By: Bill Satterfield
Executive Director
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
A study last year by the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources determined that “the [annual] economic impact of the poultry industry on the Maryland economy is $1.76 billion.” This includes all poultry and egg production and processing in all Maryland counties. The vast majority of this activity is due to the Eastern Shore chicken industry.
The same study concluded that in the short run, if the poultry industry closed its doors (all the production and processing of meat chickens, eggs, etc.), we would have a hit of $500 million which includes the loss of 7,000 jobs. This includes the devastating impact on corn and soybean farmers who grow the chickens’ feed ingredients.
These are compelling reasons why maintaining a strong chicken industry is so important for all of Maryland, but especially on the Lower Eastern Shore.
The chicken industry is the largest segment of agriculture in Maryland, accounting for more than one-third of the state’s cash farm income. Maryland ranks 8th in our republic for meat-chicken production. The state’s largest chicken-producing counties are on the Lower Eastern Shore. The most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture ranked Somerset 25th, Worcester 26th, and Wicomico 36th nationally.
Despite the importance of our industry, some groups in the environmental industry would be pleased to see us gone. They and their colleagues in the Maryland General Assembly keep trying to chip away at our industry, but thanks to a strong coalition of chicken industry persons and groups, the farming community, our business allies, and tremendous support from various levels of Eastern Shore elected officials, we remain strong, but vigilant.
We encourage business operators to think about how many of their customers and how much of their income is due to the chicken industry. Many might be surprised.
