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Yours thanksgiving turkey This year it may become even more expensive.
America’s turkey flock has shrunk to its smallest size in 40 years amid a resurgence of bird flu. American Farm Bureau Federation reportWholesale turkey prices are about 40 percent higher than autumn 2024 levels.
Prices are expected to rise to $1.32 a pound, 38 cents a pound higher than last year, the bureau said.
“Our turkeys are going to be hit really hard this fall,” said Bernt Nelson, an economist with the Farm Bureau. the new York Times,
The virus, known as H5N1, is spreading across farms across the US, with outbreaks affecting hundreds of thousands of birds in Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Utah and Washington.

According to the , bird flu has affected 6.46 million birds in the last 30 days, including about 514,000 turkeys. data From Agriculture Department.
Bird flu has affected more than 180 million farmed and wild birds since 2022. It has also spread to dairy cow herds in 18 states.
Although the virus has not yet shown the ability to spread between humans, it has sickened at least 70 people and taken the life of an unidentified Louisiana man who came in contact with wild birds and a backyard flock.
According to experts, the spread of bird flu could also mean that egg prices will be affected again. “The only honest answer to this is we’ll have to see,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig. nbc news,
Egg prices rose sharply from late 2024 to early 2025, reaching an all-time high as bird flu cases increased. $8.17 for a dozen last MarchIn the past month, they have increased by nearly a dollar, according to the , rising from $0.10 to $1.16 per dozen white large-shell eggs. Latest Egg Market Overview,
Dr. Amy Swinford, director of the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, said the bird flu outbreak comes amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has left agencies short-staffed and affected data collection. Many times.
“Because of the government shutdown, I know less than I normally would,” she said.
This summer the cases decreased and farmers felt some relief. But bird flu spreads more easily in the fall when birds make their seasonal migration.
This appears to be reflected in increased outbreaks. This is the fourth time that bird flu infections have increased and experts say this seasonal pattern appears to be a new norm.

“At first, it was more theoretical; ‘Let’s try to keep this away from our herd.’ And now, despite these enhanced biosecurity measures, commercial flocks are still vulnerable,” said Nick Lewandowski, president of the Wisconsin Poultry and Egg Industries Association. Wisconsin Public Radio,
For turkey farmers, this is the “new normal” 3 percent less turkeys were raised this year Beyond 2024, lowest estimate since the 1980s,
However, Turkey remains The most popular proteins on the Thanksgiving table Across the country. About 46 million turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving in the U.S., according to federation,
Leslie Oden, President and CEO of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said axios Turkey producers and processors are working to address the ongoing threat ahead of the Nov. 27 holiday.
“We feel confident in frozen turkey supply, and although bird flu cases have increased, we are not seeing an impact on overall supply right now,” he said.