American Poultry Farmer Summer Issue 2022

A meri can

Issu e No. 6 Su m m er 2022

Poul try Farmer

Commerci al Poul try Farmi ng New s & Li f estyl e M agazi ne

In t h is issu e: -

Pou lt r y Far m er Spot ligh t Fr om t h e Bayou t o Br oiler s: A Cou ple's Jou r n ey t o Far m in g

-

Helpin g Far m er s Save on Cover age A You n g M an's M ission t o Help Far m er s Save on In su r an ce

-

Fr om Far m er t o Sof t w ar e Developer On e Far m er 's Appr oach t o Helpin g His Fellow Gr ow er s

-

Paper or Plast ic?

Un iver sit y of Geor gia Discu sses Sign if ican t Dif f er en ces in Pads

1

Cover Photo Courtesy of Followell Fotography

A meri can

Pou l t r y

Fa r m er American Poultry Farmer Magazine c/o American Poultry Co

Tel: 601-300-5320 AmericanPoultryFarmer.com

Got a product or service the poultry industry needs to know more about? Maybe you have some beautiful pictures of your operation or a great story to tell?

We are always looking for poultry stories and information to share with farmers across America.

Submit your information today!

General Inquiries info@americanpoultryfarmer.com 2

Why We Pr int the M agazine Our team at American Poultry Company has a unique view on poultry farming because an average year puts us in contact with hundreds of farmers all over our great nation. There are very few professions as rewarding as being a farm broker. We not only personally help farmers transition into retirement after a lifetime of hard work, but we also help buyers make a lifestyle change that builds family bonds that can only be made when a family farms together.

Kimberly Stevenson Chief Operating Officer American Poultry Company, Inc. 3

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A meri can

Poul try Farmer Presents "From the Bayou to Broilers" A Couple's Journey from South Louisiana to Poultry Farming page 6 Helping Farmers Save on Coverage A Young Man's Mission to Help Farmers Save on Insurance page 12 Ask the Experts Who Sets the Farm Price? It's Not Who You Think page 16 From Farmer to Software Developer One Farmer's Approach to Helping His Fellow Growers page 20 Paper or Plastic?

University of Georgia Discusses Significant Differences in Pads page 28

5

FARMER Spotli ght: ?From theBayou toBroilers?

A couple?s journey f rom south Louisiana tolif e aspoultry f armers.

6

By Clay Russell Cheryl and Brian Smith of Pinola, Miss., find poultry farming a satisfying occupation, but at the end of the workday, Cheryl strongly prefers that Brian keep the birds in their own houses and not in her own. Cheryl maintains the books and is a full partner in their four-broiler-house operation, but she

Photos Courtesy of Followell Fotography

draws the line at her front door. ?I don?t go into chicken houses,? she says. ?I don?t see the ugly side of it.?

eight years, including a couple of years farming in Osyka, in Pike County.

The Smiths are Louisianans ? Cheryl The arrangement works grew up in New Orleans and Brian is from bayou well for the Smiths, though poultry farming country in St. Bernard Parish ? and as with so has not been their many others, it was lifelong vocation.

Hurricane Katrina that They?ve been in led them northward.

Mississippi for only

7

Brian was a commercial fisherman for two-and-a-half decades before the storm, and then worked in maintenance for a gas company for seven years, until it shut down.

Cheryl had been a nurse but retired before the Smiths left Louisiana.

Necessity has been called the mother of invention, and for the Smiths it meant being open to new possibilities, new opportunities. ?We?d ride around, wondering what we?d do next,? Cheryl recalls. ?We came to Mississippi, and we?d see all these chicken houses. And we 8

thought, ?Maybe we could do that.??

Cheryl had a relative involved in the poultry business, so it wasn?t totally alien to her. In the end, she explained, ?We just dove in because we had to do something,? adding, ?How hard could it be??

The answer to that question came after they found and bought their six-house farm in Osyka, and then ran it? just the two of them. ?We were drowning,? Cheryl remembers. It didn?t help that her and Brian?s own home, adjacent to

9

the broiler houses, was three thousand square feet. For two people it was a bit much. ?But we liked the chicken business and wanted to be in Mississippi, so we started looking for something smaller.?

