Audio version:
In this episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, host David Geiger sits down with Gretta Irwin and Sheila Larson of the Iowa Turkey Federation to talk about Iowa’s turkey industry and how it can be highlighted during the Thanksgiving season. While most consumers picture a whole roasted turkey on the holiday table, much of Iowa’s turkey production actually goes into deli meats and processed products. Still, it’s a great time to talk about how the industry works.
Gretta and Sheila go over how Iowa raises nearly 12 million turkeys a year, making it the 7th largest producer nationally, and how the state’s two major processing plants handle over 14 million birds, making Iowa 5th in U.S. processing. Turkeys have a big impact on the economy as well, each one contributes more than $30 to the Iowa economy.
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The conversation explores the evolving challenges surrounding bird health with avian influenza and avian metapneumovirus constantly impacting the farmer’s bottom line. Iowa turkey farmers are practicing biosecurity, but sometimes, viruses still manage to get through. For every solution farmers implement, it feels like another problem comes up.
Despite these challenges, David, Gretta, and Sheila explore gratitude during Thanksgiving. Sheila is thankful for the community of turkey producers helping each other out. Gretta is thankful for the Iowa turkey farmer.