VIEWS - U.S. Poultry & Egg Association · ChickMaster Incubator Co. USPOULTRY Develops NPIP...

The All Feather Association serving the industry through education, research, communication and technical assistance.

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J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 7

IPPE Registration and Housing Now Open

Member Spotlight: ChickMaster Incubator Co.

USPOULTRY Develops NPIP Biosecurity Principles Template to Support Poultry Producers

Poultry Research: Present and Future

A s s o c i A t i o n 1 President’s Column 5 USPOULTRY Develops NPIP Biosecurity Principles Template to Support Poultry Producers 5 USPOULTRY Offers Technical References to Develop Plant Biomapping Studies Using Whole Genome Sequencing 6 Tillman Receives PSA Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award, Sponsored by UPSOULTRY 6 Recent Member News 7 Research Results 8 Member Spotlight: ChickMaster Incubator Co. 9 Collaborating to Serve the Industry: USPOULTRY’s Annual State Association Meeting10 Sharing the Story of Agriculture with Urban Students: Teacher Resources13 US-RSPE and IPWA Partner to Address Sustainability and Animal Welfare in the Poultry Industry13 Did You Know? USPOULTRY Continues to Serve Its Members through Communication14 Poultry Research: Present and Future15 Follow the Steps for Lock Out, Tag Out16 USPOULTRY Is Expanding Its Resources to Improve Animal Health and Welfare

E d u c A t i o n11 2017 USPOULTRY Financial Management Seminar Looks Beyond the Spreadsheets12 Hatchery-Breeder Clinic: Addressing Ways to Prevent and Control Disease and Increase Energy Efficiency17 USPOULTRY, NCC, NTF and UEP Partner on Live Production, Welfare & Biosecurity Seminar17 2017 USPOULTRY Environmental Management Seminar to Address Environmental Challenges in Both Live Production and Processing18 2017 Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar Moving to Kansas City; Industry Tours Offered

E n v i r o n m E n t 4 Agricultural Groups Seek Common Sense Application of Emissions Reporting Requirements 4 USPOULTRY Statement on EPA, Army Corps of Engineers Move to Rescind Expansive WOTUS

i n t E r n A t i o n A l p o u l t r y E x p o 2 Another Reason Not to Miss the 2018 IPPE: Exhibit Space Exceeds 517,000 Square Feet with More than 1,140 Exhibitors 2 2018 IPPE Chosen for U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program 3 Make Your Hotel Reservations Early! IPPE Registration Now Open

J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 1 7N e w s & V i e w s is produced quarterly by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the world’s largest and most active poultry

organization. USPOULTRY represents the entire industry as an “All Feather” Association. USPOULTRY is a nonprofit organization which represents its poultry and egg members through research, education, communication, and

technical assistance. Membership includes producers and processors of broilers, turkeys, ducks, eggs, and breeding stock, as well as allied companies. Formed in 1947, the Association has member companies nationwide and affiliations

in 28 states. USPOULTRY also sponsors the International Poultry Expo.

Send Comments to: Ne w s & Vie ws , U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, GA 30084-7303

[email protected]

BoArd oF dirEctorsBrian Barrett

FEATHER CREST FARMS, TX

Bob “Pic” BillingsleySANDERSON FARMS, MS

Jonathan CadeHY-LINE INTERNATIONAL, IA

Alan DuncanMOUNTAIRE FARMS, AR

Mikell FriesCLAXTON POULTRY FARMS, GA

Ben HarrisonAMICK FARMS, SC

Tom HensleyFIELDALE FARMS, GA

Mark HickmanPECO FOODS, AL

Paul HillWEST LIBERTY FOODS, IA

Greg HintonROSE ACRE FARMS, IN

Robert HolzerCHICKMASTER INCUBATOR CO., NJ

Dan HuberFOSTER FARMS, CA

Alice JohnsonBUTTERBALL, NC

Bob KrouseMIDWEST POULTRY SERVICES, IN

David LathemL & R FARMS, GA

Phil LaughlinDOLCO PACKAGING, IN

Mike LevengoodPERDUE, MD

Bill LovettePILGRIM’S CORPORATION, CO

Elton MaddoxWAYNE FARMS, GA

Sherman MillerCAL-MAINE FOODS, MS

Jarod MorrisonFARBEST FOODS, IN

Jerry MoyeCOBB-VANTRESS, AR

John PrestagePRESTAGE FARMS, NC

Kevin PhillipsCASE FARMS, NC

Doug RamseyTYSON FOODS, AR

Andy SoutherlyCARGILL, KS

Mark WallerINGRAM FARMS, AL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

John starkey

Some New Faces...We’ve recently had a couple of retirements within our organization, so I want to introduce you to our new staff members and let you know their background and responsibilities.

First, we have a new controller in Steve Herring, [email protected]. As we try to do whenever we bring in a new management level employee, Steve does have a background in the poultry industry, working in various accounting/audit/finance roles for Gold Kist. Prior to coming to us, he also spent several years as a controller for a private real estate investment firm. He is a CPA. Steve actually joined us in December, so is no longer a “rookie” from staff’s perspective, as he has been through the IPPE! He assumed the controller position in April.

Next, we have brought on Matt Spencer, [email protected], as our new director, HR & Safety Programs. He previously had worked as director, Corporate EHS Programs, for a major battery manufacturer. He has also been exposed to animal agriculture as well, serving as a Health & Safety manager for a large pork processing facility where the health, safety and HR issues are very similar to the issues we face in the poultry industry.

Obviously, we will miss Seals Burdell, our former controller, and Paul Pressley, former executive VP, Industry Programs, both as co-workers and friends. But I’m confident Steve and Matt will follow the example of Seals and Paul in exemplifying our organization’s core values of:

Integrity FirstService to CustomersExcellence in All We Do

John Starkey, [email protected]

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

John starkey, pEpresident

uspoultry

JUL/AUG 2017 I nEWs & viEWs I 1

Steve Herring Matt Spencer

2 I nEWs & viEWs I JUL/AUG 2017

> I N T E R N A T I O N A L P O U L T R Y E X P O

2018 IPPE Chosen for U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program

The 2018 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) has already surpassed 517,000 square feet of exhibit space and has secured more than 1,140 exhibitors. Made up of the three integrated trade shows – International Poultry Expo, International Feed Expo and International Meat Expo – the IPPE is the world’s largest annual feed, meat and poultry trade show. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI).

“Ninety-nine percent of the show floor has been booked, and we anticipate exceeding 30,000 attendees again for the 2018 event. The 2018 IPPE will provide a great location for attendees to learn about new products and services, network and discuss mutual challenges facing the animal protein and feed industries,” remarked show organizers.

IPPE will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2018, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. The Expo will highlight the latest technology, equipment and services used in the production and processing of feed, meat and poultry products. Combining the expertise from AFIA, NAMI and USPOULTRY, IPPE will also feature dynamic education programs focused on current industry issues. For more information about IPPE, visit www.ippexpo.org.

