There's a big Thanksgiving turkey shortage, and they could cost twice as much as last year. Here are the main reasons it's happening . . .
1. Turkey prices crashed in 2019, and a lot of farmers stopped raising so many. Then the pandemic piled onto that, so it's still causing a shortage.
2. Inflation is making turkeys more expensive. Feed, fuel, and labor all cost more than they did a year ago. Workers are also hard to come by. And droughts across the U.S. aren't helping either.
3. The avian flu is worse than usual. Around 3.6% of America's turkeys have died of it this year. That might not sound high, but it's over seven million birds.
Experts think most people who want a turkey should still be able to get them. But you might have to settle for one that's bigger or smaller than your ideal size. So it might be a good idea to buy your turkey early, and make room in your freezer to store it for a few weeks.