HARRISBURG, Va. (AP) _ A recent study shows the poultry industry is a big contributor to Virginia’s economy. The study by economic research firm John Dunham & Associates found that the industry contributed $13.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2014. The study says more than 52,000 jobs are linked to poultry, including more than 15,000 jobs in the industry and more than 24,000 supplier jobs. Wages connected to the industry totaled $2.8 billion in 2014. Virginia Poultry Federation president Hobey Bauhan tells the Daily News-Record that poultry’s economic impact extends to livelihoods in various service and product industries. John Dunham & Associates conducted the study for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
