The turkey population in the United States is lower than it has been in 40 years, sending wholesale turkey prices soaring 40%, according to officials.

Only 194.5 million gobblers were raised commercially in 2025, down 3% from 2024 — and the lowest mark since 1985 when 185 million turkeys were raised, according to the American Farm Bureau .

The short supply is resulting in the rise in wholesale turkey prices, which have shot up to $1.31 cents per pound from 2024’s $0.94, according to the USDA.

Only 194.5 million turkeys were raised in the United States in 2025, the lowest mark in 40 years, according to the USDA. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The declining numbers are attributed to the avian flu pandemic which broke out in September 2022, afflicting f

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