US poultry production to increase in 2015, says USDA

U.S. poultry production is expected to increase in the first quarter of 2015, according to the USDA World Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released on May 9. Offering its first glimpse into 2015, the USDA called for an increase in the production of both broilers and turkeys, citing lower forecast feed prices and record wholesale broiler prices in 2014 as incentives to increase production in 2015. 

U.S. broiler production for the first quarter of 2015 was forecast at nearly 9.5 billion pounds, up from the 9.3 billion pounds produced in the first quarter of 2014. U.S. turkey production was forecast at 1.4 billion pounds for the first quarter of 2015, up from the 1.3 billion pounds produced during the same quarter of 2014.

The May 9 WASDE report also forecast an increase in U.S. poultry supplies for 2015. The projected total 2015 supply for broilers is 39.6 billion pounds, while the projected total 2015 supply for turkey is 6.2 billion pounds. Exports of both broilers and turkeys are expected to see small increases in 2015.