Special Report

States Producing the Most Meat

Thinkstock

The United States produced roughly 140 billion pounds of red meat and poultry in 2016, worth nearly $100 billion. Americans have each added 45 pounds of these types of meat to their diets since 1960, now consuming over 200 pounds annually.

By weight, meat from young chickens — or broilers — is the most common in America, with 54 billion pounds produced last year. Beef and pork follow with 43 billion and 36 billion pounds produced, respectively.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2016 meat production in each state by weight for beef, pork, and poultry with data from the United States Department of Agriculture. While every state produces some amount of meat, most U.S. production is concentrated in a few states. Eight states alone produce the majority of the nation’s total meat production by weight.

Click here to see the states producing the most meat.
Click here to see the methodology.

These are the states producing the most meat.

Providence-Warwick, Rhode Island
Thinkstock

50. Rhode Island
> Annual meat production: 1.7 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $1.7 million (the lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Alaskan Summer
Thinkstock

49. Alaska
> Annual meat production: 3.7 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $3.8 million (2nd lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

https://www.flickr.com/photos/roadgeek/

48. New Jersey
> Annual meat production: 7.2 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $7.7 million (3rd lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

New Hampshire
Thinkstock

47. New Hampshire
> Annual meat production: 9.6 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $10.6 million (4th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad-2]

Boston, Massachusetts
Thinkstock

46. Massachusetts
> Annual meat production: 11.9 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $11.1 million (5th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

 
Thinkstock

45. Connecticut
> Annual meat production: 13.9 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $16.0 million (6th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Portland Head Light in Maine at Sunrise
Thinkstock

44. Maine
> Annual meat production: 18.5 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $20.6 million (7th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Honolulu Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Thinkstock

43. Hawaii
> Annual meat production: 39.2 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $47.3 million (8th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Vermont farm house
Thinkstock

42. Vermont
> Annual meat production: 52.4 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: <0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $62.1 million (9th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad-2]

Las Vegas, Nevada 2
Thinkstock

41. Nevada
> Annual meat production: 188.1 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $219.8 million (10th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Louisiana bayou and cypress trees
Thinkstock

40. Louisiana
> Annual meat production: 195.0 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.1%
> Annual meat sales: $222.9 million (11th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

New York City, Brooklyn Bridge, New York
Thinkstock

39. New York
> Annual meat production: 272.6 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.2%
> Annual meat sales: $304.9 million (12th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Saguaro arizona
Thinkstock

38. Arizona
> Annual meat production: 533.7 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.4%
> Annual meat sales: $560.3 million (14th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Wikimedia Commons

37. New Mexico
> Annual meat production: 600.4 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.4%
> Annual meat sales: $695.9 million (17th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad-2]

Sunrise Over Crown Point at Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
Thinkstock

36. Oregon
> Annual meat production: 605.1 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.4%
> Annual meat sales: $703.7 million (18th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

View of mountains in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia.
Thinkstock

35. West Virginia
> Annual meat production: 610.8 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.4%
> Annual meat sales: $433.6 million (13th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

[in-text-ad]

Seattle, Washington
Thinkstock

34. Washington
> Annual meat production: 638.4 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.5%
> Annual meat sales: $704.5 million (19th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Devils Tower, Crooks County, Wyoming
Thinkstock

33. Wyoming
> Annual meat production: 660.1 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.5%
> Annual meat sales: $752.0 million (20th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Provo Orem, Utah Valley wildflowers
Thinkstock

32. Utah
> Annual meat production: 681.5 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.5%
> Annual meat sales: $600.7 million (15th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad-2]

Bison, North Dakota
Thinkstock

31. North Dakota
> Annual meat production: 787.4 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.6%
> Annual meat sales: $941.0 million (22nd lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Miami South Beach, Florida
Thinkstock

30. Florida
> Annual meat production: 808.6 million lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.6%
> Annual meat sales: $687.6 million (16th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Idaho Falls, Idaho
Thinkstock

29. Idaho
> Annual meat production: 1.2 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.9%
> Annual meat sales: $1.4 billion (23rd highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Beartooth Mountains at dawn, Red Lodge, Montana, USA.
Thinkstock

28. Montana
> Annual meat production: 1.2 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.9%
> Annual meat sales: $1.4 billion (24th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Saginaw County, Michigan
Wikimedia Commons

27. Michigan
> Annual meat production: 1.3 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 0.9%
> Annual meat sales: $981.2 million (24th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

[in-text-ad-2]

Chattanooga, Tennessee
Thinkstock

26. Tennessee
> Annual meat production: 1.6 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.2%
> Annual meat sales: $1.0 billion (25th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Green Bay, Wisconsin
Thinkstock

25. Wisconsin
> Annual meat production: 1.8 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.3%
> Annual meat sales: $1.8 billion (17th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Dover, Delaware
Thinkstock