2018 IPPE SHOW HOURS:Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Also, save the date for the 2019 IPPE. With the Super Bowl coming to Atlanta in 2019, the IPPE show dates have been moved to Feb. 12 – 14. Mark your calendar to note this change in the IPPE trade show schedule for 2019 only.

IPPE has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program. The Expo has participated in the International Buyer Program since 2007. The program brings trade delegations together from around the world and helps match international attendees with American suppliers. The program also provides export counseling, market analysis and more.

“We are pleased again to be chosen as part of the International Buyer Program. This is our 12th year participating in the program, which provides confirmation of the global scale of our trade show. Since 2006, our attendance from outside the U.S. has grown by more than 240 percent. We look forward to welcoming international buyers to the 2018 IPPE,” said IPPE show organizers.

Another Reason Not to Miss the 2018 IPPE: Exhibit Space Exceeds 517,000 Square Feet with More than 1,140 Exhibitors


> I N T E R N A T I O N A L P O U L T R Y E X P O

Make Your Hotel Reservations Early!IPPE Registration Now Open

Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit, Worker Safety Conference for the Meat & Poultry Industry, Poultry Market Intelligence Forum and the International Rendering Symposium education programs will also return for 2018. In addition, several TECHTalks programs will be offered on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The 2018 IPPE will also highlight several new educational programs including essential sessions on food safety, consumer trends and international trade. The following programs are new for 2018: Preventing and Responding to Foreign Material Contamination Incidents; Understanding and Achieving Operational Excellence; Meat Quality Workshop: The Taste of Beef; Permit Required Confined Space - Train the Trainer; FSPCA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual Training for Animal Food; Pork 101; Family Business Focus: Utilizing Outside Advisors and Board Members for Greater Success; Beef 101; Defend the Flock – Biosecurity Basics for Poultry & Egg Producers and Live Operations Personnel; Feed Production Education Program; Meat Industry Regulatory Update and Compliance Session; Robotics in the Meat and Poultry Industry: Putting Technology to Work; Wastewater Treatment Challenges for the Poultry and Egg Industry; Get the Facts with Meat Mythcrushers; Livestock Handling and Stunning to Optimize Animal Welfare and Regulatory Compliance; and Current Poultry Research and Findings: Information You Need to Know to Help Your Business.

For more information about the 2018 IPPE, visit www.ippexpo.org.

Attendee and exhibitor registration and housing for the 2018 IPPE is now open. Register online and receive a discounted price of $50 (USD) through Dec. 31. Online registration is the only way to receive this discount. Beginning Jan. 1, 2018, the registration fee will increase to $100.

Hotels are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Please book early. Attendees will be able to modify their reservation up to 72 hours prior to arrival should travel plans change.

IPPE strongly encourages you to book your housing now using the official show housing provider, Experient, through the IPPE website, www.ippexpo.org.

The IPPE website, www.ippexpo.org, offers easy navigation with access to important information including attendee and exhibitor

registration, hotel availability and reservations and a schedule of 2018 educational seminars and activities offered during IPPE. The annual global feed, meat and poultry industry trade show is scheduled Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 30 – Feb. 1, 2018, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga., USA.

Resuming for 2018 is the popular “Members to Atlanta” (M2A) program, which waives the registration fee through Dec. 31, for attendees from member firms of all three associations engaged in the production of poultry, eggs and meat for consumption and feed and pet food manufacturers. The program is supported through the sponsorship of elite IPPE exhibitors. They include Arm and Hammer, Aviagen, Biomin, Ceva Animal Health, Cobb-Vantress, Diamond V, Elanco Animal Health, Heat and Control, Huvepharma, Incubation Systems, Inc., Jamesway Incubator Co., Kemin, Soybean Meal Information Center, Zoetis and Watt Global Media.

“We sincerely thank and appreciate these elite exhibiting companies for participating in the Members to Atlanta (M2A) program. The program continues to deliver results in increasing attendance and contributing to the success of IPPE,” said IPPE show management.

The Expo will highlight the latest technology, equipment and services used in the production and processing of meat, poultry and animal feed. The week of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 2018, will feature dynamic education programs focused on current industry issues. The International Poultry Scientific Forum, Poultry Seminar in Spanish, Pet Food Conference and the Environmental Conference for the Meat & Poultry Industry will kick off the week’s education programs. The

> E N V I R O N M E N T


The National Pork Producers Council and USPOULTRY are seeking a rehearing following a recent ruling issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The court’s ruling rejected an exemption from reporting under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA), two programs that are meant to inform the National Response Center and local first responders of hazards that may call for emergency action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had provided an exemption from CERCLA reporting of low-level emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide generated from the natural breakdown of animal manure after

the agency’s evaluation demonstrated that any emergency response to such emission reports was “unnecessary, impractical and unlikely.”

EPA had limited EPCRA reporting of such emissions to one-time reports for continuous releases from large, confined animal feeding operations. USPOULTRY and NPPC intervened in the lawsuit to defend the agency’s common sense exemption. The request for a rehearing is also being supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Milk Producers Federation and the United Egg Producers.

Agricultural Groups Seek Common Sense Application of Emissions Reporting Requirements

The EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers announced they are proposing to rescind the Clean Water Rule, a 2015 regulation that greatly expanded the established definition of “Waters of the United States,” or WOTUS. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt stated, “This is the first step in the two-step process to redefine ‘waters of the U.S.,’ and we are committed to moving through this re-evaluation to quickly provide regulatory certainty, in a way that is thoughtful, transparent and collaborative with other agencies and the public.” The agencies noted the new proposed rule would be in accordance with Supreme Court decisions, agency guidance and longstanding practice.

“We are very pleased by this action and grateful for the relief it provides for the thousands of family owned and operated poultry farms that

faced unjustified and unnecessary burdens from the earlier WOTUS rule. The rule was unreasonable, confusing, gave little certainty to farmers, and was clearly an overreach of the plain language of the Clean Water Act,” said John Starkey, USPOULTRY president.

“USPOULTRY, along with other agricultural and business groups, joined in litigation against EPA over this rule. The poultry industry now looks forward to working with EPA in a cooperative and productive way to help develop a rule that protects water without infringing on the property rights of poultry and egg producers,” Starkey concluded.

USPOULTRY Statement on EPA, Army Corps of Engineers Move to Rescind Expansive WOTUS Rule

USPOULTRY Offers Technical References to Develop Plant Biomapping Studies Using Whole Genome Sequencing


> A S S O C I A T I O N

USPOULTRY Develops NPIP Biosecurity Principles Template to Support Poultry Producers

USPOULTRY has developed a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) Biosecurity Principles template to support producers adopting the implementation of NPIP Principles. As part of a technical reference guide series, the template, along with NPIP audit documents, serves as a tool to start or modify any existing biosecurity program.