That search lead the Smiths to Pinola, in central Mississippi, to something more manageable with their four-house farm where they raise broilers for Sanderson Farms. ?It?s a manual job but not extremely hard,? Brian says. ?But you have to keep up with it; you can?t let it get out of control.?

And there?s the matter of time off.

With a seven-day-a-week routine, Brian explains, ?It?s a full time job.

Holidays don?t mean anything.?

Cheryl points out that ?You?ve got to pick and choose the funerals you go to.?

Even with Cheryl?s duties mostly involving spreadsheets, farming is still a two-person endeavor. ?It does take both of us to run this farm,? she says.

The Smiths say Sanderson has been good to work for, but regardless, Brian says, ?I do get tired of eating chickens.?

10

Cheryl has four adult children from a previous marriage, all with their own families. In Brian, who has no children or exes of his own, she says, ?I hit the jackpot.?

Brian?s only distraction from Cheryl and the chickens is 30 head of beef cattle, which he tends ?in the spare time we don?t have.? He says, ?I?m going to keep raising the cattle and cut hay till I can?t no more.?

Brian and Cheryl intend to scale back in the near future, and enjoy the retirement they once envisioned. ?We like to be home,? Cheryl says. ?We want to relax and enjoy Mississippi.?

Conf id ent ial Farm Sales Before you commit to listing your farm for sale, give us a call to learn more about our process.

We have the largest list of bank approved buyers looking for poultry farms.

Call or Text 601-300-5320 Professional Farm Brokers You won't find our team at the open-house eating cake!

215 State St McComb, MS 39648

American Poultry Company sells poultry farms in LA, MS, GA, AR, AL, MO, OK, & IA. Our marketing is second to none when it comes to selling farms. Due to our singular focus, we have more qualified buyers than sellers. If you own a farm and would consider selling it, we would like to talk with you.

Summer Issue Crossword

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Helping far mer s get the sav ings w ithout sacr ificing far m coverage W ritten by: Clay Russell

If you call Ray Howard, an agent at the Brown Insurance Agency in Oxford, Miss., he will be glad to line you up with coverage for your home, your car, your boat, your motorcycle ? all the usual insurance products.

But if you?re a poultry farmer, he?ll go a step further. Ray has cultivated a niche business insuring poultry farms, with all the unique elements those businesses entail.

Ray first insured a poultry farm only three years ago but since then has developed a thriving business across the entire southeastern United 12

States. A native of Humboldt, Tenn., between Memphis and Nashville in the western part of the state, Ray has been exposed to the agricultural industry all his life, including in the world of insurance. ?Ag is something I?ve always had an interest in,? he explains. ?It?s always been a presence for me. But what I?ve found I really like about the poultry side ? what makes it unique ? is that the farm policy is almost like a hybrid between a personal policy and a business policy.?

This uniqueness is due to the poultry farmer almost always living on the premises, a key distinction from other kinds of business insurance. ?Each farm is so different, and that?s what I love about it.?

But what?s not different about insuring a poultry farm is the agent?s role in helping the client evaluate his needs and preferences, and then identifying the best policy. ?We go in, assess, and give options,?

Ray explains. ?And because this is a focus for us, it gives us access to more carriers who specialize in poultry.?

Just as with other areas of insurance, such as auto policies, premiums will depend on coverage levels, deductibles and other variables. One farmer might want coverage for equipment breakdowns and business income loss, for example, while another won?t. ?And a few of our carriers offer avian flu coverage,? Ray says, describing a nationwide uptick this year in the presence of the virus. ?That has provided value for some growers.?

An insurance agent?s job isn?t merely to sell a product; it?s to help

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a client find the right one. Ray?s task is ?to get savings for them without sacrificing proper coverage.?

But the farmer also has a role in creating savings for himself. Ray describes a range of things a farmer can do to reduce insurance costs; chief among them is maintenance.

Good maintenance often means something very mundane, such as mowing the grounds surrounding the chicken houses to help prevent erosion, or covering electrical outlets to keep moisture out.

The ultimate motivator for good maintenance practices is the mitigation of risk. While it is not always possible to prevent a loss from occurring, the agent?s job is to provide a farm with a tailored fit insurance package to protect each poultry operation?s assets.

