The U.S. Department of Agriculture is assisting poultry producers by purchasing 11.7 million worth of shell eggs and egg products. National Association of Egg Farmers President Ken Klippen says the purchase comes at a good time for poultry farmers hurt by low prices.

He says the purchase will help with the oversupply of eggs on the market.

Klippen says U.S. egg farmers would rather rely on the market and trade than have to ask the governmetn for assistance.

Klippen says there’s been a recent uptick on U.S. exports of eggs but that only represents about 5 percent of the total eggs produced.