Easter special: Where do your eggs come from? Chances are best they were laid in Iowa

Iowa is known for being the leading producer of corn and hogs, but did you know it also leads the nation in production of eggs?

In a report timed for Easter, and colorfully illustrated (we borrowed the graphic), Dien Judge of the Iowa Independent reminds us that the state has 53 million chickens who laid 13.9 billion eggs last year. That was 15 percent of U.S. production.

"While Iowa eggs are purchased from grocery store coolers all around the country, many are processed into other products right here in the state," Judge writes. "In addition to being tops in egg production, Iowa is also the No. 1 egg-processing state." (Read more)

Below, a map from the National Agricultural Statistics Service, one of the most valuable sources of information about agriculture, shows egg production by state.