Domestic Poultry Production Value Jumped Sharply in 2025

Egg production accounted for much of the increase.

Indoors chicken farm, chicken feeding

davit85 – stock.adobe.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — U.S. poultry production value rose sharply in 2025, driven mainly by stronger egg and turkey returns. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the combined value of broilers, eggs, turkeys, and chicken sales reached $81.7 billion, up 16 percent from $70.3 billion in 2024.

Eggs accounted for much of the increase. USDA said egg production value climbed 49 percent to $31.5 billion, even though output fell 4 percent to 105 billion eggs. That shows price strength more than made up for reduced production.

Turkey’s value also moved sharply higher. Production value rose 51 percent to $5.58 billion, while the number of turkeys raised fell 3 percent and total turkey production dropped 5 percent to 6.22 billion pounds.

Broilers remained the largest part of the poultry sector. USDA said broiler value slipped 2 percent to $44.6 billion, even as the number of broilers produced rose 1 percent and liveweight production increased 2 percent to 62.2 billion pounds.

Chicken sales outside broilers accounted for a very small share of total sales and fell sharply. The broader report still showed poultry returns improved overall in 2025 despite mixed output trends across categories.

Farm-Level Takeaway: Higher egg and turkey values lifted overall poultry returns even as production trends stayed mixed.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Related Stories
Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Stage Two will disburse around $16 billion, approved by Congress last year. Sign-ups begin Monday, and producers have until April to return applications.
Early Cattle-on-Feed estimates point to slightly tighter cattle supplies, reinforcing the need to monitor prices and timing for winter marketing.
Row crop losses in 2025 are outpacing last year. With no disaster aid yet approved, many operations face a tough financial bridge to 2026 even as Farm Bill improvements remain a year away.
Farmland values remain stable, but weakened credit conditions and lower expected farm income signal tighter financial margins heading into 2026.
Jerry Cosgrove with American Farmland Trust explains why farmers and ranchers should start their estate planning now.
Elizabeth Strom of the American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers joined RFD-TV to provide the latest perspective on post-harvest business planning and cropland markets in the Midwest.

Tony St. James joined the RFD-TV talent team in August 2024, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to RFD-TV and Rural Radio Channel 147 Sirius XM. In addition to his role as Market Specialist (collaborating with Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady to provide radio and TV audiences with the latest updates on ag commodity markets), he hosts “Rural America Live” and serves as talent for trade shows.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Late harvest and tight supplies shape crop progress and agribusiness this week. Here is a regional snapshot of harvest pace, crop conditions, logistics, and livestock economics across U.S. agriculture for the week of Dec. 1, 2025.
Cargill’s commitment to keep plants open helps preserve competition as Tyson removes capacity amid historically tight cattle supplies.
Fair market value shapes taxes, transitions, lending, and sales, making accurate valuation essential for long-term planning.
SDRP Stage 2 now helps producers recover shallow, uninsured losses from major 2023–2024 disasters, with streamlined sign-ups open through April 30.
Tyson’s capacity cuts weaken local basis, tighten kill space, and heighten dependence on imports, signaling more volatility for producers.
Low farmer shares reflect deep consolidation across the food chain, keeping producer returns thin even as retail food prices remain high.
Agriculture Shows
Hosted by Scott “The Cow Guy” Shellady and RFD News Markets Specialist Tony St. James, Commodity Talk delivers expert insight into the day’s ag commodity markets just before the CME opens. Only on RFD-TV and Rural Radio SiriusXM Channel 147.
A look at the news, weather and commodities headlines that drove agriculture markets in the past week.
Everything profits from prairie. Soil, air, water — and all kinds of life! Learn how you can improve your land with prairie restoration, cover crops and prairie strips, while growing your bottom line.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.