Chickens Integral Part Of Missouri’s Economy

Companies that produce and process chicken are an integral part of Missouri’s economy, according to The Poultry Federation. Producers and processors of chicken along with the companies that provide supplies and materials to the industry provide well-paying jobs in the state and pay significant amounts in taxes to state and federal governments.

CHICKEN INDUSTRY IMPACT

Companies that produce and process chicken in Missouri employ as many as 8,537 people across the state and generate an additional 38,525 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These include jobs in companies supplying goods and services to the industry, according to a study produced by John Dunham and Associates, “2014 Economic Impact Study of the Poultry Industry December 2014.”

These are good jobs paying an average of $48,300 in wages and benefits. And today, every job is important. In fact, in Missouri the unemployment rate has reached 5.6 percent. This means that there are 174,500 people trying to find jobs across the state, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available on-line at http://www.bls.gov/bls/unemployement.htm. Date for March-15.

MISSOURI BROILER PRODUCTION

The number of broilers produced in Missouri increased by 2 percent in 2015 from 289 million to 295 million. Pounds produced increased by the same percent to 1.414 billion pounds. However, the value of production decreased by 14 percent to $761 million. Likewise, the per pound price decreased 16 percent from 64 cents to 54 cents. Missouri was the 13th largest state in terms of pounds of broilers produced and value of production. It was the ninth largest state in terms of number of broilers produced. Production at the U.S. level increased by 4 percent to 53.364 million pounds; the value of production decreased by 12 percent percent to $28.710 billion.

LAYERS, PULLETS

Total chickens excluding broilers, on hand as of Dec. 1, 2015, in Missouri increased over the previous year to 15.74 million birds. The average price per bird, $4.90, decreased by 20 cents. The total value of non-broiler chickens was $77.1 million, a decrease of $2.2 million from 2014 but $34 million higher than 2013. Layer inventory decreased by 167,000 from Dec. 1, 2014, but was 2.6 million higher than in 2013.

EGGS IN MISSOURI

The number of eggs produced in Missouri in 2014 increased 1.3 percent from 2014 to 2015 to 3.058 billion. The price per dozen eggs increased 37 percent to $1.654 and the value of the eggs produced increased by 39 percent to $421.6 million. Missouri ranked 11th among

states in egg production and value of egg production in

2015.

Turkey

The turkey industry in Missouri employs as many as 3,617 people across the state and generates an additional 10,009 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These include jobs in companies supplying goods and services to the industry.1

The average amount of wages and benefits paid in the turkey industry is $47,200.

Not only does the turkey industry create jobs, it also generates sizeable tax revenues. In Missouri, the industry and its employees pay about $164.6 million in federal taxes, and $79.6 million in state and local taxes.

Not only does the turkey industry create good jobs in Missouri but the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole. In fact, in 2014 the industry was responsible for as much as $3.1 billion in total economic activity throughout the state, creating or supporting as many as 13,626 total jobs.

The broader economic impact flows throughout the economy, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to the turkey industry. Real people, with real jobs working in industries as varied as banking, real estate, accounting, even printing all depend on the poultry industry for their livelihood.

Missouri Turkey

Production

Missouri produced 600,000,000 pounds of turkey in 2015, the most since 2009. The number of birds produced was 19.0 million — the most since 2008. The value of production was up 21 percent to a record $487 million. Missouri was the fourth largest state in terms of turkey production in 2015. U.S. turkey production decreased by 2.5 percent in 2015 to 7.038 billion pounds. Missouri accounted for 8.5 percent of that production.