Joel Brandenberger

The turkey market downturn that began in 2012 continued into this year.

The turkey industry faces growing economic problems, fueled by the terrible drought in the Midwest and a misguided federal ethanol policy that is turning a feed shortage into an acute feed crisis.

According to the latest USDA forecast for turkey production, during the first six months of 2011, turkey meat production was 5.5 percent higher than the same period in 2010 (2.9 billion pounds).

The turkey industry ends 2010 the same way it began, with several bright spots standing out amid ongoing economic and political uncertainty. For the first nine months, the industry enjoyed