Supply Reports

With the federal shutdown over, the USDA is playing catch-up with many of its January reports and delaying some late-January and early-February reporting.  Among National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports relevant to the egg industry –

• The December 28 Egg Products report was released February 5, providing data from November 2018.
• The January 30 Egg Products report “is delayed,” but NASS has not announced a new publication date.
• No announcement was made about the January 22 Chickens and Eggs report.   However, a USDA source said it was likely this report would be issued February 26.
• The February 26 Chickens and Eggs report, as well as the February 25 Chickens and Eggs Annual, are still listed on NASS’s website as on schedule.

Purchases

The USDA stopped most commodity purchasing during the government shutdown (some purchases under the Trade Mitigation Program continued to be made).   Now regular purchases have resumed.  On February 1, USDA issued solicitations to purchase whole egg products and egg patties, with bids due February 8.  Barring another shutdown, purchases for schools and other institutions should proceed normally for the balance of the year.