Lots of folks ask us about why our egg prices are so high. We get lots of different responses when we tell them. Sometimes they are offended. Sometimes they lament over how they cannot afford them. Sometimes they are utterly grateful that someone somewhere close by is raising hens truly on pasture, without using soy or genetically-engineered ingredients.

It doesn’t really hurt our feelings when people don’t want to pay $6 or $7 for a dozen eggs. But it does make us wish that there was a way to bring our price down. If that isn’t possible, we strive instead to make people see that compared to many other foods (particularly Frankenfoods) or the alternative of facing a life of poor nutrition, our eggs are really quite cheap. But we won’t go into that now. The purpose of this particular post is to explain what an egg really costs.

Being in farming, being young, and being fairly outspoken make for a very noticeable combination when Matt and I meet new people. It helps that we are excited about what we have learned about eating traditional foods and how good we feel compared to just a few years ago when we were eating the SAD (Standard American Diet).

One day, a fellow farmer came up to Matt and asked him, “How much do you get for your eggs?” Matt told him. (At that particular time, they were $7/dozen.) His eyes bugged out at Matt’s answer. He couldn’t believe it. He was ANGRY that we charged that much for such a low-value commodity. He asked if we sell them all. Most of the time, we do. (But we only have a small flock of chickens.)

He wanted to know why we charged so much. Matt explained our management and feeding principles: rotational “grazing,” non-genetically modified feed, non-soy feed.

Matt asked the man what he charged for his own eggs. “$3.50. And they’re almost organic! I let them out every night to forage!” Matt, loving a challenge about the definition of that term, asked him, “What do you feed them?” “I buy a layer ration from ___ Feed Supply [a popular local feed store].”

“Do you know what the ingredients are?”

“Yes!”

“What’s the first ingredient?”

“Well, I don’t remember right now…”

“Well, I’ll tell you. The first two ingredients are soy and corn, and they are both genetically-modified.”

The conversation continued, and it was clear that the man was frustrated because he wasn’t making money, but he didn’t know why people wouldn’t buy his eggs if he charged more.

About a week later, Matt visited his booth, and the same man offered to sell Matt his entire chicken operation—birds, equipment, everything. He wanted out of the business. He wasn’t making any money.

During both conversations with the man, Matt tried to convey the fact that the feed which he was buying—a VERY trusted and widely-used brand—a brand that boldly advertises its product in red, white, and blue letters–was in fact giving him a GMO product.  But he would not even consider that this American-to-the-core company would do such a devious, underhanded thing.

You see, despite the fact that he was buying the conventional (aka cheap) feed, and despite the fact that he was marketing to a crowd that like the idea of buying from a farmer that raises hens that get outdoor access, he still couldn’t make a go of his products. It’s because he, like many farmers, doesn’t understand that the cost of something is not just the price of the feed. To make it as a farmer, not only do you have to factor in all the costs it takes to get your product to your customers (your fences, your property taxes, your water bill, your tractor wear-and-tear, your egg cartons, your banking fees, your gas to get to market, the feed for your livestock guardian dog, depreciation on every single piece of equipment used for the egg operation, and your pay for your labor), but you also have to educate your customer about why your product is special (if it is) and why it costs what it does.

We try to be transparent about this idea. A worker deserves his wages. And we can guarantee that charging $7/dozen for our top-quality eggs isn’t making us rich! But it can’t be breaking us, either. We know that in 15 years, we’ll need to rebuild our fences. In 5 years, we’ll need to buy a new livestock guardian dog. In two years, we’ll need to replace the shade cloth and the summer mister in the hen house. And every year, we have to buy new hoses and waterers and feeders and egg cartons. Part of our job is to find innovative ways to cut these costs. Trust us, the wheels are ALWAYS turning on this issue!

But, as Matt tried to explain to this other farmer who has a day job and is now having to give up “farming,” we have to charge what our products are worth. We only hope that you will find that when we do not compromise on the values that uphold the God-given laws of nature, that we have contributed to the health of our earth, our economy, and our customers.

Reflections from Matt:

On a side note, I recently read an article published in the “NOW” alumni magazine from my alma mater, LeTourneau University, which was celebrating “50 Years of Women on Campus.” (Being a technical and engineering school, getting females was a BIG deal…)

As a fun comparison in the article, they listed prices of many items in 1961, and then fifty years later, in 2011.  In the last 50 years, the price of gold has gone up by a multiple of 39 times, a new house 18.5 times, a postage stamps and gasoline 11 times, bread 13.2 times, eggs and bacon only 5.5 times, and milk…a measly 2.5 times!!! 

You may ask yourself, “Why have REAL food (milk, bacon, and eggs) only gone up by 2.5 to 5.5 times, while processed food (bread) and all other “necessities” have gone up 11-40 times?” 

Matt Cadman’s answers are:

1. Because our government subsidizes certain commodity crops, most of which are genetically-modified.

2. Because our farmers in America have been convinced that their labor is worthless, that they shouldn’t make any money, and that they are not allowed to produce a quality product.  They have succumbed to a form of modern-day slavery.  Sadly, American citizens have demanded it by declaring that a dozen eggs (which can feed one person for days) should cost 99¢ and a 20 oz bottle of diet soda (which might give you cancer) costs $1.25!   

3. Because the conventional farming industry feeds their animals junk and confine them at concentrated numbers in unnatural environments that cause disease and create the need for continual drug intervention.

4.  Convenience is king!  Why pay $6/dozen of eggs and build your health, when you can go to the Golden Arches, and have ObamaCare pay for your chemo and dialysis?  You WILL pay…now or later.  At least if you pay now, you’ll have a good chance of healthy children, enjoyable meals, and quality family time during dinner!