The template can be used to track progress during implementation and any continuous improvement activity. Additionally, it facilitates the program’s maintenance.

The template is an addition to USPOULTRY’s selection of biosecurity resources. It can be downloaded by filling out an application at http://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/biosecurity.cfm.

USPOULTRY is offering two technical references to develop plant biomapping studies using whole genome sequencing technology. These references are the first documents for USPOULTRY’s Food Safety Technical Reference Series, which are dedicated to use as validation for food safety programs. This technical reference series serves as a tool in the implementation of testing protocols for the identification of microbial populations from carcass rinse, swabs or APC plate samples using next genome sequencing (NGS) technology.

The technical references are available to USPOULTRY members only and can be obtained by visiting http://www.uspoultry.org/foodsafety/.


Sponsored by USPOULTRYTillman Receives PSA Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award


Dr. Paul Tillman, consulting poultry nutritionist with Poultry Technical Nutrition Services, LLC, was recently recognized with the 2017 Poultry Science Association Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award, sponsored by USPOULTRY. The award was presented during the annual Poultry Science Association meeting in Orlando, Fla., by Barbara Jenkins, USPOULTRY vice president of education and student programs.

The Distinguished Career Award recognizes distinctive, outstanding contributions by an

industry leader. In addition to sponsoring the award, USPOULTRY also makes an annual contribution to the Poultry Science Association Foundation on behalf of the award recipient.

“USPOULTRY is pleased to honor industry leaders embodied by Dr. Tillman. He is widely recognized for his many years of work and contribution to poultry nutrition within the industry. It is this kind of service and commitment that has helped make the poultry industry one of the most efficient and productive segments of modern animal agriculture,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY.

Tillman received his BS and MS degrees from the University of Georgia and completed his Ph.D. in practical poultry nutrition at the University of Arkansas under Dr. Park Waldroup. Tillman’s professional career has encompassed such roles as poultry grader for shell eggs, processed eggs, broilers, and turkeys with the USDA/AMS; layer nutritionist to some 60 accounts across the United States and Canada at Nutrius/BioProducts; technical services product support for

vitamins and carotenoids in poultry and aquaculture, including a period as North American carotenoid marketing manager at Roche; a decade as director of Swine Technical Services, supporting animal health products at Alpharma; poultry nutritionist for Ridley Feed Ingredients; and director of North American Poultry Technical Services for Ajinomoto Heartland, Inc., where Tillman has perhaps had the most significant impact upon the poultry industry.

For the past seven years, Tillman has been a consulting poultry nutritionist for his own company, Poultry Technical Nutrition Services, LLC. In his consulting role, his services include providing sound feed formulas, which balance optimal animal performance with maximal profitability. Tillman is either the primary author or co-author of more than 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, more than 40 abstracts or posters, two book chapters, and more than 20 invited papers at both national and international nutrition conferences, including several PSA symposia.

Hubbard to Become Subsidiary of Aviagen GroupAviagen® announced that it has signed an agreement to purchase Hubbard Breeders, the broiler genetics division of Groupe Grimaud. The agreement between the two companies was signed on July 31, and will be concluded later this year. As part of the agreement, Hubbard will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviagen Group, under the direction of Aviagen CEO Jan Henriksen. It will remain an independent broiler breeding company with separate breeding and commercial activities, and will continue to be headquartered in France.

JBS Names Former U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety and Quality AssuranceAs part of the company’s effort to serve as the worldwide leader in high-quality, innovative protein and value-added food products, JBS announced the appointment of Alfred “Al” Almanza to the role of global head of food safety and quality assurance. Almanza will join the JBS Global leadership team, reporting directly to JBS Global President of Operations, Gilberto Tomazoni. Based in Greeley, Colo., he will lead the company’s global food safety efforts, ensuring that JBS operations around the world implement the highest food safety, quality control and risk

management systems, while maintaining and expanding access to global export markets.

Elanco Opens Dedicated Manufacturing Facility for Autogenous Poultry Vaccines in Winslow, MaineThe first of its kind for Elanco and the poultry industry, this new state-of-the-art facility is dedicated solely to manufacturing customized inactivated vaccines for the poultry industry. These vaccines will assist in providing solutions to unique disease challenges that cannot be addressed with commercially available vaccines.

Recent Member News



the broiler lines, including the 1950s line. The lesions were more severe in the modern broiler lines, and all modern lines had similar incidences and severity of lesions. Microscopic lesions in the breast muscle were identified in all lines of broilers at two weeks of age. The researchers propose a new name for this condition – Broiler Breast Myopathy.

This research project was made possible by an endowing Foundation gift from Ozark Mountain Poultry.

uspoultry Emergency Funding supports research that provides insight on using ventilation shut down as a Humane depopulation method

project #Bru007: Evaluating Hen Behavior and physiological stressors during vsd for the development of Humane methodologies for mass depopulation during a disease outbreak

(Dr. Kenneth Anderson, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.)

Researchers at North Carolina State University, led by Dr. Kenneth Anderson, recently completed a research project in which they studied the effectiveness of ventilation shut down (VSD) as a depopulation method for caged layers. They found that the effectiveness of VSD could be enhanced by the addition of heat or CO2. Actual time of death and time spent unconscious prior to death were measured using electroencephalograms on individual hens. This research provides a scientific foundation for understanding how the poultry industry can use VSD as a humane depopulation method during disease emergencies.

research Will lead to improved vaccines for reovirus

project #693: production of variant reovirus Hyperimmune serum for use as a diagnostic tool to Further characterize Avian reoviruses from clinical cases of tenosynovitis

(Dr. Holly Sellers, University of Georgia, Athens, Ga., and Dr. Vijay Durairaj, Boehringer Ingelheim)

Dr. Holly Sellers and colleagues at the Poultry Diagnostic & Research Center at the University of Georgia recently completed a research project in which new tools and methods were developed to classify the reoviruses that have been causing tendon damage in broilers throughout the U.S. broiler industry. Sellers developed antiserum to each genetically distinct group of the viruses and used the antiserum to determine the serotypes of the viruses. Knowledge of the serotypes will allow

more informed and precise selection of virus isolates for inclusion in future vaccines.

This research project was made possible by an endowing Foundation gift from Mar-Jac Poultry.

research Finds new viruses in the intestinal tract of poultry

project #684: molecular characterization of novel Enteric viruses circulating in poultry in the united states

(Dr. Michael Day, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service, Athens, Ga.)

Dr. Michael Day at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, U.S. National Poultry Research Center recently completed a research project where he used the latest genetic techniques to determine which viruses occur in the intestinal tract of commercial poultry. He found novel viruses which had not yet been well characterized and developed assays to detect these viruses. This work is an important step toward understanding and controlling the viral enteric problems commonly seen in young broilers and turkeys.

research shows Wooden Breast condition Has Existed in Broilers since 1950s

project #691: Factors contributing to superficial pectoral myodegeneration and sclerosis (‘Wooden Breast’) in Broilers

(Dr. John Barnes, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.)

