MN turkey dominance, by the numbers
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MPR photo/Mark Steil
I've been swimming around in turkey data.
We all know Minnesota is the nation's number one state in turkey production.
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Here are few other stats:
-- In 1992, the USDA listed separate production numbers from 28 states. Minnesota that year accounted for about 13 percent of total US production. It was a poor second that year to North Carolina.
-- Last year, USDA listed separate production from only 13 states. Minnesota was on top, with 16 percent of turkey production.
Here's a look at the changes in Minnesota's turkey herd (number of turkeys is in millions).
So, over 20 years, Minnesota's herd increased by about 8 percent but meat production jumped 47 percent.
The jump in average turkey weights has been a national phenomenon. It's also been controversial. Economically, there's no doubt Minnesota's benefited from the changes in turkey genetics and consumer demand.
Here are links to the USDA data I used:
-- Paul Tosto
