Study reveals economic impact of US poultry

The US poultry industry provides more than a million jobs and contributes over $265 billion to the economy, according to a new study.

The study, which has been released by the National Chicken Council (NCC) and the US Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), quantifies the combined impact of chicken, turkey, egg and other poultry industries, including feed producers, hatcheries, producers, primary processors and renderers. It excludes secondary processors.

It found that the industry accounts for 1.7% of GDP in the US and provides over $23bn in tax revenues to the government. Nearly 327,400 people are employed directly by the 8,002 firms that produce poultry and eggs, while a further 534,420 are employed by suppliers to the industry, which generate over $94bn in economic activity.

The biggest contributor to the economy is the chicken sector, which generates $197.5bn in economic activity and $17.2bn in government revenue.

NCC president Mike Brown said: “While chicken farms and chicken processing plants are not located in every state or congressional district in this country, this study captures the fact that our industry’s positive economic impact stretches from coast to coast and hits every sector of the US economy.”

The economic study was conducted by New York City analysts John Dunham & Associates with funding from USPOULTRY. The results are available on an interactive website www.poultryfeedsamerica.org, with results available nationally or by state, congressional district, state house district or state senate district. Seperate websites are available for the chicken, egg and turkey industries at www.chickenfeedsamerica.org, www.eggsfeedamerica.org and www.turkeyfeedsamerica.org.

John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY, said: “We are pleased to be able to provide this valuable tool across the industry that demonstrates the positive economic impact we have on our communities.”