Due to higher grain prices over the past few years, many turkey livestock producers have cut back on their numbers. This is causing a slight shortage in fresh, large turkeys for this year.
According to Missouri Farm Bureau Marketing and Commodities Director, Kelly Smith, grain prices have recently begun to fall, so from this year forward as long as the grain supply is plentiful, the turkey numbers will rebound.
Since the cheaper crop is just now reaching all farmers who raise livestock this fall, Smith anticipates turkey livestock producers will increase their numbers for next year and years to come.
“I think for this year, where the issue will be, if the consumer wants a fresh turkey, and especially a larger turkey at 24 pounds and up, there may be a shortage of that type of bird,” Smith said.
Smith says, however, 85 percent of the birds consumed on Thanksgiving are frozen birds, and there will be a plentiful supply of fresh turkeys 16 to 20 pounds and under.
“As far as what the turkey is going to cost the consumer, most grocery stores at Thanksgiving use turkeys as a loss leader,” Smith said.
Buying frozen and small, fresh turkeys usually does not cost the consumers the full amount of what the bird actually cost because stores use the low prices to attract buyers into purchasing other items.