parks has been dedicated to protecting the best parts of Texas’ vast natural and cultural beauty. Originally envisioned as a series of roadside stops for highway travelers, today the Texas State Park system has grown to a network of parks, historic sites and natural areas that welcome millions of visitors every year.

In 1933, President Roosevelt charged the National Park Service to lend their services as part of his New Deal program. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built park infrastructure putting out-of-work Americans back on the job. Texas State Parks transformed from a handful of undeveloped properties into a robust system of over 50 parks. Texans added camping, fishing and hiking to their family traditions.

Trailblazing Texans worked to ensure that parks were for everyone. While WWII soldiers were away, Texas women kept parks operating. This opened the doors of change, elevating the roles of women in the workforce as leaders. Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African American citizens near Tyler and Bastrop State Parks successfully advocated for access to parks regardless of the color of someone’s skin.

By the 1980s, parks were stretched to capacity. Thanks to significant public support for additional parks, the legislature expanded the system dramatically. Texans were becoming aware of the importance public lands played in maintaining a healthy environment. Park land was acquired and managed to protect their habitat, uniqueness, and geological forms in order to preserve the land and the experience.

Although the park system has expanded significantly in the last 100 years, 95% of Texas is still privately owned. This makes public land in Texas a precious resource for people and wildlife. Today over 630,000+ acres are devoted to Texas State Parks.

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Scuffle under investigation

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From Enterprise Staff

An investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division continues regarding an incident that occurred recently in the Polk County Jail in which an assault occurred between several inmates.

Jail staff quickly began investigating the incident, along with deputies, who responded immediately,” Captain Dave Sottosanti said. “One inmate was found to have a piece of metal that he used as a weapon during the assault.”

Sottosanti said the weapon was confiscated and the individual was charged with having a prohibited item in a correctional facility. He also said there were no serious injuries to any of the inmates.

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