?And rodent control is a huge point,?

Ray advises. ?It protects electrical wires, and that reduces fire risk. The better the farm is maintained, the more options we?ll have with carriers.?

In the insurance business ? no matter what?s being insured ? it all comes down to risk. Insurers provide coverage and set premiums based on calculations of risk. And in Ray Howard?s experience, he?s learned again and again the value of good maintenance. ?Some of the best farms I?ve seen are 15 years old or more, but they?re well maintained. Insurance companies will write those operations all day long.?

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Ray Howard (731)-618-7742 Brown Insurance Agency Serving farmers across the Southeast

Want aFreeBinMonitor Quote?

Email: info@ AmericanPoultryFarmer.com OrText BINVISIONto601-258-9857 15

Ask the Exper ts Wh o Sets th e Farm Pri ce?

for something they have to pay for

I t?s not w h o you th i nk

personally? When you look at buyers as a

Setting the valuation of a poultry farm is the most important and debated question you will get as a farm broker. Not surprisingly, this is also the question that requires the most explanation during the process of evaluating if a farmer should sell or keep

group and analyze their purchasing behavior this is what we refer to as a buyer market segment. Here is a look at the current market segment of buyers applied to a typical 4 house operation: Pu r ch ase Pr ice

$1,325,000

Requ ir ed Dow n Paym en t

$200,000

An n u al Ban k Paym en t

$122,957

Loan Back in g

FSA

Est im at ed Far m Upgr ades

$0

weatherman uses to predict if it is going to

Loan Ter m (year s)

15

rain tomorrow! Turns out the main driver

In t er est Rat e

6.5

behind the price is the buyer and they

Gr oss In com e

$250,000

traditionally keep the price almost out of

Net In com e

$162,500

Ban k Fees

$50,000

Bu yer Pr of it

$39,543

farming.

So, who sets the price? The real estate broker? Appraiser? Seller? Buyer? Banker?

Many people think the price is set using the same method we all think the local

their own reach. Sounds crazy right? Why would a farm buyer want to pay premiums 16

The farm above is an example of an average

expenses without increase in income, (2)

closed farm sale on a 9 year old farm with a

owners/investors hang on hoping for a

residence. The above example is the current

rebound for too long accruing additional

trend over the last 3 years. If a buyer has

debt, (3) all at once, assets are put on the

$200,000 in cash to put down they can expect

market for sale but the high number of

to make almost $40,000 a year after

available assets can?t be absorbed by the

expenses. If a buyer expects to make more

market fast enough so prices are reduced

per year with a $200,000 down payment they

to incentivise buyers, (4) because assets

would have to buy the farm for less. Farms

are being sold at low prices, appraised

are selling for the above rate of return due to

values lower to indicate new ?market

many factors but the main factor is buyer

prices,? (5) buyers realize the softness of

pressure. If a buyer wanted to pay less for the

the market and have the ability to ask for

farm to increase their profit, they simply get

higher cash-flow, which reduces asset

outbid by other buyers willing to make a

prices further, (6) prices stabilize as

lower profit.

available inventory shrinks back to

In the poultry farming business, lending

traditional levels.

revolves around the cash-flow of the farm

If you analyze the cycle, it becomes

and cash-flow is influenced by the above

apparent that most of the prices are

parameters. Small factors such as a 2% rise in

dictated by the collective motivation of

interest rates or a small reduction in loan

buyers and their availability of capital.

term years, can reduce the purchase by as

Ok, enough doom and gloom, we ARE NOT

much as $500,000. However, the buyer profit

in a down market yet. Currently, we

remains the same unless a reduction in the

contract most farms within the first couple

number of buyers transpires which will shift

of weeks after listing them. Some areas of

the market to a buyer ?s market, further

the country are better than others, but as a

reducing prices but increasing the cash-flow

whole, we are still in a seller ?s market. If

to the purchaser.

you want an idea of what your farm could

By definition, a ?buyer 's market? occurs when

bring on the market, give me a call. We

the number of listed farm inventory is high,

don?t charge for farm valuations and are

but there's a shortage of interested farm

glad to help where we can.

