Strong markets boost earnings for Land O’Lakes egg division

LOL is reporting sales of $124 million for the third quarter, up from $74 million for the third quarter of 2006.

Year to date, Land O’Lakes is reporting pretax earnings of $18.3 million and sales of $355 million, compared to a pretax loss of $41.8 million one year ago, with sales of $287 million.  Year-to-date shell egg volumes are up 5 percent, led by branded and specialty eggs, up 45 percent over the first three quarters of 2006.

Land O’Lakes says that average shell egg prices over the first three quarters were $1.07/dozen, compared to 71 cents/dozen over the same period one year ago.