No longer king of egg hill? Iowa could lose egg production title

Iowa is in danger of losing its leading egg production title as the highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak continues to take its toll on the state's poultry industry.

Egg production during June was 763 million eggs, down 26 percent from 1.02 billion eggs in May, and down 44 percent from 1.4 billion eggs in June 2014, according to the latest Chickens and Eggs report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service. That's the lowest egg production since February 2002,

Ohio, the next highest egg producing state, recorded production of 740 million eggs in June, down from 760 million eggs in May but up from 712 million eggs in June 2014.

California, the leading egg producer in 1988, was passed by Ohio in 1997, which held the top spot until Iowa became No. 1 in 2001. The state has held the top ranking since that time, trailed by Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania.

The average number of all Iowa layers on hand during June 2015 was 34.4 million, down 22 percent from May, down 42 percent from last year, and the lowest inventory since October of 2001. Eggs per 100 layers for June were 2,220, down 5 percent from May, and down 3 percent from June 2014.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has reduced the number of egg-laying hens throughout Iowa and the Midwest by 44 million birds during the past several months.

Since April 13, there have been 77 Iowa farms and 34 million birds affected with HPAI in Iowa.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is in the process of lifting 69 of the 77 control zones that were established around farms in Iowa infected with HPAI. A 10-kilometer control zone was established around each site with a confirmed case.

All farms with poultry that were located within the 10-kilometer control zone surrounding an infected site were quarantined.

All movement of poultry and poultry products, feed and fuel in and out of those quarantined non-infected farms had to be permitted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.