Role of Poultry & Egg Production in the Pennsylvania Economy

Abstract

The Penn State Workforce Education and Development (WED) Initiative conducted an analysis of the economic impact of poultry and egg production in Pennsylvania.

The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted 64,570 farms in the United States that specialize in poultry and egg production. U.S. sales of poultry and eggs totaled $37 billion, an increase of 55% from 2002. Total sales of poultry and eggs accounted for 12% of all agricultural products sold in the U.S. during 2007. Sales of poultry and eggs are heavily concentrated in the southeastern U.S.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 1,397 persons were employed by Pennsylvania poultry and egg producers during the first quarter of 2009, with average monthly earnings of $2,495. New hires to the industry earned, on average, $1799 per month. Earnings of new hires in the industry averaged $1,799 per month.

Poultry and egg producers are classified in North American Industrial Classification System code 1123. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, establishments in this industry "are primarily engaged in breeding, hatching, and raising poultry for egg production." Involved in this industry are chicken egg production, poultry hatcheries, chicken, turkey, and other poultry boiler meat production.

Keywords: egg production, agriculture, poultry farms, Pennsylvania