On Monday, 200 Kentucky poultry producers and industry representatives joined Commissioner Jonathan Shell to declare September as Poultry Month in Kentucky, celebrating one of the state’s leading commodities.
Shell emphasized the economic importance of Kentucky’s poultry industry, which includes over 850 farms and approximately 3,200 poultry houses across 50 counties, as well as numerous backyard flocks.
According to Shell, poultry, including chicken broilers, turkeys, and eggs, consistently ranks among Kentucky’s top commodities. In 2022, the state’s agricultural cash receipts reached a record $8.3 billion, with poultry and eggs contributing $1.79 billion—a 36% increase from the previous survey.
Kentucky’s broiler production ranks 7th nationwide, employing about 6,300 people and supporting an additional 20,444 jobs in related sectors.
Egg producers contribute approximately $214.7 million to Kentucky’s economy, creating 1,769 jobs. Annually, Kentucky produces 1.4 billion eggs, with the average American consuming 279 eggs in 2022 and projections for 2023 even higher at 285 eggs per person. The turkey industry also plays a significant role, raising roughly 2 million birds and creating 2,567 jobs.
Shell noted that the poultry industry is the largest local buyer of Kentucky-grown corn and soybeans, consuming 20-25% of state-grown corn. This means one in every four rows of corn planted in Kentucky goes to feed poultry in the Commonwealth.
