What State Produces The Most Turkeys

Author: Jenny J Brown
January 16, 2023

Turkey consumption in the United States is currently on the rise as the Nation Turkey Federation recorded the annual consumption of turkey per capita is about 17 pounds.

The United States revealed data of 69 percent of turkey consumers prefer frozen turkey to fresh from the fan. The preference is placed on the price of frozen turkey.

Before we analyze the states that produce the most turkey, let’s consider those who raised the most turkey.

Which US State Raises the Most Turkeys?

  1. Minnesota
  • Minnesota is considered the number one state in raising a turkey. The state is estimated to rear over 44 million turkeys.
  • Turkey farming is a popular tradition in Minnesota as over 450 families are into turkey rearing.
  1. Arkansas
  • Arkansas is the second in line as the state is estimated to rear about 26 million turkeys.
  • Yearly, Arkansas produces about 560 million at 370 million. The majority of turkey farming is practiced in the northern and southern regions of the state.
  1. California

California also meets the list of turkey producers. The state is known to produce turkey worth over 10.9 million turkeys per year, making it the leading producer of turkey products.

The turkey farmers in California are known for their organic turkey-rearing methods which makes them attract huge interest. From 2006 to 2010, the California Poultry Federation reported a 5 percent increase in turkey consumption in the state.

Top Turkey-Producing States Differ by Head & Weight

According to a USDA report, the state that produces the largest number of heads in comparison to the pounds produced 

Even though Minnesota ranks as the largest turkey rearer, North Carolina is the highest in terms of pounds produced 

List of States for Turkey Heads Produced

  • Minnesota tops the list with 40,500,000 turkey heads.
  • North Carolina takes second place at 30,000,00
  • Arkansas is 27,000,000
  • Indiana  20,500,000
  • Missouri 17,000,000
  • Virginia 14,000,000
  • Iowa 11,700,000
  • Pennsylvania 6,900,000
  • Ohio 6,000,000
  • California 6,000,000

List of States for Turkey Pounds Produced 

  • North Carolina produces about 1,167,000,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Minnesota is in second place with 1,044,900,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Indiana is in third place with 836,400,000.
  • Missouri is 552,500,000.
  • Arkansas is 540,000,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Iowa is 512,460,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Virginia: 420,500,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Ohio: 268,200,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Michigan: 217,260,000 pounds of turkey.
  • Pennsylvania: 198,030,000 pounds of turkey.

Wrap Up!

Turkey farming is one of the most embraced agriculture in the United States. Arkansas, Minnesota, and California are part of the major turkey-producing states.

In the United States, farmers produced an estimated increase in production in the 1990s.

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