Planning Your Thanksgiving Meal? Get Ready for a Turkey Shortage!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. I love everything about it. The cool fall weather. The gathering of family and friends. And of course, the food! But this year, the Thanksgiving turkey could be a bit harder to find and cost you more money.

Why are there fewer turkeys this Thanksgiving?

With just weeks left until Thanksgiving, Axios reports that the nation's turkey herd has shrunk to its smallest size in 40 years. Part of the problem is a rise in Avian flu cases. The USDA reports that nearly 514,000 turkeys have been affected by an outbreak of Avian flu this month alone, with most of the cases in Minnesota.

Turkey Prices Are Also on the Rise

Due to the loss of birds from Avian flu and tighter production, Axios reports that wholesale turkey prices are up 40% from last year. Prices are forecast to hit around $1.32 per pound with turkey production reaching a 40-year low. Total turkey production is expected to hit 4.8 billion pounds, 5% below 2024 levels, according to Axios.

Turkey Producers Say Plenty of Birds Will be Available

Axios reports that some of the nation's largest turkey suppliers, including Butterball, say that there will be plenty of frozen birds available for Thanksgiving. If consumers want a specific size or a fresh turkey, those could be harder to find.

Some grocery store chains are also looking to help out consumers during the turkey shortage. Axios reports that Aldi will cut its Thanksgiving meal price by $7 from last year. Experts say that finding coupons for deals on turkeys will be popular this year, with many appearing the week before the holiday.