By Ian Werther in News — 13 Mar 2026

South Korea's egg prices jump to 7,045 won as avian influenza triggers culling

Egg prices in South Korea climbed back into the 7,000-won range for a tray of 30 eggs, with the average price standing at 7,045 won as of Dec. 12, according to the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation’s Livestock Distribution Information. The figure is about 1,000 won higher than a year earlier, a 16.6% year-on-year increase.

Prices have fluctuated recently, moving in a 6,700–6,800 won range earlier in the week before jumping to about 7,000 won on the previous day. One month earlier, the average price was 6,921 won, more than 100 won lower than now.

20
F. W. BOLGIANO,
OLGIANO'S BALTIMORE NUTMEG CANTALOUPE.
IF tOU WANT PEDIGREE STOCK SEND TO HEADQUAirrERS FOR YOUR SEED.
A first-class melon ; has size, form, beauty
and rich in flavor. Why grow a poor crop
when a small outlay for good seed will as-
sure a splendid crop of choicest fruit, which
will command the highest prices and ready
sales ? Our seed this year is from the best
crop we ever grew, and with our seed your
crop may be equally as good. The best of
all for market purposes. Our seed is from
the finest stock known, and has always
given satisfaction. North, South, East and
West are now sending for Baltimore Nut-
meg, and the uniform testimony awards it
unequalled excellence.
Packet, 5c. Ounce, lOc. Quarter pound,
15c. Pound, 50c.
I bought from you Kome Baltimore JSutmeg
Cantaloupe seeds which gave splendid satisfac-
tion. I have tried many high-priced melons,
hut none so good as yours.
Jan. 21, '98. R. S. CAMERON, Va.
•/
WATERMELON.
T^o to Three Pounds to the Acre.
^ / Special Prices in Quantity.
-4^ Blue Gem Watermelon. — The Blue Gem is a luscious addition to the melon family. Growers and ship-
pers welcomed it because of its sweet flavor, large and uniform size. No melon sold for better prices nor gave
more general satisfaction tlie past season. Sucli was the demand for Blue Gem seed the supply of seed was ex-
hausted early in Spring. When growers, shippers and consumers agree in favor of the excellence as they do
wUfh the Blue Gem there cannot be any mistake about its merits. Packets. 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound,
ape. Half pound, 30c. Pound, 50c.
» / Gray Monarch or Long- White Icing*. — This distinct melon is Avithout a doubt one of the largest of
V/all, frequently attaining a weight of seventy pounds and over. The skin is mottled gray color, shape long, flesh
bright crimson and of sweet, delicious flavor. It is also a fine shipper, carrying well long distances and bring-
ing very high prices. Packets, 5 and ll c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Southern Rattlesnake. — Has gained great popularity throughout the entire country for its large size
and fine shipping qualities ; shape oblong, of light green color and beautifully mottled and striped with a light
shade; flesh scarlet, rind thin, very solid and both sweet and delicious ; stands transit well. Packet, 5c. Ounce^
/Oc. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Cuban Queen. — A large variety, weighini? 80 pounds and upw^ards. The rind is marked with regular
stripes of light and dark green. It is a very showy variety or fair quality. Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarte
pound, 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
I / L.uke Jones Watermelon.— The largest, most prolific and finest quality of auy Avatermelon in existence. For home use
Ironeof the finest, and its shipping qualities are unexcelled. Packet,5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound. 15c. Half pound, 25c. Pound40c.
Pride of Geor iia.— The rind is a dark green, shape nearly oval and ridged like an orange. Flesh rich scarlet, very sweet and
Ibpi attains a large size and a good shipper. Packets, 5c. and 10c. Quarter pound, lac. Half Pound, 25c. Pound, 40c.
Kolb's Gem AVatermelon.— Our stock is from headquarters. This is one of the largest, most prolific, best shipping and keep-
ing tnelons ever introduced. So popular did it become that we were unable to fill all our orders in the past three years. The
rind is very thin, but tough ; flesh bright red and flavor excellent. In our long experience we have never knoAvn any melon to
introduce itself so quickly to growers and shippers. After another year's trial it is more valued than ever. Packet, 5c. Ounce,
10c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 20c. Pound, 30c.
. New Dixie Watermelon.— Soon became a favorite because of its own merits. It has a large si^. handsome form, dark
green rind, with beautiful striping ; its flesh is scarlet, melting and very sweet. It is very productivy^and one of the best table
melons ever introduced. Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quarter pound, 15c. Half pound, 20c. Pound,:
Improved Florida Favor-
ite.— Tliis excellent variety
is a remarkable heavy yielder
and one of the finest table
melons ever grown. It is two
weeks earlier than Kolb'a
Gem or Gypsy ; of medium
size, covered with light and
dark gi'ccn stripes, alternate-
ly ; flesh deep redt delicious,
sweet, very firm and crisp.
Its earliness and excellent
quality arc bound to make it
popular with those who plant
for their own use and prefer
qualitj- to enormous size.
Packet, 5c. Ounce, 10c. Quar-
ter pound, 15c. Half pound

25c. Pound, 40c. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Experts say the surge is linked to the ongoing spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has kept losses of laying hens elevated for several months. The disease has constrained supply and supported prices in Korea.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it added U.S. fresh eggs to imports to help stabilize supply, but domestic prices have not declined and have continued to rise.

