The USDA Cage-Free Report covering July 2025, was released on August 4^th 2025. The report documented the complement of hens producing under the Certified Organic Program to be an even 20.0 million (rounded to 0.1 million), up 170,000 hens (0.9 percent) from June 2025. The number of hens classified as cage-free (but excluding Certified Organic) and comprising aviary, barn and other systems of housing apparently increased by 3.1 million hens or 2.8 percent from June 2025 to 113.8 million attributed to repopulation of depleted flocks.

Depopulation was carried out as a result of HPAI through the fourth quarter of 2024 and continuing in January and February 2025 (31 million), but with lower intensity in March (0.2 million), with April at 1.0 million and a single large complex in May (3.8 million).

Average weekly production for Certified Organic eggs in July 2025 was up 0.6 percent (rounded) compared to June 2025 with a questionably high average weekly production of 83.8 percent. Average weekly flock production for cage-free flocks other than Certified Organic was up 2.5 percent in July 2025, and with a high average hen-month production of 82.5 percent. Seasonally placed flocks in anticipation of periods of peak demand will increase the availability of cage-free and organic eggs, reflecting pullet chick placements 20 weeks previously.

There is no adequate explanation for the high production rates recorded especially if the reported number of hens is lower than actual, and in view of a possible undercount following HPAI flock depopulation.

According to the USDA Egg Markets Overview and data from the weekly USDA Shell Egg Demand Indicator, the categorization of U.S. flocks according to housing system among the total of 288.0 million producing hens on July 1^st comprised:-

Caged, 154.2 million, down 0.7 million and comprising 53.5 percent of the total flock;

Cage Free (non-organic), 113.8 million (39.5% of total flock) with 85.8% of this population in barns, 7.3% on free-range and 6.8% on pasture;

Cage Free (organic), 20.0 million up 0.2 million (6.9%) with 60.6% of this population in barns and 23.5% on free-range and 16.5 on pasture: or other extensive systems

Losses attributed to HPAI in 2025 to date comprised:-

Caged flocks, 20.2 million representing 7.0 percent of a nominal 286 million hens

Cage-free flocks, 14.8 million representing 5.2 percent

Organic flocks, negligible, >0.1 percent

On August 4^th USDA recorded the following National inventory levels expressed in 30-dozen cases (rounded) with the monthly change as a percentage of the total quantity of eggs:-

Commodity shell eggs of all sizes. 1,401,100. (+18.3%)

Commodity breaking stock. 342,900. (+3.2%)

Specialty eggs. 39,000. (+37.8%)

Certified organic eggs. 82,800. (-12.1%)

Cage Free eggs 404,700. (+23.2%)

Negotiated nest-run grade-ready cage-free price for July 2025 averaged $2.27 per dozen, down $0.49 per dozen (17.8 percent) from $2.76 per dozen in June 2025, reflecting an imbalance between demand and supply.

The July 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for Large White cage-free eggs over 758 stores in four regions (NW, SW, MW and SC.) was $3.16 per dozen. This compares with 1,420 stores featuring cage-free Large White in June and reflects fewer promotions as the year has progressed, consistent with the lower incidence rate of HPAI during June, nothing in July despite an upsurge in May. The July 2025 advertised U.S. featured retail price for Large Brown cage-free eggs over only 303 stores in two regions (MW, and SC.) was $3.82 per dozen with a range of $3.55 per dozen in the MW to $3.98 per dozen in the SE region.

The recorded average wholesale price of $3.49 per dozen for brown and white cage-free combined plus a provision of $0.60 cents per dozen for packaging, packing and transport, resulted in a theoretical price of $4.09 per dozen delivered to CDs. The average advertised promotional retail price of $3.82 per dozen for Brown and $3.16 per dozen for white represented negative margins of 22.7 percent for featured White and 6.6 percent for Brown respectively. Fewer promotions were offered for White compared to Brown cage-free by stores reflecting the balance between supply and demand for the two broad categories. Margins are presumed higher for non-featured eggs including pastured and other specialty eggs at shelf prices attaining in excess of $9.00 per dozen in high-end supermarket chains. Retailers maximizing margins especially on Certified Organic, free-range and pastured categories restrict the volume of sales, ultimately disadvantageous to producers.