Current Research: Current Economic Contribution and Long-term Sustainability of the Poultry Industry in Delmarva

This evaluation of Delmarva's poultry industry includes analysis of the industry's geographical and cluster distributions as well as estimates of the industry's economic impact, including spin-off enterprises, to Delmarva's economy.

Findings to date include:

Nearly 530 million broilers were produced by Delmarva growers in 2001— a total of 2.8 billion pounds, or nearly 2,300 pounds per Delmarva resident. Delmarva is the nation's 6th largest broiler production region, behind Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina.
Marketing from the broiler industry represented nearly two-thirds of Delmarva's total farmgate value in 1997. For a number of counties — Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester — broilers represent 80 percent or more of farmgate value.
Spin-off industries — such as transportation services, broiler house construction, etc, employ more than 16,800 people, effectively doubling the 17,000 workforce employed directly by the industry.

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For more information, contact Dr Nick Place

Last updated: 11/13/2009