Delmarva chicken industry shows growth, environmental improvement
Over the last year Delmarva’s chicken industry showing modest growth and environmental improvements. That’s according to data released by Delmarva Poultry Industry.
Chicken growers raised 605 million chickens- a 2% increase from the year prior- and processed 4.3 billion pounds of chicken that sold for $3.4 billion. That works out to an average of 7 pounds per chicken selling for 80 cents a pound.
Contract payments from Delmarva’s five chicken companies to family farmers rose 5%, with farmers pulling in an average of $165,000 in contract income.
Also, a program in Maryland to transfer chicken manure to farms that can use it for fertilizer exceeded its goals by nearly 500%, which the report says, shows the commitment to environmental sustainability.