1 Percent Turkeys raised in the United States during 1997 totaled 301 million, down 1 percent from the 303 million turkeys raised during 1996. These States accounted for 70 percent of the turkeys produced in the United States during 1997. Turkey Growers Plan 2 Percent Decrease in 1998 Turkey growers in the 20 major producing States intend to raise 2 percent less turkeys than in 1997. The number of turkeys actually raised in 1998 may vary from growers' intentions shown in this report depending on feed costs, supply of hatching eggs, cost of poults, and prices growers receive for turkeys during the next few months. Survey data for the turkeys raised estimate are collected from a list of contractors and independent growers during December.
States use all known sources of producer names to ensure that the list is as complete as possible.
Turkey producers are then contacted either by mail, telephone, or in person. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate. Turkeys raised estimates include young turkeys intended for meat production, as well as breeder turkeys which reached maturity during the calendar year. These estimates exclude turkeys lost to disease or those destroyed. Placements of turkey poults from the Monthly Turkey Hatchery Survey provide the basis for the preliminary estimates published in August.