Have you ever wondered about a poultry farmer’s earnings? It’s a valid question since most farmers enter the business to earn. According to the USDA, poultry is the most imported livestock commodity globally. Consequently, there is a rising demand for poultry with future growth projections. Therefore, it’s no surprise that poultry farms in the U.S. are proliferating and producing more chickens than ever. At Sun Farmer’s Group, we’ve noticed a surge in new poultry farmers and operations countrywide. However, with high demand, how does the business pay the average poultry farmer? This article will discuss their earnings and ways to increase profit by reducing expenses.
The Average US Poultry Farmer Salary
Let’s just answer the burning question that is on your mind. A 2024 aggregate from ZipRecruiter identified that the average income for a poultry farmer in the United States is $59,286 annually. Keep in mind that this is a national average. Depending on where you live, the income can rise or fall state to state. For example, 7 of the top 10 cities in the US for high poultry farming wages are all in California. While wages are high, cost of living, goods, and taxes in any state can have a major impact on income.
What Are the Biggest Expenses on a Poultry Farm
You can’t talk about how much a poultry farmer can make without understanding the expenses that go into running a poultry operation. Like most farms, there are some constants that will continuously cost you month to month. Below is a list of three of the top expenses on any poultry farm in America.
Electricity
Any poultry farm of any size is going to require a lot of energy to run smoothly. Heating and ventilation is critical to the health and well-being of the birds on the farm. Not only does it keep them comfortable, but healthy birds are more productive and can increase profits for poultry farmers. Any poultry farmer should expect to spend a significant amount of money monthly on their power bill.
Feed
This one seems obvious, but it’s a massive monthly expense that all poultry farmers have to consider. Hungry birds need plenty of feed and water to stay healthy and sustain life. At scale, a farmer’s feed bill can go from a few hundred dollars per month to thousands. To add uncertainty to the mix, the price of crops like corn and soybeans can fluctuate and cause the price of feed to rise and fall. And since it’s not uncommon for feed to come from international sources, trade and the global economy can make it difficult for poultry farmers to anticipate costs.
Equipment
While we already talked about the immense amount of energy needed to power poultry farms, the raw materials and specialty equipment itself can be costly. Whether you’re setting up your operation for the first time, growing your farm, or simply maintaining existing equipment, reserving funds for equipment is critical to a successful operation. You can read more about how much you should expect to spend to start a poultry farm in this article.
Increase Profits With a Solar Powered Poultry Farm
Since we have already determined that running a poultry farm is expensive work, we should mention how to save money. If energy costs are one of the biggest expenses on a poultry farm, it makes sense to try to attack that problem head on. Turning your farm into a solar poultry farm is the only way to push back against the rising price of energy from the power companies. Integrating solar energy into your poultry farm takes a growing energy bill and replaces it with a more predictable and manageable loan payment. The best part? Once the loan is paid off, your farm can completely run off solar energy without any additional energy costs in the future. With all of the extra money saved, poultry farmers can invest in expanding their farming operation or pocket the profit.
Go Solar With a Solar Energy Grant
You may have heard about the massive upfront costs associated with implementing solar energy on your farm. Maybe you even experienced it firsthand for yourself. The good news is, while the initial cost of a solar can be expensive, the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) can cover up to $1 million in project costs for poultry farmers. This greatly reduces the amount of money you need to borrow and gives farmers an opportunity to take advantage of solar. This grant is just at the federal level. Several states offer additional incentives for farmers to invest in sustainable technology for their farms. Be sure to check with your state’s local resources to learn about other ways you can benefit and save even more money on your project.
The Sun Farmer’s Group Difference
Sun Farmer’s Group is the first true turnkey solution for agricultural solar energy. Our proprietary program has brought all of the in-house expertise to the table in grant writing, financing, tax credit monetization, installation, and so much more. Unlike other companies, Sun Farmer’s Group empowers farmers with a no-money down solution that greatly reduces and eventually eliminates your power bill altogether. The future of poultry farming is as bright as the sun, and we’ll help you turn it into power!
Get in Touch
If you’re ready to learn more about how Sun Farmer’s Group can help you put more money in your pocket, call 877-417-3222 today!