2006 Farmgate

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Fast Facts

On an average day, Georgia farmers produce 23 million pounds of chicken, 11.7 million table eggs, 7 million hatching eggs and 75 tons of turkey meat.

Ninety-nine Georgia counties annually produce more than $1 million each in poultry products.

The poultry industry annually generates more than $12 billion for the state's economy and accounts for more than 44 percent of the state's agriculture and agribusiness volume.

In Gainesville, the heart of the Poultry Capital of the World, people are encouraged to eat fried chicken with their fingers.

News: Media Kits: Georgia Agricultural Resources

Poultry

In 1995, the Georgia General Assembly declared Georgia the official Poultry Capital of the World, and Governor Zell Miller signed the legislation on April 8, 1995.

Broilers are Georgia's largest single agricultural commodity, and poultry is the largest agricultural segment, creating about $3.08 billion in annual farm income and more than 44 percent of the state's agriculture and agribusiness economy. Additional revenue comes from numerous poultry industry meetings, seminars and conventions.

Georgia farmers produce 15 percent of the nation's chickens at an average of nearly 23 million pounds per day. Georgia and bordering states account for 42 percent of national poultry production. Georgia alone is the fourth largest poultry producing region in the world.

While per capita chicken consumption has doubled since 1978, Georgia's production has tripled. There are more than 12,000 chicken houses and more than 40 processing plants in the state.

Key factors that make chicken America's favorite food are its nutritional and health advantages, price and economic value, expanding availability and endless variety of new, good-tasting and convenient ways to prepare chicken products.

Of all meats, chicken provides the most nutrients with the least number of calories. Removing the skin reduces the already low fat content by almost half. A 3-ounce serving of skinless roasted chicken breast contains only 116 calories yet provides more than half the recommended daily protein requirement.

Points of Interest

Athens: The University of Georgia College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, 101 Conner Hall, Athens, GA 30602-7501, 706/542-3924; Department of Poultry Science, 706/542-1351; Extension Poultry Science, 706/542-1325; Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center, 706/542-1904.
Atlanta: Georgia Tech Research Institute, Poultry Research Program, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, 404/894-3412.
International Trade Show: Held in January at the Georgia World Congress Center and managed by the Southeastern Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA 30084, 770/493-9401.
Gainesville: The Georgia Poultry Park has a 25-foot tall Georgia marble monument topped by a 36-inch bronze rooster, featuring poultry industry information on six plaques at its base.
Georgia Poultry Federation: Represents all segments of the industry through four member associations: Georgia Egg Association, Georgia Poultry Improvement Association, Georgia Poultry Processors Association and Georgia Turkey Association, P.O. Box 763, Gainesville, GA 30503, 770/532-0473.

More Information

Department of Poultry Science at UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Contact your local county agent with the UGA Cooperative Extension.

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