Shoppers warned of egg shortages in supermarkets amid 'mass exodus' of farmers

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Shoppers could face a possible egg shortage amid a threatened 'mass exodus' of farmers. Industry leaders have warned British free range and organic chicken farmers are turning away from the trade due to spiralling feed and energy costs.

And that could lead to empty shelves in the supermarkets later this year, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association warned.

The BFREPA say egg farmers have been hit with huge hikes in production costs in recent months. Feeding hens is now 50% more expensive and energy prices have risen 40%, while labour and packaging also costs more than it did six months ago.

And a survey carried out by the BFREPA showed scores of farms are considering stopping production at the end of their current flock. Read more: Missguided cuts 63 jobs as founder quits as chief executive Around one in two farmers are ­seriously considering stopping production until the price they are paid improves, while further 18% said they will make their decision about future production at the end of their current flock.