Researchers at North Carolina State University, led by Dr. John Barnes, recently completed a research project in which they studied the onset of wooden breast lesions in three breeds of modern broilers and a line of broilers from the 1950s. They found the condition in all of

Research ResultsFunded by USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation

uspoultry and the uspoultry Foundation announce the completion of four funded research projects. the projects are part of the Association’s extensive research program encompassing all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Brief summaries of the completed projects are shown below. the complete reports, along with information on other Association research, may be obtained by going to uspoultry’s website, www.uspoultry.org.

Member Spotlight: ChickMaster Incubator Co.

solutions for hatchery ventilation and energy management many years ago as energy became a more significant cost in hatchery operations. After developing an innovative heat recovery technology that recaptures the energy generated from the incubation process, ChickMaster worked closely to install these systems into new and existing facilities. The heat recovery systems immediately provided significant energy savings while reducing the carbon footprint. ChickMaster heat recovery energy management systems are now used in hatcheries in Europe, Canada and the USA. Since the initial introduction of central heat recovery systems, ChickMaster developed its own specialty systems to simplify the ventilation systems used in hatcheries today. The CC3 has been installed worldwide and offers a complete assembled solution to ventilating a hatchery utilizing energy efficiency. The Aria System uses the same concepts with individual modules that better suits the larger hatchery buildings.

As a company philosophy, ChickMaster tends not to overly promote many of the product improvements and its new developments. The reversing fan concept introduced

ChickMaster is known world-wide for their role in equipping hatcheries with the tools they need. The company was founded in 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio. At that time, the company grew because of its large capacity “mammoth” incubators. The company gained a worldwide presence through the efforts of one of their distributors, E. Holzer Incorporated, which was owned by Erich Holzer.

In 1974, Holzer purchased ChickMaster and the company shortly thereafter moved to Medina, Ohio, where the company continued to grow. In 1998 the company purchased two European companies that further established their presence in the world market and expanded offerings by all the brands. Buckeye Incubator Company and the French company, LaNationale, were the two companies acquired. These purchases allowed the brands to include both multi and single stage incubators.

In the early 2000s, ChickMaster established its UK headquarters in Bridgwater. They also acquired the rights to manufacture Cumberland incubators from GSI. These were the Smith systems that were compatible with equipment offered by other incubator companies. The Smith line was discontinued a few years ago. In 2015, ChickMaster announced their sales operations would all be consolidated to its Medina, Ohio, facility, making it the epicenter of excellence for all their product sales, engineering and manufacturing. Incubation equipment is designed and manufactured in Medina while ventilation products are made in Bridgwater. Both facilities remain active and committed to worldwide customer service. ChickMaster recently introduced the next generation Avida Symphony incubators as its next generation of all-in, all-out systems. The Avida is unique, with its single trolley design and turning system placed outside the machine for easy maintenance and has proven itself worldwide as the best-producing incubator available. The Symphony models incorporate many new upgraded features including Rock controls.ChickMaster customers began to seek better

by ChickMaster was inspired by the introduction of variable frequency drives in Avida single stage setters. These VFD’s adjust fan speeds for lower energy consumption and improved environmental control. The company has continued to answer industry needs by finding ways for quicker warmup, energy saving heat recovery, improved egg transportation, better egg room temperature control and more. Sixty-nine years later, they are able to offer solutions for incubation, environmental control and hatchery management products designed to achieve optimal hatchability and chick quality in the most efficient, most cost effective way. These include leading-edge setters and hatchers as well as products that facilitate operations through better air, moisture and security controls.

As part of their long term commitment to worldwide service and support, customers of ChickMaster have access to their Hatchery Solutions Team (HST), which is the think tank of the organization, designed to extend expertise to support the unique technical challenges their customers may face. The team, made up of top technical specialists, is available to support customers with in-depth, on-demand technical problem-solving intended to enhance hatchery operations beyond simple equipment repair. This collaboration draws on nearly a century of collective experience. The HST is committed to helping every one of their worldwide customers attain a hatchery in harmony.





Collaborating to Serve the Industry:USPOULTRY’s Annual State Association Meeting

Jerry Moye, USPOULTRY chairman

In addition to USPOULTRY, the following associations were represented at the meeting: Alabama Poultry & Egg Association; California Poultry Federation; Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.; Georgia Poultry Federation; Indiana State Poultry Association; Iowa Poultry Association; Iowa Turkey Federation; Kentucky Poultry Federation;

Minnesota Turkey Growers/Chicken & Egg Assn. of Minnesota; National Chicken Council; National Turkey Federation; Ohio Poultry Association; South Carolina Poultry Federation; Tennessee Poultry Association; Texas Poultry Federation; The Poultry Federation (AR, OK, MO); and the United Egg Producers.

Associations Doing?; Local Ordinances for Building Poultry Houses; Antibiotics: Update on NAE and ABF and Social Media Impact and Responding to Members; Association Management Efficiencies; Ag Destination; State Roundtable Open Discussion: Recap of Recent Activities/Events Affecting Associations; Check-off Dollars Lawsuits; Avian Influenza Response: Preparedness and Indemnification; Avian Influenza Response: State Responses; and a USPOULTRY Review and Q&A.

Representatives from several state associations provided brief updates on current industry issues affecting their states, and guest speakers rounded out the program. Harrison Kircher, National Chicken Council, gave an update on GIPSA and the status of immigration. Dr. Jon Schaeffer, Zoetis, provided an antibiotics update focused on no antibiotics ever and antibiotic-free. Kay Johnson Smith, Animal Agriculture Alliance, presented on the social media impact of antibiotic decisions and responding to members. Russ Webb, Atlanta and Georgia Apartment Associations, discussed efficiencies in association management. Wesley Langdale, Jr., The Langdale Company, provided an overview about Ag Destination. Harrison Pittman, National Ag Law Center, discussed check-off dollar lawsuits; and Dr. Martin Smeltzer, USDA-APHIS-VS, discussed

USDA’s avian influenza response focusing on preparedness and indemnification.

“It is important to continue collaborating and working with other associations so that we can all effectively and efficiently serve our member companies. By eliminating the duplication of efforts, sharing programs and information and learning from each other, we can better serve our industry,” remarked John Starkey, USPOULTRY president.

USPOULTRY recently held its tenth annual affiliated state poultry association executives meeting in Atlanta. The meeting’s focus centered on current issues affecting the industry to formulate solutions and plan for the future. USPOULTRY’s emphasis in collaborating with the affiliated state organizations is intended to exchange information in a face-to-face atmosphere while fostering partnerships.

