FRANKFORT, Ky. — In a state where the poultry industry leads agriculture commodity receipts, National Chicken Month every September is a big deal.

Kentucky’s industry has grown exponentially over the past decade. It is worth an estimated $900 million annually, but total impact goes into the billions of dollars. A large chunk of that ($108.5 million) comes from exports. More than 15 percent of the poultry products produced here go to overseas buyers.

There are approximately 800 poultry farms in Kentucky, almost all family-operated, with 2,800 poultry houses in 42 counties. The industry also employs about 7,000 people and pays out $133.8 million in salaries and wages and $91 million in grower payments.

Jamie Guffey, the Kentucky Poultry Federation’s (KPF) executive director, said part of that growth has to do with agriculture diversification efforts made since the tobacco buyout. "Over 50 percent of our poultry growers today were tobacco growers 20 years ago or are still tobacco growers," he said.

Another thing that has helped the industry grow is the climate in this region of the country.

"We have a mild winter and usually a mild summer compared to other poultry states," he said. "And with the integral technology, such as far as negative static pressure houses, we are able to regulate the environments for these birds so they are always comfortable and we can give them what they need in order to grow and develop naturally."

Guffey noted the poultry industry is also one of the most regulated of the ag industries and undergoes strict, regular audits to make sure all facets of production are done according to federal guidelines.

Another part of the growth equation that made Kentucky an ideal place to develop the poultry industry is the amount of corn and soybeans grown.

"We wouldn’t be where we are if we didn’t have the corn and soybean base that we have today," said Guffey. "Over the last five years, every third row of corn planted in the state of Kentucky goes to feed poultry. We are the largest buyer of Kentucky-grown corn and Kentucky-grown soybeans."

Many of today’s poultry producers grow their own corn. In fact many started in poultry as a way to provide fertilizer for their crops. "They put in poultry houses to use the natural litter and that natural byproduct has helped them to grow corn more efficiently," said Guffey.

Today’s growers have also used the poultry industry as a way to stay on their farms and ensure their children can stay there, as well.

As much as it has grown in recent years, Guffey said the industry is set to go through another growth spurt. "We are poised to have another rapid increase in the state of Kentucky, as far as growth goes," he said.

That growth is coming from, among other things, a couple of companies looking to build more houses for chickens and turkeys. In the last two years, the number of commercial turkey houses has grown from six to 40, and another six are being added by the end of next year.

Guffey said egg operations are also expanding because of commercial operations and small-scale growers. "I get a lot of calls from hobby farmers who are getting enough demand through the Kentucky Proud program or through the Kentucky Roadside Market program, they are taking their backyard operations into what we consider a small farm operations."

Numbers from those small operations can range from a few dozen to several hundred birds, but they are working to meet the demands of a niche market that has also seen growth as the demand for locally produced food grows. Guffey said the number of people growing a few "backyard" birds has really grown over the past few years and he thinks with that growth will come the increase in medium-sized flocks.

For those who have concerns over commercial production, he noted many of the operations in Kentucky are selling to retailers such as Whole Foods Markets, which is known for stocking products that meet the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards.

"The poultry industry is really customer-driven-based and if our customers want something, we are willing to adapt and change our policy to meet their demands and needs," he explained.