MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the value of egg production last year in South Dakota was 95 percent higher than in 2006. The 2007 value was listed as $51.4 million, while the 2006 figure was $26.3 million. Yet South Dakota egg production dropped 3 percent -- from 865 million in 2006 to 843 million in 2007.

Darwin Britzman of the South Dakota Poultry Industry Association says egg prices were "lousy" from 2004 to 2006. Britzman says higher demand and some industry changes led to price stability after that.

Experts say the cost of feeding chickens and transporting their eggs are rising -- and that until production increases or demand drops, egg prices should stay fairly steady.