A livestock economist is predicting higher prices and fewer options in the turkey aisle this year as Thanksgiving approaches.

David Anderson with Texas A&M University Extension tells Brownfield turkey production is down about 5% on the year.

“Fewer birds and fewer pounds being produced. That is really a longer-term response to lack of profitability over the last few years and higher feed costs have cut into that as well.”

Anderson says that takes a toll on prices given that the national wholesale average for whole hens is $1.35 per pound compared to $1.14 last year and the five-year average of $1.06.

…