Poultry and Egg Production

ACH17-15/July 2020

Highlights Poultry inventory, sales, and number of farms up since 2012

United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

Number and Location

U.S. farmers sold $49.2 billion of poultry 

and eggs during 2017, up 15% from 

2012, when the Census of Agriculture 

was last conducted. During that time, 

the number of farms with sales of 

poultry and eggs increased 19% from 

137,541 farms to 164,099 farms. Layers, 

pullets, and broilers showed an increase 

in inventory numbers and numbers 

sold. Turkey inventory increased but 

the number of turkeys sold decreased 

slightly. 

Three states (Georgia, North Carolina 

and Arkansas) sold more than $5 billion 

in poultry and eggs in 2017, accounting 

for almost one-third (32.5%) of total 

sales. Another 15 states had between 

$1.0 and $4.9 billion in poultry and eggs 

sales. These 18 states accounted for 

88% of poultry and eggs sales in 2017. 

While 164,099 farms sold poultry 

and eggs in 2017, about one-quarter 

(27%) specialized in poultry and egg 

production, meaning 50% or more of 

a farm’s sales came from poultry and 

eggs. These 44,260 farms sold 98.4% of 

all poultry and eggs.

In 2017, U.S. sales of poultry and eggs totaled $49.2 billion,12.7% of total U.S. 

agriculture sales. Sales of poultry and eggs increased 15% from 2012 to 2017. 

The top three states, Georgia, North Carolina and Arkansas, accounted for 

about a third of U.S. sales. Eighteen states sold over $1 billion in poultry and 

eggs. Of the 164,099 farms that produced and sold poultry and eggs, 27% were 

farms specializing in poultry and egg production, which accounted for 98% of 

poultry and eggs sold.

164,099

farms

$49.2 billion 

sales

$1,133,207

average sales per farm

Sales of Poultry and Eggs as a Percent of Agriculture Sales by County in 2017

< 1

1 - 9

10 - 24

25 - 49

50 - 74

75 +

U.S. = 12.7

Top States ($ bil)

Georgia 5.5

North Carolina 5.4

Arkansas 5.1

Alabama 4.2

Mississippi 3.1

Texas 3.0

California 1.9

Pennsylvania 1.7

South Carolina 1.7

Missouri 1.6

8.9 billion

The number of broiler and other meat-type chickens sold in 2017.

Poultry by Inventory on Dec. 31, 2012 and 2017

2012 2017 % change*

(millions)

Chickens, broilers 1,506.3 1,621.4 8%

Chickens, layers 350.7 368.2 5%

Chickens, pullets, replacement 110.3 130.5 18%

Turkeys 100.8 104.3 4%

Quail 6.3 7.4 17%

Chickens, roosters 7.6 7.0 -7%

Ducks 5.0 5.0 -1%

Pheasants 2.4 2.5 2%

*calculated from unrounded inventory
Source: USDA NASS, 2017 Census of Agriculture.

Producer Characteristics

Farm Characteristics

Average Farm

Production Expenses

The production costs of farms specializing 

in poultry and egg production totaled $33.3 

billion, down 5.7% from 2012. The largest 

expense item was feed, which totaled $18.4 

billion, or 55% of total production costs. 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

$1.3 billion

The amount of organic sales by specialized poultry and egg 

farms, 18% of total U.S. organic agriculture sales. 

SNAPSHOT

Poultry and Egg Producers, 2017

Number = 78,068* Poultry 

and Egg All U.S.

(percent)

Sex

Male 60 64

Female 40 36

Age

<35 12 8

35 - 64 69 58

65+ 19 34

Years farming

10 or less 37 27

11 or more 63 73

Lived on their farm 88 74

Worked off farm

No days 42 39

1 to 199 days 20 21

200+ days 38 40

Primary occupation

Farming 52 42

Other 48 58

Hispanic 3 3

With military service 9 11

Average age (years) 52.2 57.5

* Producers on 44,260 farms specialized in poultry and egg 

production as defined by the North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS); more than half a farm’s sales 

came from poultry and eggs sales. Data collected for up to 

four producers per farm. 

About the Census

The Census of Agriculture, conducted 

once every five years, is a complete 

count of U.S. farms and ranches and 

the people who operate them. Results 

from the 2017 and earlier censuses are 

available at national, state, and county 

levels. 

See the searchable database Quick 

Stats, the new Census Data Query Tool, 

downloadable PDF reports, maps, and a 

variety of topic-specific products. 

www.nass.usda.gov/AgCensus

($ bil)

Feed 18.4

Livestock/poultry purchases 7.2

Hired and contract labor 1.9

Custom work and hauling 0.9

Repairs and supplies 0.9

Utilities 0.8

Fuels 0.6

Other expenses 2.6

Total U.S. 33.3

Poultry and 

Egg Farms All Farms

Avg. acres 134 441

Avg. sales $1,133,207 $190,245

Avg. government payments $10,222 $13,906

Avg. expenses $751,309 $159,821

Avg. net cash farm income $389,897 $43,053

Among Poultry and 

Egg Farms 

82% Have internet access

37% Hire farm labor

97% Are family farms

55% Have positive net income

On average, farms 

specializing in poultry and 

egg production have a 

smaller land area, higher 

levels of sales, greater 

production expenses, and 

higher net income than all 

U.S. farms. 

The producers on farms specializing in 

poultry and egg production were, on 

average, younger (52.2 years) than U.S. 

producers overall (57.5 years). More 

producers were female (40% compared to 

36% of all U.S. producers), and a higher share 

(37%) were beginning farmers (10 or fewer 

years of farming experience), compared 

with 27% of all U.S. producers. More poultry 

and egg producers reported their primary 

occupation as farming compared to all 

producers (52% versus 42%).

Three types of producers operate poultry 

farms: independent growers raising poultry 

for themselves, contract growers raising 

poultry for someone else under a production 

contract (contractees), and contractors using 

contractees to raise some poultry in addition 

to their own production.

Contractees account for higher shares of 

production than number of farms. In 2017, 

broiler contractees accounted for 45% of the 

number of farms with broilers but 96% of 

production; for turkeys it was 17% of farms 

but 69% of production.

40

The percent of poultry and egg 

producers who are women.