Yeah, Michigan's Government Might Actually Hate People
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If there’s one thing government bureaucrats love, it’s finding new ways to make life harder for hardworking Americans. While families are already grappling with skyrocketing grocery bills, Michigan’s state lawmakers have decided now is the perfect time to pile on more regulations—this time targeting the humble egg.
Starting December 31st, Michigan will require virtually all eggs sold in the state to come from cage-free facilities. The result? Even higher prices for breakfast staples and more strain on family budgets.
They Hate You
The numbers don’t lie. Egg prices have already surged by 55% this November, with a dozen now costing $3.65 on average—up from $2.14 just last year. And that’s before the new cage-free mandate takes full effect. Farmers are being forced to completely restructure their operations to meet costly new requirements, including more space per hen, scratch areas, and dust bathing zones. Industry analysts estimate this will increase production costs by 8% to 19%.
For small farms with fewer than 3,000 hens, there’s an exemption. But for major producers—the ones who supply the vast majority of Michigan’s eggs—these changes are a financial gut punch. It’s no wonder October egg production in the state has already plummeted by 34%, with a third fewer laying birds compared to last year.
Add to that a nationwide bird flu outbreak, and it’s clear that Michigan’s bureaucrats couldn’t have picked a worse time to meddle with farming practices.
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A Regulation Too Far
Let’s call this mandate what it is: government overreach at its finest. Lawmakers in Lansing have decided they know better than farmers how to raise chickens. Never mind that the added costs are being passed directly to consumers or that some producers might go out of business entirely.
Michigan ranks as the seventh-largest egg-producing state in the country, but policies like this threaten to knock it off the map.
The Patriot Journal, in a recent report covering this bullshit, showed that the ripple effects go far beyond grocery store shelves.
Local restaurants, many of which have already been struggling post-pandemic, are bracing for impact. Jeff Lobdell, owner of 22 breakfast-focused establishments, reports spending over half a million dollars annually on eggs. Now he’s facing even higher costs, which will undoubtedly trickle down to his customers.
What’s the ultimate goal here? Advocates of cage-free systems argue it’s about animal welfare. But in practice, these policies do more harm than good by destabilizing supply chains, driving up prices, and ultimately forcing consumers to make tough choices.
Research from Michigan State University shows that rising costs could lead 20% of families to drop eggs from their grocery lists altogether. In other words, the people hit hardest are the ones who can least afford it.
Lessons from Ohio
Meanwhile, just across the border in Ohio, lawmakers have taken a more measured approach. Instead of imposing sweeping mandates, Ohio only applies new standards to new facilities, allowing existing operations to continue without major disruptions. It’s a pragmatic compromise that prioritizes stability and affordability while still encouraging gradual industry improvements.
Michigan’s approach, by contrast, feels like a reckless gamble with food security. As other states follow suit with similar regulations, the broader consequences for America’s agricultural industry could be dire. When bureaucrats play chicken with the economy, it’s everyday Americans who get plucked.
Time to Push Back
Michigan’s cage-free egg mandate should serve as a wake-up call. If lawmakers truly cared about easing the burden on families, they’d focus on lowering costs, not increasing them. Instead, they’ve chosen to pursue policies that are out of touch with economic reality and dismissive of the struggles faced by middle-class households.
It’s time for voters to demand better. Let’s remind our elected officials that their job is to serve the people—not to impose burdensome regulations that make feeding a family even more difficult.
Until then, expect your grocery bills to keep climbing and your patience to keep thinning. And if you’re looking for someone to thank when your New Year’s breakfast costs a small fortune, you’ll find them in Lansing, comfortably insulated from the consequences of their own decisions.
Send me death threats, nudes (10’s only), and criticisms on X at @heyremso.