buyers. A buyer ?s market typically occurs after a recession starts or operating costs diminish long term cash-flow. Numerous buyer ?s markets have occurred in the last 40 years but they all look the same; (1) asset income

by Neel Gibson CEO/ Broker American Poultry Company

dwindles due to rates, terms, or increase in 17

Our buyers are financially qualified and searching for t he following farm t ypes: ALABAMA FARMBUYERS

LOUISIANA FARMBUYERS -

-

Dubach area, 8 broiler, $1,900,000 North central, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Northwest, 4 broiler, $750,000 West central, 4-8 broiler, $1,250,000 Statewide, 2-4 pullet, $1,300,000 Northwest, 8-16 broiler, $5,250,000 Statewide, any broiler, $Negotiable

ARKANSAS FARMBUYERS -

-

IOWA FARMBUYERS

Batesville area, 4-6 broiler, $1,500,000 Yell Co., 2 breeder, $900,000 Southwest, 6 broiler, $1,100,000 Statewide, 8-12 broiler, $3,750,000 Northeast, 4-6 broiler, $1,500,000 Pocahontas, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, any broiler, $Negotiable Northwest, 8-16 broiler, $4,250,000 Statewide, 12-20 broiler, $5,000,000+ Northwest, 6-8 broiler, $2,000,000 Statewide, 4-6 broiler, $1,775,000 Washington County, 4 pullet, $1,300,000 Pocahontas, 4 breeder, $1,600,000

MISSISSIPPI FARMBUYERS Pike County, 4-6 broiler, $1,000,000 Marion County, 2-4 pullet, $1,400,000 Collins, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Laurel area, 6+ broiler, $1,750,000 East Central, 8-12 broiler, $3,500,000 Southeast, 4+ breeder, $2,000,000 South, 8-12, broiler, $3,000,000 Central, 8-12 broiler, $2,750,000 McComb, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Greene County, 8-10, broiler, $1,775,000 Jones County, 2-4 broiler, $900,000 Statewide, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 I-55 Corridor, 4-6 broiler, $900,000 Seminary, 6 broiler, $1,500,000

Guntersville area, 4 broiler, $1,300,000 Dothan area, 6-8 broiler, $1,800,000 Central, 4-8 broiler, $2,250,000 Statewide, 12 broiler, $4,500,000 Statewide, 2-4 broiler, $ 900,000 Blount Co., 6+ broiler, $Negotiable Cullman Co., 6+ broiler, $Negotiable South, 4 breeder, $1,775,000 Cullman Co., any broiler, $Negotiable Cullman Co., 4 breeder, $1,500,000 Statewide, 4 pullet, $1,200,000

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Statewide, 6+ broiler, $Negotiable Statewide, 2-4 layer, $1,000,000 Sioux County, any egg, $4,000,000 Southwest, 2-4 broiler, $750,000 Northwest, 2-3 breeder, $1,000,000 Central, 4-6 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000

OKLAHOMA FARMBUYERS -

Dodge area, 10-16 broiler, $7,000,000 East, 6 broiler, $1,200,000 Statewide, 8-12 broiler, $2,500,000 East, 4 broiler, $1,000,000

MISSOURI FARMBUYERS -

Barry Co., 6 broiler, $1,300,000 Southwest, 8+ broiler, $1,500,000 Central, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 8+ broiler, $4,500,000 Statewide, 2-4 breeder, $ 900,000 Southwest, 4-6 broiler, $Negotiable

GEORGIA FARMBUYERS -

Heard County, 4-6 broiler, $1,200,000 Central, 8-12 broiler, $2,000,000 Gilmer County, 8-12 broiler, $2,000,000 Southeast, 2-4 broiler, $750,000 Royston, 2-3 breeder, $1,000,000 Central, 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 6-8 broiler, $1,750,000 Carroll County, 6+ broiler, $1,300,000 Southwest, 6-8 broiler, $2,000,000 Northwest, 2-4 breeder, $1,000,000 Statewide, 8-12 broiler, $3,000,000 Southeast, 6-12 broiler, $1,775,000 Southeast, 6-12 boiler, $2,300,000 Statewide, 6+ broiler, $1,500,000 Central, 6+ broiler, $1,500,000 Murray Co., 4-6 broiler, $1,200,000 Statewide, 4-6 broiler, $1,500,000

American Poultry Company, Inc.

