Iowa egg production dips in December

Iowa, the nation's leader in egg production by a sizable margin, experienced a slight dip last month, but still posted higher numbers than it did in November 2013.

Egg production was 1.37 billion eggs in November, down 3 percent from October, but up 4 percent from November 2013, according to the from U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The total number of hens on hand during November was 59.2 million, virtually unchanged from October, but up 2 percent from the 58 million in November 2013. An average 2,318 eggs were layed per 100 hens in November, down 3 percent from October, but up 2 percent from 2,280 eggs in November 2013.

Egg production nationally totaled 8.31 billion in November, up 3 percent from last year. Production included 7.26 billion table eggs and 1.06 billion hatching eggs, of which 986 million were broiler-type and 72 million were egg-type.

Iowa's egg industry contributes about $2 billion to the state in total sales annually, according to the USDA and the Iowa Egg Council. The industry also provides about 8,000 jobs, more than $424 million in personal income and nearly $19.3 million in state tax revenues.

Iowa egg producers primarily supply table or market type eggs, rather than broiler-type hatching eggs. Iowa hens consume around 49.2 million bushels of corn per year and 452,200 tons of soybean meal per year.

Iowa has capitalized on the rapidly growing market for breaker or 'processed” eggs, which incur lower transportation costs to major population centers on the East and West Coasts.

The Iowa Egg Council attributes the growth of the state's egg-producing industry to an increase in per capita egg consumption.

The other four leading egg-producing states - in descending order - are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and California.