Minnesota is the only state projected to increase the number of turkeys it raises in 2021, according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In the USDA’s Turkeys Raised report, released on September 24, the agency projected that 214 billion turkeys will be raised in the U.S. in 2021, compared to 224 billion in 2020.
The data for the report was collected by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service from all known operations raising 1,000 or more turkeys annually. About 278 turkey grow-out operations are contacted in September and February, and the data is received by electronic data reporting, mail and telephone.
Of the 13 largest turkey producing states, Minnesota, the nation’s largest turkey producer, was the only one to have a projected increase in turkey production. It is estimated at 40.5 million turkeys will be raised in the state in 2021, roughly a 1% increase when compared to 2020.
According to the report, none of the major turkey producing states will keep their production levels the same in 2021, but Indiana and Pennsylvania will both only see about a 1% decrease.
Arkansas, which was the nation’s second largest turkey producer in 2020, will see its production decrease 13% in 2021 to 27 million birds. That will drop Arkansas to the country’s third largest turkey producer. North Carolina, which ranked third in 2020 is projected to raise 29 million turkeys in 2021, yet North Carolina’s production is actually projected to drop 3% when compared to 2020 figures.
According to the report, the top 13 turkey producing states are projected to be ranked as follows:
- Minnesota, 40.5 million turkeys
- North Carolina, 29 million
- Arkansas, 27 million
- Indiana, 19.8 million
- Missouri, 16.5 million
- Virginia, 14.5 million
- Iowa, 11.5 million
- California, 7 million
- Pennsylvania, 6.6 million
- Ohio, 5.9 million
- Michigan, 5 million
- South Dakota, 4 million
- West Virginia, 3.6 million
All other states are expected to account for the production of 23.1 million turkeys in 2021, a 4% decrease from the turkeys raised in those states in 2020.
