It’s easy to think about turkeys with Thanksgiving around the corner. However, you may not know just how important turkeys are to Indiana’s ag economy.
“Indiana turkey production is an incredible driver of regional rural economies,” says Rebecca Joniskan, President of the Indiana State Poultry Association. She says Indiana is one of the leading states in the U.S. for turkey production.
“We are fourth in the nation in turkey production with 20 million turkeys produced here in Indiana,” according to Joniskan. “We produce a lot of premium turkey deli meat, along with ground turkey, breast meat roast, turkey drums like you get at the Indiana State Fair—so Indiana turkey can be found in many different forms.”
Joniskan says the main reason Indiana is number four for turkey production is because of the state’s corn and soybean production.
“Corn and soybeans are the primary component of turkey feed. We have feed mills here in Indiana that are owned by our turkey companies. They custom grind their own feeds so that they have an appropriate feed for each stage of life. About 100 pounds of feed yields about 50 pounds of turkey,” says Joniskan.
She adds that Indiana’s turkey farms also provide a valuable source of fertilizer.
“Ultimately, the turkey litter is returned to the soil and returned to those row crop fields as a really valuable soil amendment that helps to capture carbon, enrich the soils, and have them ready to be healthy and productive for the next cycle.”
So, be sure to keep Indiana’s turkey producers in mind whenever you’re choosing turkey for your next meal.
“Whether it’s Thanksgiving Day or throughout the year—whenever you sit down at the table and enjoy turkey in whatever form, you are really benefiting those Indiana turkey farmers as they benefit you by bringing that turkey to your table,” says Joniskan.
Find out more about Indiana’s turkey production—as well as recipes, cooking tips, and more—at IndianaTurkey.com.
