WASHINGTON – So far during 2010, turkeys raised in the United States totaled 242 million, down 2% from the number raised during 2009, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.).

The following six states account for nearly two-thirds of the turkeys produced in the U.S. so far during 2010: Minnesota, at 47 million turkeys, is the largest turkey-producing state; North Carolina, at 31 million turkeys, is down 13% from last year; Arkansas, at 28 million turkeys, is down 3% from a year ago; Missouri, at 17.5 million turkeys, is down 5% from last year; Indiana, at 16 million turkeys, is up 7% from a year ago; and Virginia, at 15.5 million turkeys, is down 9% from 2009.