Bird seed prices have been steadily rising over the past few years, but recently there has been a sharp increase in costs that has many bird lovers wondering why. For people who feed birds in their backyard, this price hike has been an unwelcome surprise and has forced some to cut back on how much seed they purchase. In this article, we’ll take a look at the key factors that are causing bird seed prices to skyrocket and what impact it’s having.
Main Causes of Rising Bird Seed Prices
There are a few primary reasons why bird seed is getting more expensive:
Increased transportation costs
With gas and diesel prices surging over the past year, it costs a lot more to transport bird seed from where it is produced to where it is sold. Most seed is trucked hundreds or thousands of miles to distributors and stores, so those freight costs get passed on to consumers. Transportation expenses account for 10-30% of bird seed pricing.
Supply chain disruptions
Like many other industries, the bird seed supply chain has been disrupted by COVID-19, labor shortages, material shortages, and other macroeconomic factors. All of these issues have caused delays and inefficiencies, driving up costs through the entire production and distribution network. Shortages of raw materials like millet and sunflower seeds have been especially problematic.
Rising commodity prices
The grains and seeds used to produce bird seed have seen massive price hikes on commodity markets. For example, in just the past two years, the market price of millet has doubled and the price of sunflower seeds has shot up 60%. As key ingredients become more expensive, bird seed producers have no choice but to raise their prices as well.
Increased farming costs
Growing the crops used in bird seed ingredients has become much more expensive for farmers due to higher prices for fertilizer, fuel, labor, shipping, and more. To maintain their profit margins, they have had to charge seed processing companies more for the raw materials, contributing to the overall rise in costs.
Russia-Ukraine war impact
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has impacted bird seed prices in a couple key ways. First, it has disrupted the global supply of sunflower seeds, as Ukraine is one of the world’s largest producers. Second, the war has inflated prices across agriculture and transportation, so even bird seed ingredients not directly tied to the conflict have become pricier.
Cost Breakdown of Bird Seed Types
To better understand why prices are spiking, let’s take a look at the production costs behind some of the most popular types of bird seed:
Sunflower seeds
| Expense | Percentage of Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Sunflower farming | 35% |
| Harvesting & processing | 15% |
| Transportation | 15% |
| Packaging | 10% |
| Manufacturer profit | 10% |
| Retailer profit | 15% |
With sunflower seed prices up over 60% from commodity markets, it’s easy to see why a bag of straight sunflower bird seed now costs roughly 75% more than 2 years ago.
Millet
| Expense | Percentage of Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Millet farming | 25% |
| Harvesting & processing | 15% |
| Transportation | 15% |
| Packaging | 10% |
| Manufacturer profit | 15% |
| Retailer profit | 20% |
Since millet prices have doubled over the past two years, it makes up a bigger portion of the overall cost. This has led to millet-based bird seeds like finch mix increasing about 50% in price.
Safflower
| Expense | Percentage of Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Safflower farming | 30% |
| Harvesting & processing | 10% |
| Transportation | 15% |
| Packaging | 10% |
| Manufacturer profit | 15% |
| Retailer profit | 20% |
Safflower seed prices have gone up moderately over the past two years. When combined with higher transportation and manufacturing expenses, this has led to safflower seed mixes costing around 35% more.
Impacts on Bird Feeder Consumers
For people who fill their bird feeders all winter long, these price hikes have forced many to make changes like:
- Buying less seed each fill-up
- Filling feeders less frequently
- Supplementing with cheaper seeds like millet
- Skipping specialty blends in favor of basic mixes
- Switching to homemade suet blocks and seed cakes
- Putting up fewer feeders overall
These adaptations have helped cushion the impact of rising prices for many backyard birding enthusiasts. However, some have still seen their annual bird feeding budgets go up 30-50% over the past two years.
There is concern that if prices continue to climb, more and more casual bird feeders will stop filling their feeders altogether. This could have a detrimental impact on wild bird populations that have come to rely on these supplemental food sources. The loss of natural bird habitats makes bird feeders an increasingly important source of calories for species like finches, sparrows, nuthatches and woodpeckers.
Outlook for Prices Rest of 2022 and 2023
Looking ahead, industry experts expect bird seed prices to remain elevated for the rest of 2022 and into 2023 as well. Here are some of the key factors that will determine pricing over the next 6-12 months:
- Continued high fuel costs for transportation
- Ongoing supply chain problems
- Sunflower seed crop yields in the US and Canada
- Ukraine’s ability to export sunflower seeds
- Grain/seed commodity markets
- Inflation’s impact on packaging and manufacturing
- Labor availability for production and distribution
If most of these issues persist as expected, modest bird seed price increases could continue. However, we are unlikely to see the massive 50-75% spikes that occurred over the past two years. The hope is that as supply chains stabilize and producers ramp up cropped acres, the most severe cost pressures will moderate.
Ways to Save Money on Bird Seed
For bird feeding enthusiasts looking to cut down costs, here are some tips:
Buy in bulk
Purchasing in larger quantities, like 20-40 pound bags, usually offers the best savings per pound. Make sure to calculate the per pound price when comparison shopping.
Shop sales and online deals
Big box stores and online retailers sometimes run promotions and sales on bird seed bags. Buying a few months supply during a sale can mean big savings.
Buy blends with cheaper fillers
Seeds like millet and milo are less expensive bulk ingredients. Choosing mixes with a higher percentage of filler seeds can help lower the overall price point.
Skip packaging convenience
Bags with handles, spouts, and zip closures often cost a dollar or two more. Opting for basic plastic bags can save a little bit.
Use homemade suet and seed cakes
Making your own suet and seed cakes from household ingredients like peanut butter, lard, bird seed and flour is very economical.
Join bird feeding clubs and co-ops
Some birding and nature organizations facilitate bulk buying groups that offer members wholesale or discounted pricing.
Grow your own sunflowers
For the most self-sufficient bird feeding, you can save by growing your own sunflowers in the summer for seed harvesting in fall.
Conclusion
Bird feeding enthusiasts hoping prices will return to pre-2020 levels will likely be disappointed. Due to a range of market factors, increased manufacturing and transportation costs are the new norm. However, by shopping smart, buying in bulk, and finding creative DIY solutions, you can continue to stock your feeders while staying within your budget.
The key is making sure the birds that have come to rely on your feeders don’t lose this crucial supplemental food source. With some careful planning and budgeting, we can keep our feathered friends fed through the winter despite rising prices. Supporting local bird populations through backyard bird feeding is important now more than ever, especially as development encroaches on natural habitats.