The comprehensive agenda included the following topics: CERCLA Ruling Update; GIPSA Update/Immigration Status; State High School Ag Curriculums: What Do Teachers Need? What Do We Want Students to Know? What Are State Dr. Jon Schaeffer, Zoetis

Sharing the Story of Agriculture with Urban Students: Teacher Resources



16,000 curriculums have been downloaded, and the Digital Exploration has garnered 6,500 views.

discovering Farmland – Agriculture curriculum for Grades 9-12In January 2017, USFRA launched their Digital Exploration and Interactive Lesson Plans as part of their Discovering Farmland curriculum. Building off the four free lesson plans, these new activities further inspire students in urban areas to gain real world insights and understanding of where their food comes from and how it is grown and raised.

• The Digital Exploration allows students to investigate food product label claims by choosing a specific product from virtual grocery store shelves featuring produce, meat and cereal. Typically taking 15-20 minutes, students can move at their own pace as they learn about various topics.

• The Interactive Lesson Plans are PowerPoint-based lessons that support interactive whiteboards and other 21st century learning tools. Teachers can access a range of dynamic, interactive classroom lessons (up to two 45-minute class periods each) designed to engage high school students in exploring critical issues impacting the agriculture industry. It includes two science and two social studies lesson plans.

• The SMART Farm Virtual Field Trip explores innovative technologies in agriculture that allow today’s farmers and ranchers to produce our nation’s food. Prepare your students for the Virtual Field Trip with our standards-aligned activities designed to cultivate classroom conversations and prompt students to dig deeper into today’s world of farming and ranching.

To share these free resources with teachers in your school district and elsewhere, visit www.discoveringfarmland.com.

With students across the country heading back to school, teachers in urban, suburban and rural America are seeking lesson plans for the school year to keep their classes engaged with fresh content. With today’s teenagers, known as Gen Zers, being food enthusiasts and spending more money on food and drinks than anything else (possessing $44B in spending power), now is the time for agriculture to take a seat at the table. As a resource for educators who teach in both urban and rural settings, Discovering Farmland’s free lesson plans and interactive activities are a great resource to bring to life critical issues impacting agriculture, such as sustainability, the new science behind farming and entrepreneurship.

What’s new with discovering Farmland?The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), in partnership with Discovery Education, launched the Discovering Farmland curriculum in 2015, which uses content and videos from the award-winning documentary, “FARMLAND, a film by James Moll.” New this year is the Digital Exploration (investigating food product label claims) and Interactive Lesson Plans which build off four free lesson plans (Farming as an Industry, Educated Consumers, Breaking Down Stereotypes, and Challenges in Farming and Ranching). These activities further inspire students in urban areas to gain real world insights and understanding of where their food comes from and how it is grown and raised.

Since the inception of Discovering Farmland, it has reached more than 1 million students.

Thousands of students have viewed the Discovering FARMLAND virtual field trip with its intent to showcase

technology and innovation on today’s smart farm.

Photo courtesy of Deere & Company

of jobs out there. It is forcing us to take a closer look at the cost of automation versus the cost of employment.” He also stressed the importance of attitude, being able to “pay for yourself” and improving the bottom line as a financial manager.

Eddie Elrod, VP, CFO and treasurer for Fieldale Farms, was part of a panel on “Recruiting and Retention Strategies for Accounting Professionals.” Elrod observed that competitive pay is necessary in recruiting and retaining professionals. He also stressed that having competitive benefit packages are key to recruitment and retention, as well as offering other perks such as onsite medical centers, higher education assistance, incentive programs and work-life balance. “We are trying to make sure that just because we have always done something one way, it doesn’t mean that is the way we have to continue doing it, especially in finding ways to provide work-life balance,” Elrod shared.

Rashad Delph, director of talent acquisition for Tyson Foods, also discussed the challenges financial managers face in recruitment and retention. In addition to reviewing Tyson’s college recruiting efforts, he examined retention strategies, including flexible hours, tuition assistance, rotational programs, developing career paths and onboarding. “It is not necessarily how you post the job; but it is how you attract, obtain and then keep people,” Delph explained. He went on to say, “College relations are important, because they establish how you find your talent. We target schools

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in the poultry belt in the Southeast; and for our fresh meat division, we look in the Big 10 region.” Greg Finch, CFO for Claxton Farms, also participated on the “Recruiting and Retention Strategies for Accounting Professionals” panel.

Recently retired USPOULTRY Controller Seals Burdell gave an overview of the operations and activities of USPOULTRY. “Many people who are our members or attend our programs do not know what we do. We are the world’s largest poultry organization. In addition to being one of the three organizers of the IPPE, we offer technical expertise on all bird species. We are the all-feather organization,” Burdell remarked to attendees.

USPOULTRY’s 2017 Financial Management Seminar brought together more than 160 accounting professionals for three days of professional development, education, brainstorming and networking. Attendees learned about a variety of topics including hedging strategies, tax updates, the avian influenza effect on poultry exports and much more.

Mike Popowycz, vice chairman and CFO for Case Farms and current NCC chairman, addressed how industry challenges such as animal welfare demands, antibiotic use, consumer preference and labor issues all have an impact on financial managers. From a labor perspective, Popowycz remarked, “It is getting harder and harder to hire people. The economy is doing well, and there are a lot

2017 USPOULTRY Financial Management Seminar Looks Beyond the Spreadsheets

Mike Popowycz, Case FarmsRashad Delph,Tyson Foods

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Hatchery-Breeder Clinic

Addressing Ways to Prevent and Control Disease and Increase Energy Efficiency

The 2017 USPOULTRY Hatchery-Breeder Clinic in Nashville, Tenn., drew a large crowd. Attendees heard from experts on a variety of topics including hatchery basics and feathering, energy efficiency, biosecurity and more.

Dr. Mike Hellwig, director of nutrition for Foster Farms, shared data regarding mortality, feeding and feathering as part of his presentation on “Feathering and Hatchability.” He noted that hatching numbers have been on the decline across the industry over the past eight to nine months and encouraged attendees to adhere to the pattern of weight gain. “I know these numbers have

not changed in 40 years, but they haven’t changed because they work. How we feed is more important than what we feed,” Hellwig stated, advising attendees to “get the feed to the birds when they need it.”

Leasea Butler, technical services representative with Cobb-Vantress, and Dr. Bill Stanley, director of global health monitoring for Aviagen, spoke on some of the challenges presented as companies are reducing or eliminating antibiotics. Butler shared that complexes are currently reducing stress, improving gut and intestinal health, and reducing bacteria levels at all stages of the bird’s life. Stanley reminded attendees that while most of the changes being made by industry are voluntary, there is a need to ensure the practices being implemented are sustainable and affordable.

