Gobble, gobble: Ohio ranks in the Top 10 in Thanksgiving turkey production

MANSFIELD — There is a decent chance the turkey you will eat on Thanksgiving Day didn’t travel a long way to get to your dinner plate.

The Buckeye State ranks in the top 10 nationally, both in terms of total turkeys raised and total gobbler poundage, according to a holiday-themed story at the Traceone.website.

More than 86 percent of U.S. turkey production takes place in just 13 states, with North Carolina and Minnesota leading as the top producers. Together, these two states contribute nearly 30 percent of the nation’s total turkey output in terms of pounds.

North Carolina is No. 1, accounting for 15.5 percent of turkeys by weight, driven in part by a larger average bird size of 37.8 pounds.

Minnesota, where turkeys tend to be smaller, ranks second in production weight at 14.0 percent, but raises the largest number of turkeys overall, accounting for 16 percent of the nation’s total birds.

Ohio ranks eighth in total turkey pound production and is ninth in total turkeys raised. Heading into this college football weekend, it’s worth noting Michigan trails Ohio in both turkey-related categories.

Interestingly, the average size of turkeys raised in the U.S. has nearly doubled since the 1960s, a trend that has helped maintain relatively high production levels even as the total number of turkeys raised has declined.

The number of turkeys raised peaked in 1996 at approximately 303 million birds annually, but has since dropped by about 34 percent to an estimated 200 million birds in 2024.

However, the larger size of today’s turkeys — averaging nearly 33 pounds per bird compared to around 18 pounds in the 1960s — has offset the decline in numbers, resulting in a relatively less pronounced decrease in overall production weight.

As you prepare to strap on the annual family-based feedbag, it’s worth considering an estimated 46 million turkeys are consumed on Thanksgiving alone.

But the statistics show fewer birds are being produced after years of stready growth.

Between 1960 and the mid-1990s, per capita turkey production rose sharply, peaking in 1996 at 26.8 pounds per person. However, between the mid-1990s and present, per capita turkey production experienced a fairly steep decline.

In 2024, annual production had dropped to just 19.3 pounds per person — a decline of approximately 28 percent. On an absolute basis, total turkey production peaked in 2008 at 7.9 billion pounds before dropping to just over 6.5 billion in 2024.

Health concerns and changing dietary preferences may play a significant role. More Americans are choosing plant-based diets and reducing overall meat consumption, including turkey.

Additionally, rising turkey prices may be a factor. Looking at national averages, the consumer price for turkey increased from 80 cents per pound in 2018 to $1.40 per pound in 2023.

Fortunately for consumers, average turkey prices fell back to 94 cents per pound in 2024, but are expected to climb to an annual average of $1.19 per pound by the end of 2025.