March 10, 2011

US soy board evaluates value of poultry and livestock farmers

The US poultry and livestock created 1.8 million jobs, and contributed US$252 billion in gross domestic production on a yearly basis, according to the results of the assessment conducted by the United Soybean Board (USB).

Livestock and poultry also contributed US$41 billion to US household incomes, raising income by US$3 billion over the past decade.

"It is important for our communities and community leaders to know the value of animal agriculture," says Jim Schriver, a soy farmer from Montpelier, IN, and Chairman of USB's local marketing program. "This sector of our economy not only produces the food we eat, but represents profit and job centers that support the communities in which we live."

The 32-page report breaks down many types of data by state, including numbers for poultry and livestock production and value, economic effect, characteristics of farm operations and operators, input purchases, agricultural and economic censuses, taxation and calculation of meal consumption by poultry and livestock.