Just in time for Thanksgiving, here's a look at the U.S. turkey sector.

-Turkey meat production in the United States over the first eight months of 2016 totaled nearly 4 billion pounds, approximately 7% above the same period in 2015. The increase was largely based on continuing recovery from the 2015 loss of more than 7 million turkeys due to avian influenza (HPAI). 2016 production was expected to be the first year-over-year production growth since 2012 according to forecasts released in October 2016.

Turkey meat production in the United States over the first eight months of 2016 totaled nearly 4 billion pounds, approximately 7% above the same period in 2015. (Photo: digital vision/Thinkstock)

-Through September, 2016 prices for whole birds at wholesale remained above the trend prior to the 2015 HPAI outbreak. The September price for frozen turkey hens was $1.24 per pound, about 14% higher than the average September price in the 3 years prior to 2015. Retail prices for whole turkeys in 2015 and 2016, however, did not generally experience a similar increase, and the 2015 annual average was the lowest since 2010.

-Value of turkey production:

2012: $5.45 billion

2013: $4.84 billion

2014: $5.30 billion

2015: $5.71 billion

-Top eight states in turkey production, 2015

1. Minnesota - 41 million birds

2. North Carolina - 31 million birds

3. Arkansas - 28 million birds

4. Indiana - 19 million birds

5. Missouri - 19 million birds

6. Virginia - 17 million birds

7. California - 12 million birds

8. Iowa - 9 million birds

-U.S. turkey total use (disappearance):

2012: 5.03 billion pounds

2013: 5.07 billion pounds

2014: 5.05 billion pounds

2015: 5.14 billion pounds

2016: 5.50 billion pounds (October projection)

-U.S. turkey meat exports:

2012: 797 million pounds

2013: 741 million pounds

2014: 775 million pounds

2015: 529 million pounds

2016: 565 million pounds (October forecast)

-Retail price for frozen whole turkey:  

2012 average: $1.62 per pound

2013 average: $1.65 per pound

2014 average: $1.60 per pound

2015 average: $1.51 per pound

Source: USDA ERS