Farm Bureau: U.S. turkey industry shows signs of recovery

Disease and higher feed costs continue to create uncertainty After two years of shrinking supplies due to disease the U.S. turkey industry is showing signs of recovery, according to an American Farm Bureau Federation analysis. “More birds are being raised, production is increasing and demand remains strong in both domestic and export markets,” wrote Bernt Nelson, a Farm Bureau economist. “Those factors have helped support turkey markets and improve returns for growers,” he added. Disease and higher feed costs, however, continue to create uncertainty. “For turkey growers, profitability in 2027 will depend on maintaining flock health, controlling costs and sustaining demand both at home and abroad,” Nelson wrote. USDA data projects U.S. farmers to raise roughly 198.5 million turkeys in 2026, up 3% from 2025. That’s the first increase since 2023, when America raised 219 million turkeys. From 2016-2019, however, farmers raised 243-245 million turkeys each year.

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