Culling of laying hens due to HPAI remains high for the 2025–2026 winter season. As of Dec. 11, culling reached 9.76 million birds, approaching 10 million. That total is more than double the 4.83 million culled a year earlier and roughly four times the level seen two to three years ago.

32
F. W. BOLGIA^^O,
IMPROVED PURPLE TOP
RUTA BAGA.
Ruta Baga is sown in June and July. Our Ruta
Bagaisvery select, and yields enormous crops of
handsome, large, solid yellow-flesh turnips. It is
grown very largely for cattle food, and keeps over
winter till spring in good condition. Get our splendid
stock, and the crops will satisfy and remunerate you.
It is also used as a table vegetable because of its
sweetness. Packet, 5c. i Pound, 10c. 1 Pound, 30c.
Culture of Turnips.— They do best in highly
enriched, light, sandy or gravelly soils. Commence
sowing the earliest varieties in April in drills from
twelve or fifteen inches apart, and thin out early to
six or nine inches in the rows. For a succession sow
at intervals of a fortnight until the last week in
July, from which time until the end of August sow-
ings may be made for the fail and main crop. Tur-
nips may be preserved until spring by cutting off the
tops about one inch from the bulb, storing in a cellar
or cool shed during winter, covering the roots with
dry sand. They should be harvested before severe
frosts set in, for though comparatively hardy, few of
the varieties will survive winters of the Northern
States in the open ground.
The Clover Seed received. They gave satisfaction, as
everything that I have ever bovghtfrom you has given.
Aug. 10, 1807. JOHN M. LYELL.
Write for Special Prices on Giover Seeds in Quantities.
CRIMSON CLOVER.
The Best Crop for Hay, Silage and Green Manuring,
Fall, Winter and Spring Pasturing.
The great mission of Crimson Clover is to furnish
an abundance of most nutj'itive forage at seasons
when pastures are dead. It is of an unl ailing supply
of manure. In fact, it solves the problem of cheap
manuring. It is the great nitrogen gatherer and econ-
omizer in the use of fertilizers. Especially valuable
for planting in orchards, berry patches; for sowing
among cultivated crops, such as cabbage, corn, toma-
toes, tobacco, etc., or in the open ground. Improves
poor land, and restores to fertility those that have
been worn down by excessive cropping. Crimson
Clover grows at ail times, except when the ground
is frozen. Maybe planted in spring, summer or fall.
Splendid for re-seedmg Red Clover that has been
. winter killed.
Lowest market price.
White Dutch Clover. — The best variety for
lawns, as it f-rms a close herbage, and remains green
throughout the season; it also affords excellent food
for bees. We offer highest grades of seed only.
Per pound, 25c. By mail, 83c. per pound.
Alsike or Hybrid Clover. — Even clover-sick
lands Avill produce a good crop of this; perennial
and very hardy; thrives equally well on wet or on
dry soil. Its strong, fibrous roots take a firm hold in
the ground, and thus do not wash out. It is very val-
uable, both for pasturage and soiling; very product-
ive, sweet and fragrant. The flowers are a distinct
light pink, and much liked by bees. Sow in spring
or fall, six pounds per acre. Per pound, 15c.
Bolgiauo's Re-cleaned Ked Clover Seed.
— We call special attention to the superior quality of
Bolgiano's Re-cleaned Red Clover Seed, which will
be found superior to the samples generally handled
by the trade. Special 2^vices on application. Theie is
not sufficient care exercised by the planter or farmer
in the selection of this, the most valuable of all grass
seeds. Many sow it without even examining whether
or not it contains more seeds of weeds than of
clover, and such may frequently Avonder where all
the daisies, docks, thistles and other weeds that infest
their farms spring from. Weeds will always make
their appeaiance fast enough without sowing them,
and to guard against this, so no grass seed unless you
examine it either with a sharp eye or a magnifying
glass. No farmer should ever allow a weed to run
to seed on his farm. Cut them down or pull them
out; weeds cannot stand such harsh treatment long^
and a season or two of this kind of warfare will
give you a clean farm and more money in your pocket.
Lowest market price.
Lucerne or Alfalfa.— Early, productive, suc-
ceeds in nearly any good soil, and lasts for a number
of years. Valuable for the South, as it thrives on
dry, sandy soil, producing three to four cuttings an-
nually, and even in seasons of severe drought it is
always fresh and green, because the roots extend so
deep into the soil. It grows two to three feet high,
with pur.)le blossoms. It yields an immense amount
of green food for cattle, and should be cut w^hen
first commencing to bloom, and it can be cut and used
as ordinary clover hay. It increases fertility of the
soil. Sow eight to ten pounds i)er acre.

Per pound, 15c. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The ministry also announced on-site inspections of market practices, including an investigation into reports that some laying-hen farms may be asking distributors for additional payments or “kickbacks.” Authorities say they will consider measures to curb such behavior and prevent market disruption.

Context for U.S. readers: Korea’s egg price spike illustrates how avian influenza outbreaks can ripple through food markets and inflation in advanced economies. The case also shows how countries leverage imports, including from the United States, to address supply shortfalls, while regulators monitor for anti-competitive practices that can affect prices. Global poultry markets are interconnected through disease risk, feed costs, and cross-border trade, meaning developments in Korea can have indirect relevance for international supply chains and consumer prices. The price data cited here comes from the Livestock Distribution Information service of the Korea Institute for Animal Products Quality Evaluation, with policy decisions overseen by Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

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