USDA: Turkey production will be down 2 percent in 2014

The amount of turkeys raised in the United States in 2014 has been estimated at 235 million, a 2 percent decline from the 240 million raised in 2013. The forecast for U.S. turkey production was released September 30 in the USDA Turkeys Raised report.
If the projections made in the report are realized, 2014 will mark the second consecutive year that the number of turkeys raised in the U.S. declines. An estimated 254 million were raised in 2012. The highest number of turkeys raised in the U.S. within the past decade was recorded in 2008, with an estimated 273 million turkeys.
States raising more turkeys
Minnesota remains the nation’s leading turkey producing state, with an estimated 45 million raised in 2014, a two percent increase. Other states increasing production include Arkansas, up 4 percent at 29 million; Indiana, up 9 percent at 19 million; Ohio, up 9 percent at 6 million; Utah, up 10 percent at 4.4 million; and Virginia, up 3 percent at 16 million.
States raising fewer turkeys
On a percentage basis, North Carolina saw he biggest decrease in the projected number of turkeys raised in 2014, down 18 percent to 28 million. California dropped production 15 percent to 11 million, and Missouri decreased its production 6 percent at 16 million.
Other states
Pennsylvania and South Dakota held production steady, raising 7 million and 4.3 million head, respectively.
Year-to-year comparisons for two other major turkey producing states, Iowa and South Carolina, were not released to avoid disclosing data for individual operators. Production in remaining states increased from 35.1 million in 2013 to 35.2 million.