Customers flock to Nebraska egg farm as bird flu drives prices higher

JULIAN, Neb. (KLKN) – As egg prices soar across the country, a small-town Nebraska egg farmer says business is booming.

Bird flu is causing egg shortages in the U.S., and grocery stores are being forced to raise their prices and limit how many cartons customers can buy.

So some people are looking for a cheaper, local alternative.

SEE ALSO: Bird flu detected in Lincoln wastewater, health department reports

“We don’t price our eggs compared to what the market rate is,” Beth Kernes Krause, the owner of Al-Be Farm in Julian, said Friday. “We price our eggs for what it costs us to make them. So when there are cheap eggs in the grocery store, our eggs are very expensive.”

But right now, Kernes Krause said their prices have stayed steady for several years at $4.50 per dozen.

Kernes Krause and her husband have sold their eggs for about a decade, and they can collect around three dozen eggs every day.

Their farm regularly supplies a nearby restaurant as well as customers in the area.

SEE ALSO: Nebraska’s fifth case of bird flu in December detected in Johnson County flock

But lately, there has been such high demand that Kernes Krause said they can’t keep up.

They also can’t add any new regulars because their farm is selling out of eggs.

“I’ve had to say no to a handful of people,” Kernes Krause said.

SEE ALSO: Two more cases of bird flu detected in Nebraska poultry flocks

She said she’s been keeping the chickens fenced in, both because of the weather and also to keep out any wild birds that could carry the bird flu.

“Those birds can’t get in and interact with these birds, they can’t mess with their food, they can’t mess with their water,” she said. “So that level of biosecurity, we’re hoping protects this flock.”

She said if her chickens happen to get the disease, it could mean the end of her business this year.

“I’m not sure we would be able to recover because it would take out the flock,” Kernes Krause said.

SEE ALSO: Bird flu found in two Nebraska poultry flocks, officials say

She said since the bird flu has killed so many chickens, it will likely raise the price of chicks.

Those increases will trickle down to the consumer, and she expects the cost of eggs will stay high for the time being.