601-300-5320 215 State St., M cComb, M S 39648

Licensed Brokers in: IA, M O, OK, AR, LA, M S, AL, & GA w w w .AmericanPoultryCompany.com

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SELLWITHUS WHYMOREFARMERS TRUSTUSTHANANY OTHERBROKERAGE

DON'TBOTHERWITHLONG-TERMLISTINGS...

Poultry farms are expensive complicated transactions. You should never entrust a multi-million dollar transaction to anyone that isn?t a specialist. Any local real estate agent can quote you a price and say they have a buyer. It takes an expert to make sure you price the farm accurately and actually close the transaction.

- Farm Sales are Private - Fully Funded Buyers - Accurate Farm Values - Poultry Industry Experts

Our team of professionals didn' t become an industry leader by attempting to be an expert in every type of real estate. Our company has a single focus - w e sell commercial poultry farms. We do not require long-term listings, and the entire transaction can be private so as not to alarm farm help or the integrator during negotiations. All of our buyers are required to be prequalified, and our team is extensively experienced in pricing, negotiating, and selling poultry operations. It?s all w e do, and w e are w ithout a doubt, the best in the business.

OURPROCESS 1. Tell us some details on your farming operation.

2. We tell you the maximum amount your farm should be listed.

American Poultry Company, Inc 601-300-5320 215 State St., M cComb, M S 39648

3. Listing documents are executed.

Licensed Brokers in: IA, M O, OK, AR, LA, M S, AL, & GA

4. We sell the farm and handle all steps from contract to closing.

w w w .AmericanPoultryCompany.com

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From Poultr y Far mer t o Softw ar e Developer

By Mack Spencer

arise? Do you need a certain volume of

At its most basic, the economics of poultry

stock sold to guarantee a profit over the

farming isn?t really too difficult to

cost of raising the flock? Are your losses of

understand. Raising more chickens means

stock steady, rising or falling?

having more stock to sell, which means

There?s an app for that ? some of that,

more income. Of course, this is a dramatic

anyway ? and computer software that will

simplification and the situation is much

help poultry farmers track all of that

more complicated but that is the basic

information. No, software won't help you

economics of poultry farming.

pickup the dead birds but it will help you

How much are the supplies you need to

keep track of mortality.

raise a flock? What nutritional,

Chick Pro Poultry Software, started by

supplemental or medical needs might

James Yoder of Murray, Ky., offers options

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for farmers who are raising broilers or who

farmers, Yoder decided to market his

are producing the eggs that will become

software. There were hitches that arose

broilers. A third software option will be

and hindered distribution.

available soon, for shell egg producers.

?The security and installation process

Yoder, with 30 years of experience in the

flopped,? he said.

poultry business, grew up on a broiler farm

Yoder eventually made his move from

and managed farms.

North Carolina to Kentucky and set up his

He first developed the software to help

own operation, Hill Crest Farms. He

with farm management in 2001, when he

returned to the idea of his own software,

was managing two breeder farms in North

learning the latest in software

Carolina. Yoder knew that the best software

development and revamping the software

is worthless if it?s not simple to use so he

? not just for the egg farms where he?d

developed his software to be easy enough

started, but for the broiler producers as

that even non technological users can

well.

operate it without a problem.

In fact, in Yoder ?s second iteration and

?I did a lot of figuring for the farm records,

relaunch of software sales and distribution,

and I kept them in Excel,? he said. ?Of

the chicken tracking software, Broiler Grow,

course, that?s not a database. So I took

was launched first.

some schooling on databases and built a

?I marketed Broiler Grow and then

program to fit my needs.?

developed the egg program,? Yoder said of

As the development of the program grew

his breeder farm program, Egg Hatch.

and word started to spread among

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The idea was simple. ?I used these

with egg production ? naturally ? but also

programs myself, and other farmers

hen and rooster weights, feed inventory,

wanted them, so by default I was already

rooster mortality, and other pertinent

doing marketing and distribution of the

details

software,? he said.