Dr. Eric Benson, professor at the University of Delaware, addressed LED lighting usage in pullet and breeder houses. He explained that LED bulbs are not yet a commodity like other light bulbs. “A lot of the LED technologies are already perceived as being efficient, but often they are more efficient than we realize,” Benson remarked. He added that chickens are more sensitive to UVA light than humans and that different wavelengths can be beneficial to the birds at different stages in their development. Benson concluded by saying, “Energy savings drive light choices. Lighting

is one way that growers can lower costs and can often have ownership of the lighting purchasing decisions on their farm.”

Next year’s Hatchery-Breeder Clinic is scheduled for July 10-11, 2018, at the Sheraton Grand Nashville Downtown hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

Dr. Mike Hellwig, Foster Farms Dr. Bill Stanley, Aviagen

US-RSPE and IPWA Partner to Address Sustainability and Animal Welfare in the Poultry Industry



Acknowledging the synergies that can be gained by combining their efforts, the US-RSPE and IPWA have decided to unify endeavors on areas of common interest - sustainability and animal welfare – within the poultry and egg industry. To enable this, the groups will be offering a joint membership so that stakeholders within the poultry and egg value-chain can benefit from both sustainability and animal welfare discussions.

US-RSPE and IPWA are excited to begin the collaborative process of addressing and advancing the issues related to animal welfare and sustainability. Both groups will be informing potential stakeholders of opportunities to be actively engaged as members in the near future.

USPOULTRY will work with the leaders from both groups to conduct a search for an executive director who can provide management and leadership for the organizations.

The poultry and egg industry has long been acknowledged for its effort to be more efficient and recognizes the continuing need to proactively collaborate with others involved in the supply chain to ensure that it remains successful and sustainable in the future. Industry and consumer groups across the value chain have discussed the need for a program to meet this goal.

Two newly established groups, the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE) and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA), recently held conversations to discuss ways to collaborate. Each group’s mission aspires to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in sustainability and animal welfare through leadership, innovation, multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration. The groups will also seek to evaluate current and emerging concerns related to animal welfare and sustainability and advance tangible outcomes through research, education and outreach initiatives.

newsletters, contact Gwen Venable at the USPOULTRY office through email at [email protected].

USPOULTRY has extended its reach even further through social media outlets such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. To follow USPOULTRY on Facebook and through its LinkedIn group page, search for U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. For Twitter, the Association is listed as USPOULTRY1947. For YouTube and Pinterest, search USPOULTRY.

Did you know that USPOULTRY continues toserve its members through communication?Communicating with our members, the mediaand other stakeholders is one element offulfilling USPOULTRY’s commitment to servingour member companies.

Through the daily USPOULTRYWire electronic newsletter and bi-monthly News & Views printednewsletter, USPOULTRY is constantly strivingto keep you informed of the latest eventsoccurring within our Association or in thepoultry and egg industry. The electronic andprinted newsletters are free to our members. Ifyou know of someone who should be receivingthese communications within your office that iscurrently not doing so, please contact us today.We will be glad to add them to the distributionlist. USPOULTRY also offers a weekly electronic newsletter focused on human resource related issues, PeopleMatters, and a newsletter focused on environmental issues, USPOULTRY Environmental Newsletter. To receive these

DID YOU KNOW?USPOULTRY Continues to Serve Its Members through Communication



Poultry Research: Present and Future

The poultry industry has advanced in technical sophistication and efficiency tremendously in the last 50 years. Much of this advancement has come through the application of research findings from studies conducted at both universities and private institutions. This research has led to impressive improvements in growth rate, feed efficiency, egg production and product quality. Technical advances in poultry housing including feed and water systems, poultry house construction, and ventilation systems have allowed poultry to reach optimal production while maintaining a high level of health and welfare.

In recent years, however, the emphasis in poultry research has begun to shift away from the traditional topics of poultry production, poultry health and product quality to topics that have been pushed to the forefront by government regulations and consumer activism. Examples of these topics are poultry welfare, food safety, environmental management, worker safety and alternatives to traditional poultry disease control programs. Research continues on the traditional poultry research topics, but an ever increasing portion of total funding is going toward these other topics of contemporary interest.

Public concern for the welfare of animals produced for food has become a major driver of change in the food animal industries and has probably had a more significant effect on the poultry industry than any other food industry. Unfortunately, the perceptions of animal welfare held by its advocates are based on very little data. Until recently, few truly scientific studies had been conducted to evaluate poultry welfare. Studies have been completed and others are underway to evaluate many aspects of the impact of poultry production practices on the welfare of the birds. These studies all suffer the same difficulty of attempting to apply scientific rigor to measure perceptions of bird well-being in various settings. Despite the best efforts of researchers, there seems to always be some degree of subjectivity in the conclusions drawn from these studies.

Food safety has become a tremendously important area of emphasis for the poultry industry. Beginning years ago when Salmonella enteritidis contamination of table eggs became a global problem, diminishing the contamination of poultry products with potential human pathogens is a primary effort for the poultry industry. Research has led the

The most noted examples are coccidiosis and necrotic enteritis in broilers. Research is providing innovative new approaches to using coccidiosis vaccines more effectively. Different research approaches are underway to develop practical methods to immunize broilers to protect them against necrotic enteritis. Nutritional research has led to diet formulations that aid in the prevention of necrotic enteritis. Many prebiotic, probiotic and essential oil products are now available which make various claims to provide some protection against coccidiosis, necrotic enteritis or both. Research is underway to evaluate and compare these products in a commercial setting.

Where is research going in the future? It is difficult to predict but very likely poultry research will, to some degree, continue to respond to changes brought about by government pressure and consumer activism. So, continued efforts on animal welfare, environmental management, food safety and alternative methods of disease control are likely to continue. But research will also continue in the traditional areas of poultry production and health. We could see more emphasis in the future on advanced robotics in the processing plant to replace some workers, as we have seen already in many manufacturing sectors. There are active research projects now to develop robotics to perform tasks in processing and this trend is likely to continue. There is a great deal of interest in developing more products for application in-ovo and research in this area is likely to accelerate. At USPOULTRY, we are dedicated to funding research in all of these areas and have 30-40 active research projects at all times. We strive to direct funds into research areas which are of most importance to the poultry industry and seek input from the industry concerning priority research topics. In recent years the two broad topic areas identified by the industry as most important have been food safety and animal welfare. I suspect they will remain important priorities into the future.

dr. John Glissonvice president of [email protected]

way in providing information that can be applied in different areas of poultry production and processing to incrementally reduce levels of contamination in poultry meat and egg products. Food safety research has been and continues today to be very broad based, looking at many varied aspects of the topic. Research has provided innovations in using vaccines to control colonization of birds by Salmonella sp. and its subsequent shed. Today research is underway to improve current salmonella vaccines and to develop similar vaccines to help control Campylobacter sp. Reducing the contamination of poultry meat through and after the slaughter process is the focus of many research projects. The use of various chemicals and the application methods for these chemicals to reduce contamination continues to be a major emphasis area for research. In addition, the effects of exposure to these chemicals that poultry processing plant workers might experience is a concern for which active research is seeking answers.

