WASHINGTON — So far in 2009, turkeys raised in the U.S. total 250 million, down 8% from the number raised during the same time in 2008, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Six states are expected to account for about two-thirds of the turkeys produced in the U.S during 2009: Minnesota, at 45.5 million turkeys, is down 5% from last year; North Carolina, at 37.5 million turkeys, is down 6% from last year; Arkansas, at 28 million turkeys, is down 10% from a year ago; Missouri, at 21 million turkeys, is unchanged from last year; Virginia, at 16.4 million turkeys, is down 9% from 2008; and California, at 15 million turkeys, is down 6% from last year.