Overview

The United States is the world’s largest producer and the second largest exporter of poultry meat according to the Economic Research Service (ERS) of USDA. The total farm value of U.S. poultry production in 2008 was $35.9 billion, up 11 percent from 2007. Of that total farm value, broiler production accounted for $22.9 billion, eggs for $8.3 billion, turkey for $4.31 billion and other chicken for $35.9 million (NASS). Of the combined total of U.S. poultry production in 2008, 64 percent was broiler meat, 23 percent was eggs, 12 percent was turkey meat and less than 1 percent was other chicken meat.  November 2009 ...  Poultry

 
Marketing

• Chickens and Eggs 2008 Summary, National Ag Statistics Service (NASS), USDA, 2009.
• Disease-Related Trade Restrictions Shaped Animal Product Markets, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA, 2005 - This report looks at the impact of trade restrictions due to animal disease situations.
• International Macroeconomic Data Set, ERS, USDA, 2007 - The data set provides data from 1969 to 2017 for 35 countries and 22 regions that are most important for U.S. agricultural trade, including gross domestic product, population, real exchange rates and other variables.
• Livestock and Meat Trade Data: Chickens, turkeys, and eggs, ERS, USDA, 2009.
• National Chicken Council - This industry association Web site represents a wide spectrum of companies and individuals in the chicken business.
• National Poultry & Food Distributors Association - The association Web site lists members who are processors, further processors, distributors, marketers and related industry companies.
• Number of Broilers and Other Meat-Type Chickens Sold: 2007, 2007 Census of Agriculture, NASS, USDA, 2009.
• Meat, Livestock, Poultry, and Eggs Analysis, Foreign Ag Service (FAS), USDA - This Web page links to the semi-annual Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade publication.
• Poultry Market News and Analysis, Poultry Programs, Ag Marketing Service (AMS), USDA - Covers the supply, demand and price situation on a regional, national and international basis for poultry, poultry products, eggs and egg products.
• Poultry - Production and Value 2008 Summary, NASS, USDA, 2009.
• U.S. Poultry & Egg Association
• USA Poultry & Egg Export Council
• U.S. Trade Internet System, FAS, USDA.

Processing/Manufacturing

• American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP) - Trade organization made up of medium-sized and smaller meat, poultry and food businesses. Labeling, processing, food safety and other articles are located on this site.
• Developing a Regional Hatchery for Heritage Breed Poultry, Debbie Roos and Marjie Bender, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension, and Alex Hitt, Growers’ Choice Cooperative, 2007 – In August, a three-day conference was held for local pastured poultry producers who were interested in learning more about operating a regional hatchery and improving their access to a processing plant. Thirteen PowerPoint presentations on applicable topics were developed for the conference. In addition, a set of Grower Guidelines were prepared to address processing issues: scheduling, preparation and transport to the facility, processing and post-processing.
• Federal and State Inspection Requirements for On-Farm Poultry Production and Processing, compiled 2001 - A comprehensive guide to the laws in your state (always check with your state Department of Agriculture for updates or accuracy). PDF files available - Introduction and Federal Laws (6 pp) Laws by State (58 pp).
• HACCP Demonstration Plans, Iowa State University - The site also includes a variety of tools such as Good Manufacturing Practices, HACCP reassessment, operational forms and sanitation standard operating procedures documents.
• Labeling Procedures, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA.
• Meat, Poultry and Egg Product Inspection Directory, FSIS, USDA - Lists of federal and state inspected plants, available by size or region.
• National Poultry Improvement Program (NPIP), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USDA - The objective of the NPIP is to provide cooperative industry-state-federal programs through which new technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country.
• Selling Meat and Meat Products, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, ANR Product Code 8146 - Federal, state or local agency inspection is mandatory for any meat or meat product before it can be sold. This free, 6-page publication explains various product categories and tells which inspection each one requires. Includes links to regulatory references and other useful resources.

Production

• Cobb Broiler Management Guide, 2008 - This guide, intended as a reference, highlights critical factors that are most likely to influence flock performance.
• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Fact Sheets - A set of 24 fact sheets and related slide presentations are available to help livestock and poultry producers deal with revised federal regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations. The series seeks to address questions such as: Will my operation be affected by the revised CAFO regulations? What must I do to comply with the CAFO regulations? What is the timeline for achieving compliance? What records do I need to keep and what annual reports do I need to provide to EPA? Is any financial or technical assistance available to achieve compliance? A team of 20 land-grant university faculty, Natural Resource Conservation Service Staff and National Pork Board staff collaborated on the project, which was managed through the MidWest Plan Service on the Iowa State University campus.
• The Economic Organization of U.S. Broiler Production, ERS, USDA, 2008 - Broiler production in the United States is coordinated almost entirely through systems of production contracts, in which a grower’s compensation is partly based on how the grower’s performance compares with that of other growers. This report describes the industry’s organization, housing features, contract design, fees and enterprise cost structures and farm and household finances.
• Guide for Prospective Contract Broiler Producers, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, revised 2008.
• Poultry and Eggs Briefing Room, ERS, USDA.
• Poultry Enterprise Budget, Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems, University of Wisconsin, 2003 - This Excel spreadsheet helps farmers make financial and management decisions about new or existing poultry enterprises.

Businesses/Case Studies

• Garcia Farms case study, Value Added Producer Grant recipients, 2008 - Near Wood River, Nebraska, Scott and Robert Garcia have begun laying the groundwork for future growth, starting with what was familiar--chickens. Their farm, which had about 500 chickens in 2008, uses natural farming methods.
• Perdue Farms - With annual sales in excess of $4 billion, Perdue is ranked as the third largest poultry company in the nation.
• Profile of California's Major Producer: Foster Farms, Business Focus magazine, 2008 - The largest poultry company in the Western U.S., producing 750 items including fresh chicken and turkey, deli luncheon meats, prepared entrees and corn dogs.
• Sanderson Farms, Laurel, Mississippi - Produces, processes, markets and distributes fresh and frozen chicken and prepared food items.
• Tyson Foods, Springdale, Arkansas - The world's largest processor and marketer of chicken,beef and pork, with approximately 114,000 employees at more than 300 facilities.
• Wayne Farms, Oakwood, Georgia - The fifth-largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the United States, owning and operating 13 facilities, producing over 2 billion pounds of poultry each year and employing over 9,000 people.

Links checked August 2010.