Government environmental regulations in many countries have forced the poultry industry to examine its whole method of operation to better understand the effects of the industry on air quality, water quality and soil contamination. Research has addressed all aspects of these issues and continues to focus on ways to diminish ammonia emissions from poultry houses, methods to improve wastewater management and treatment at processing facilities, and ways to improve the management of poultry litter and poultry mortality. The poultry industry is making significant improvements in all of these areas, and the advancements have come through the practical application of research findings.

One of the important tools for controlling disease in the poultry industry historically has been the use of antibiotics. In many parts of the world the use of antibiotics in the poultry industry has been significantly reduced because of the adoption of government regulations which define which antibiotics can be used in poultry and further defines the purposes for which those antibiotics can be used. In some countries, such as the United States, consumer advocate groups have successfully convinced retailers to sell only poultry products from birds which have never received antibiotics. The overall effect is that many companies can no longer use antibiotics to prevent and control certain diseases for which antibiotics were previously the primary means of prevention and control.



Follow the Steps for Lock Out, Tag Out

Locking out machinery and equipment prior to servicing or maintenance is an essential element of protecting employees from the unexpected energization or motion, the startup of the machine or equipment, or release of stored energy. Violations of OSHA’s Lock Out, Tag Out standards generally fall within OSHA’s Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards. To stay in compliance and to avoid accidents, it is essential to follow the proper steps of conducting Lock Out, Tag Out.

1. Prepare for Shutdown & Lockout - Before the employee performs a shutdown procedure, the employee must clearly understand the type and magnitude of energy, the hazard to be controlled and the method to control the energy.

2. Locate and identify all isolating devices to be certain which switches, valves or other energy isolating devices apply to the equipment to be shut down. More than one energy source (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or other) may be involved.

3. Determine the location(s) where the locks are to be installed, such as motor control centers, electrical disconnects; control panel boards; valves (air, hydraulic, steam, vacuum, water); and suspended loads (suspended loads must be supported).

4. Notify all affected employees that the equipment will be locked and/or tagged out and the reason for doing so.

Remember, always follow machine specific Lock Out, Tag Out procedures. Preparedness is the best prevention to avoid accidents.

Similar to our “Ergonomics at Work” training materials, USPOULTRY is developing a series of posters and a companion animated video for Lock Out, Tag Out steps. This is one method to help train employees and hopefully overcome some of the concerns with how to address the communications challenges with the many languages that are spoken in our plants.

matt spencerdirector, Hr & safety [email protected]

5. Shutdown equipment – If operating, the equipment must be shut down by using the normal stopping procedure in the proper sequence.

6. Release Stored Energy - All energy stored (such as that in springs, elevated machine parts, rotating flywheels, hydraulic systems, and air, gas, steam or water pressure, etc.) must be dissipated or restrained by methods such as repositioning, blocking, bleeding down, etc.

7. Apply the lock(s) with tag(s) - If more than one person is to be working on the equipment, each employee must apply their own lock(s) to all energy isolation devices.

8. Verify Energy Isolation - Operate the push button or other normal operating controls to make certain the equipment will not operate.


USPOULTRY Is Expanding Its Resources to Improve Animal Health and Welfare

Poultry Handling and Transportation (PHT) is a certification program for the training of poultry transportation and catch crews in methods of biosecurity, disease recognition, emergency planning and the safe and humane handling of birds before, during and after transport. The certification involves transportation and handling of several species including day old poultry, pullets, spent fowl, broilers and turkeys. A team of scientists from Penn State University, USDA and industry specialists, developed the training and certification. PHT is the first third party certification of this type to cover several poultry species. The PHT certification program can be used as an important training and marketing tool for the poultry industry.

PHT was designed to provide accurate, science–based, practical training and education for poultry handlers and transportation personnel that enhances biosecurity, poultry well–being, product quality and safety of all involved. Live haul drivers, catching crews and hatchery personnel are a key part in maintaining proper bird care throughout the birds’ lives. PHT certification provides a standardized training tool to teach live animal handlers the need for proper animal care through its life cycle. The program was created using the Pork Checkoff’s Transportation Quality Assurance program as a model, and it is designed to meet the National Chicken Council’s, National Turkey Federation’s, and the United Egg Producers’ animal welfare requirements for transportation.

The program recognizes poultry handlers through certification after completion of training. Every individual gets a unique certification number to use as evidence of

developed a biosecurity plan template that allows a farm to build a plan by following the steps to meet every principle. The template is designed so that you can implement the principles at the farm and also maintain the necessary documentation for maintenance, verification and program audits. You can apply for the template by going to http://www.uspoultry.org/animal_husbandry/biosecurity.cfm. The website also provides links to resources that can help build biosecurity plans.

These newly developed programs not only help improve animal health and well-being, they also protect employees and growers. We cannot have animal welfare without protecting the people that look after them. These programs address the need for training in these areas; and with the help of our membership, we will continue to help meet the ever changing requirements to achieve the best possible care of our birds.

rafael riveramanager, Food safety & production [email protected]

training. PHT recognizes companies when they train over 80 percent of their live haul crews and drivers or hatchery delivery crews under PHT. Individual and company certifications are valid for three years, and certification can be used as evidence for training during audits and also as a communication tool to demonstrate company commitment to the well-being of animals. PHT also offers a “Trainer” certification that allows these individuals to conduct training in any part of the program. The certification lasts for two years after attending a “Train the Trainer” workshop.

PHT certification meetings began for Pennsylvania-based companies in May 2011, and the first “Train the Trainer” meeting was held in March 2012. USPOULTRY is now expanding training nationally and recently held two “Train the Trainer” meetings this past spring and summer. We have new certified trainers representing several segments of the poultry industry. The list of certified trainers include veterinarians, live haul and hatchery managers, animal welfare and biosecurity officers, and much more. They, in turn, are collaborating with USPOULTRY to certify current live haul and hatchery employees and also collaborate to improve the program. For more information on the program please visit www.uspoultryhandling.org . USPOULTRY announces the “Train the Trainer” classes periodically, and certification training can also be coordinated upon request.

In addition to the PHT program, USPOULTRY is also offering ways to enhance your company’s biosecurity program. The National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) recently published a set of biosecurity principles necessary to have a viable biosecurity plan. Biosecurity is a set of practices that prevent the introduction and spread of disease. In the event of a disease outbreak, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will check if the farm had a biosecurity program in place, following the NPIP principles as a requirement to qualify for indemnification. In order to help meet these new requirements, USPOULTRY


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USPOULTRY, NCC, NTF and UEP Partner on Live Production, Welfare & Biosecurity Seminar


USPOULTRY, National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and United Egg Producers (UEP) are excited to announce a new collaboration in hosting the Live Production, Welfare & Biosecurity Seminar. The seminar will be held Sept. 19-20, at the DoubleTree Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

“In the past, USPOULTRY has served as sole sponsor of the seminar. However, partnering with our sister poultry organizations is an obvious fit to provide the best possible programming to maximize effectiveness for our turkey, broiler and egg laying managers,” said planning committee chairman Mike Levengood, vice president, chief animal care officer and farmer relationship advocate for Perdue Farms. Levengood is also a USPOULTRY board member.