24. Delaware
> Annual meat production: 1.9 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.3%
> Annual meat sales: $888.2 million (21st lowest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

winter and Fall foliage at Maroon Bells, Aspen Colorado
Thinkstock

23. Colorado
> Annual meat production: 1.9 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.3%
> Annual meat sales: $2.1 billion (15th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Baltimore, Maryland - Inner Harbor
Thinkstock

22. Maryland
> Annual meat production: 1.9 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.4%
> Annual meat sales: $965.4 million (23rd lowest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

[in-text-ad-2]

Charleston Sunset, South Carolina
Thinkstock

21. South Carolina
> Annual meat production: 2.0 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.4%
> Annual meat sales: $1.0 billion (25th lowest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

San Diego, California, Waves
Thinkstock

20. California
> Annual meat production: 2.2 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.6%
> Annual meat sales: $2.3 billion (14th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 3
Thinkstock

19. Pennsylvania
> Annual meat production: 2.2 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.6%
> Annual meat sales: $1.5 billion (22nd highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Cleveland, Ohio
Thinkstock

18. Ohio
> Annual meat production: 2.4 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.7%
> Annual meat sales: $1.6 billion (21st highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

Pierre, South Dakota
Wikimedia Commons

17. South Dakota
> Annual meat production: 2.4 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.7%
> Annual meat sales: $2.5 billion (13th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad-2]

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
Thinkstock

16. Virginia
> Annual meat production: 2.5 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.8%
> Annual meat sales: $1.6 billion (20th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Kentucky (horse farm)
Thinkstock

15. Kentucky
> Annual meat production: 2.6 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.9%
> Annual meat sales: $1.7 billion (19th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

[in-text-ad]

Chicago, Illinois
Thinkstock

14. Illinois
> Annual meat production: 2.6 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 1.9%
> Annual meat sales: $1.7 billion (18th highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

Indianapolis Downtown, Indiana, USA
Thinkstock

13. Indiana
> Annual meat production: 3.0 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 2.1%
> Annual meat sales: $1.8 billion (16th highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

St. Louis, Missouri
Thinkstock

12. Missouri
> Annual meat production: 5.0 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 3.6%
> Annual meat sales: $3.7 billion (10th highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

[in-text-ad-2]

Capital Building, Jackson, Mississippi
Thinkstock

11. Mississippi
> Annual meat production: 5.0 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 3.6%
> Annual meat sales: $2.5 billion (12th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Oklahoma house
Thinkstock

10. Oklahoma
> Annual meat production: 5.1 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 3.7%
> Annual meat sales: $4.0 billion (9th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

[in-text-ad]

Kansas house
Thinkstock

9. Kansas
> Annual meat production: 5.1 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 3.7%
> Annual meat sales: $5.0 billion (5th highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Birmingham, Alabama 2
Thinkstock

8. Alabama
> Annual meat production: 6.6 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 4.7%
> Annual meat sales: $3.3 billion (11th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Minneapolis, Minnesota
Thinkstock

7. Minnesota
> Annual meat production: 6.9 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 4.9%
> Annual meat sales: $4.4 billion (6th highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

[in-text-ad-2]

Nebraska sign
Thinkstock

6. Nebraska
> Annual meat production: 7.0 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 5.0%
> Annual meat sales: $7.1 billion (3rd highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

Arkansas, Buffalo River sunrise
Thinkstock

5. Arkansas
> Annual meat production: 7.7 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 5.5%
> Annual meat sales: $4.1 billion (8th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

[in-text-ad]

Atlanta, Georgia 3
Thinkstock

4. Georgia
> Annual meat production: 8.5 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 6.1%
> Annual meat sales: $4.2 billion (7th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

Austin, Texas
Thinkstock

3. Texas
> Annual meat production: 10.3 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 7.4%
> Annual meat sales: $9.3 billion (the highest)
> Most produced meat: Beef

2. North Carolina
> Annual meat production: 12.1 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 8.6%
> Annual meat sales: $6.4 billion (4th highest)
> Most produced meat: Chicken

[in-text-ad-2]

Wind Farm, Iowa
Thinkstock

1. Iowa
> Annual meat production: 14.9 billion lbs.
> Share of U.S. production: 10.7%
> Annual meat sales: $8.4 billion (2nd highest)
> Most produced meat: Pork

Methodology:

To identify the states producing the most meat, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed annual production of beef, pork, and poultry by weight in each state from the United States Department of Agriculture. Beef and pork figures came from the USDA report, “Meat Animals Production, Disposition, and Income 2016 Summary,” and poultry figures came from the USDA report, “Poultry – Production and Value 2016 Summary.” Annual meat sales also came from these reports.

The #1 Thing to Do Before You Claim Social Security (Sponsor)

Choosing the right (or wrong) time to claim Social Security can dramatically change your retirement. So, before making one of the biggest decisions of your financial life, it’s a smart idea to get an extra set of eyes on your complete financial situation.

A financial advisor can help you decide the right Social Security option for you and your family. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you optimize your Social Security outcomes.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.