Even in these modern times, in Delaware and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, agriculture is vital – a way of life we cherish, and an economic driver we need. And our chicken industry is absolutely essential to the region’s farmers, small business owners and everyday families.
Delmarva’s poultry industry both relies upon and supports Delmarva’s grain and poultry farmers. Soybean and grain farmers benefit from a robust local market, while poultry companies benefit from access to local feed ingredients. Raising chickens also allows farmers to diversify their farm income.
Similarly, our local communities both rely upon and support this economic engine, providing labor for jobs that are directly related to the poultry industry and its suppliers, or induced by the industry. Delmarva’s more than 1,700 chicken farms play a big role in helping keep our regional economy strong. And the farmers who raise chicken work hard delivering high quality, wholesome food while doing what’s right for the communities in which they work and live.

In Delaware, the chicken industry accounts for more than 10,000 jobs with total wages of more than $747.5 million. These are good jobs, paying an average of $70,847 in wages and benefits. In Maryland, the poultry industry accounts for more than 15,000 jobs with total wages of more than $971 million. Average wages and benefits in Maryland are $64,699.

In 2016, the poultry industry was responsible for as much as $3.34 billion in total economic activity throughout Delaware and $3.96 billion in Maryland. All told, the industry and its employees paid about $419 million in federal taxes and $199.8 million in state and local taxes in 2016.

“Nearly every business on Delmarva – including small businesses – is positively affected by the chicken industry,” said Bill Satterfield, Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.’s executive director. “These numbers reinforce just how important the chicken industry is to the region, and they show the industry growing at a calm, sustainable pace.”

Learn more about how chickens are grown

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My Maryland Farmers

My Maryland Farmers

Meet the farmers growing the highest quality food, feed and fiber products for their families and yours on Maryland family farms.

When people see deer

When people see deer in their yard or when driving by an open field, the usual reaction is, “How cool. Deer!” But, that’s not the response you’ll get from most farmers. “Other than rainfall, deer are the single largest yield-limiting factor on our farm,” says John Bruning, a farmer from the Eastern Shore. bit.ly/3hvnkns #MyMdFarmers ... See MoreSee Less

6 hours ago
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Maryland Soybean Board

Maryland Soybean Board

The Maryland Soybean Board is a nonprofit dedicated to maximizing the profitability of Maryland soybean farmers.

Did you know that th

Did you know that through the Grain Bin Safety Program, Nationwide and it's partners have been able to award 452 grain rescue to tubes to fire departments around the country?

Maryland Soybean Board is proud to partner with Nationwide to award grain bin safety tubes in Maryland.

Nominate your local fire department win a grain rescue tube and hands-on training through our Nominate Your Fire Department contest. Visit grainbinsafetyweek.com to make your nomination by April 30th!
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8 hours ago
Farmer Input Needed!

Farmer Input Needed!

The University of Maryland Eastern Shore invites farmers to participate in a USDA NIFA-funded, multi-state research project titled “Perceptions of Adverse Weather Events and Changing Weather Patterns" that seeks to understand how farmers and agricultural communities perceive and adapt to increasing weather variability and changing weather patterns.

Take this 15-20 minute anonymous survey to help ensure that agricultural realities and producer experiences directly inform future research, outreach, and policy efforts across the South and Mid-Atlantic.

Survey link: qtrial2019q4az1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IAiqiaXp5mn9vo

#farmersurvey #UMES #MidAtlantic
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1 week ago