The seminar will address topics and challenges associated with poultry and egg live operations, with a specific focus on animal welfare and biosecurity. The agenda will cover the latest in animal extremist activities, consumer-driven challenges and impact on the bottom line, welfare audits, bird welfare and behavior, and more. A new addition to the program are breakout sessions that will address broiler, turkey and egg-specific topics, as well as networking and knowledge exchange opportunities with other industry professionals.

USPOULTRY will continue to manage the conference logistics, including the website information, registration and onsite arrangements. To learn more and register for the Live Production, Welfare & Biosecurity Seminar, visit www.uspoultry.org.

The Seminar agenda was developed by a committee of live production managers, poultry health professionals

and university professors. Front row (pictured left to right): Michael Cronic, House of Raeford; Dr. Casey Ritz,

University of Georgia; Victoria Ahlmeyer, National Turkey Federation; Dr. Claudia Dunkley, University of Georgia; Roddy Sanders, Peco Foods Inc.; and Travis Strickland,

Farbest Farms, Inc. Back row (pictured left to right): Eric Greene, Claxton Poultry Farms Inc.; Mike Levengood

(committee chairman), Perdue Farms, Inc.; Ken Martin, Fieldale Farms Corporation; Bill Staugler, Cooper Farms,

Inc.; Kevin Lastowski, Cal-Maine Foods; Steve Taylor, Midwest Poultry Services LP; and David Lathem, Lathem

Family Farms.

2017 USPOULTRY Environmental Management Seminar to Address Environmental Challenges in Both Live Production and ProcessingUSPOULTRY’s 2017 Environmental Management Seminar will provide a valuable learning opportunity for industry professionals involved in their company’s environmental stewardship and compliance efforts. The program will focus on both live production and processing environmental challenges.

A Washington and regulatory/legal update will also be provided, in addition to presentations on green technology in the poultry and egg industry and USPOULTRY’s 2017 Clean Water Awards. The seminar will be held Sept. 21-22, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.

“This annual event is a valuable learning opportunity for those of us who work in the environmental side of the poultry and egg industry. The planning committee has worked diligently to provide quality and relevant speakers that will address the most current and pertinent environmental issues affecting the industry,” said planning committee chairperson Stephanie Shoemaker, Sanderson Farms.

To register for the Environmental Management Seminar, visit www.uspoultry.org.

Members of the committee included (seated left to right): Roger Smith, American Proteins Inc.; Dr. Casey Ritz, University of Georgia; Stephen James, Pilgrim’s;

Stephanie Shoemaker (committee chairwoman), Sanderson Farms Inc.; Dr. Claudia Dunkley, University of Georgia; Rebecca Vehslage, Rose Acre Farms Inc.; and Warren Howe, Woodruff & Howe Environmental Engineering. (Standing left to right): James Faison,

Mar-Jac Poultry Inc.; William Knapke, Cooper Farms; Michele Boney, West Liberty Foods; Dr. Brian Kiepper,

University of Georgia; Russ Dickson, Wayne Farms LLC; Robert Weeks, Wayne Farms LLC; and Shane Reid, Reid

Engineering Company. Not pictured: Dr. Jim Britton, O.K. Foods, Inc.

2017 USPOULTRY Seminar ScheduleRegistration Available on Our Website,

www.uspoultry.org

Feed Mill Management SeminarMarch 22-23, Nashville, TennesseeDoubleTree Hotel

Human Resources SeminarApril 24-26, Destin, FloridaHilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

National Breeders RoundtableMay 4-5, St. Louis, MissouriRenaissance St. Louis Airport

Poultry Processor WorkshopMay 18-19, Myrtle Beach, S.C.Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort

Financial Management SeminarJune 26-28, Amelia Island, FloridaOmni Amelia Island Plantation Hotel

Hatchery Breeder ClinicJuly 11-12, Nashville, TennesseeDoubleTree Hotel

National Safety Conference for the Poultry IndustrySponsored by Georgia Tech Research Institute, Georgia Poultry Federation, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and USPOULTRYAugust 14-16, Destin, FloridaHilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Women’s Leadership ConferenceAugust 17-18, Destin, FloridaHilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Live Production and Welfare SeminarSponsored by National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers and USPOULTRYSeptember 19-20, Nashville, TennesseeDoubleTree Hotel

Environmental Management SeminarSeptember 21-22, Destin, FloridaHilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Poultry Protein & Fat SeminarOctober 5-6, Kansas City, MissouriMarriott Country Club Plaza

Air Cargo SeminarsDates TBDMiami, FLNew York, NYAtlanta, GA

Grower Relations SeminarsScheduled upon Industry Request

Poultry Wastewater Operators TrainingScheduled upon Industry Request

2017 Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar Moving to Kansas City; Industry Tours Offered

Protein conversion is an aspect of production that is not often discussed but plays an important role in converting processing remnants into safe, high quality feed ingredients for a variety of industries. This year’s Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar will review the latest technology, equipment and management techniques in the rendering sector. Sponsored by USPOULTRY and the Poultry Protein & Fat Council, the seminar will be held Oct. 5-6, at the Marriott County Club Plaza in Kansas City, Mo.

“After being in Nashville for several years, we are excited the conference is moving to Kansas City. This year’s program will cover a variety of topics that are relevant to those that work in rendering and other related fields. Being in Kansas City will also allow

us the opportunity to visit nearby equipment manufacturing facilities,” explained committee chairman Kenny Reece, Simmons Foods, Inc.

The Poultry Protein & Fat Council will provide an update on their activities. Topics to be covered during the seminar will include challenges with peroxide testing, types and uses of magnets in processing, costs of water in raw materials, wastewater treatment challenges, sanitary transportation and more.

To register for the Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar, visit www.uspoultry.org.

The Poultry Protein & Fat Seminar agenda was developed by a program committee of industry leaders that included (seated left to right), Brian Aldridge, Simmons Foods Inc.; Kenny Reece (committee chairman), Simmons Foods Inc.; and Jonathan Green, American Proteins, Inc. (Standing left to right): Brandon Lachner, Tyson Foods Inc.; Josh Singleton, American Proteins, Inc.; Rick Estes, Fieldale

Farms Corporation; Byron Kriz, Valley Proteins Inc.; and Hal Davis, Pilgrim’s.

VIEWS - U.S. Poultry & Egg Association · ChickMaster Incubator Co. USPOULTRY Develops NPIP...

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