The programs will even compile equipment

Broiler Grow allows producers to keep

information, allowing producers to keep

notes for each day, for each house, for

track of maintenance performance so that

each flock, in addition to the farm as a

parts aren?t replaced unnecessarily, for

whole. Data entered into the program can

example, or other servicing can be kept on

be used to track water usage, feed

schedule. Data entered into the software

consumption, inventory, weights,

can be backed up so it doesn?t get lost if a

schedules, vaccinations and other medical

computer or mobile device is damaged,

needs and animal mortality. Files can even

lost or stolen.

be sorted and saved for different farm

Gathering all the information necessary to

sites.

create the reports in all those various areas

Similar reports are available for Egg Hatch,

could be a tedious and laborious use of

22

time if it all had to be compiled and

Producers who want different reports from

entered manually. A broiler farm ?can have

the standard list can have their software

250,000 birds, 40,000 or more in every

adjusted to offer data customized to their

barn,? Yoder noted. Fortunately, much of

needs and wants. Those with more than

the information can be fed into Yoder ?s

one farm site can keep separate files for

software automatically by other programs.

each site and easily transfer any files

Broiler Grow has the capacity to interface

necessary to a new owner if any of the

with BinTrac, a program from a different

sites are sold.

company that can automatically and

The programs are currently only available

remotely track feed inventories, amounts

for the Windows operating system. Broiler

and frequency, or other such programs.

Grow is available for $24.95 per month,

Information not able to be captured by an

and Egg Hatch is $34.95 per month. The

auxiliary program like BinTrac, can be

company was still rolling out Egg Trac and

entered manually on the computer or

developing pricing as of late May. The

through a mobile application. Information

programs can be downloaded after a

entered for some areas can be

subscription is purchased on the monthly

prepopulated for other areas and reviewed

basis, or yearly rates are available that give

before being finalized, without having to be

two free months of access each year.

entered repeatedly across multiple reporting areas. ?You don?t have to manually enter everything,? Yoder said.

The program ?will ? prefigure everything for the next house.?

The Egg Hatch program works similarly, with the ability to track data by barn, flock or cage row. Egg Trac ? the newest addition to the software suite, just becoming available in May ? will figure the production cost of each egg and, like its sister programs, track expenses and income for each day?s production, sorted by barn, flock ? caged or uncaged ? or other factors.

More information about Chick Pro software is available on Yoder ?s website, www.ChickPro.us, or those interested can call (270) 227-1302.

The software will even track information based on the breed of chicken being raised and compare production targets to actual results on a given day or week.

23

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Sometimeswe all need a saf e place!

GIVEAWAY Toenter theYETI giveawayvisit our facebookpage.

Facebook.com/ AmericanPoultryCompany

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M awmaw' s Peach Cobbler & Homemade I ce Cream Servings: 8

Prep Time: 5 minutes

PEACH COBBLER INGREDIENTS: -

1 cup self rising flour

-

1 cup sugar

-

1 cup w hole milk

-

Total Time: 1 - 2 hours

ICE CREAM INGREDIENTS: -

2 cans evaporated milk

-

2 cans condensed milk

1 stick butter (melted)

-

1 half gallon w hole milk

1 can of peaches in heavy syrup

-

dash of vanilla extract

-

filings

-

ice

-

rock salt

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Using your 10x6.5 baking dish, mix your dry ingredients together. M ix in your melted butter. Add in peaches, one at a time, so they are evenly spread. Pour in about half to three quarters of the syrup.

Bake for 45 minutes - 1 hour.

Serve hot.

ICE CREAM : Using your 4qt ice cream maker, combine evaporated milk, condensed milk, vanilla extract, and filings. Add w hole milk to the fill line. Place container in maker and layer ice and rock salt until almost full. Turn on and continue to layer ice and rock salt until maker stops. Unplug and serve.

Our favorite fillings are bananas, peaches, or crushed oreos.

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Paper or Plastic?

Five Significant Differences Betw een M aterials Interest in plastic evaporative cooling pads has been steadily increasing since their introduction approximately ten years ago, especially for producers with water quality issues. Though for the most part six-inch plastic pads are interchangeable with six inch paper pads, and can produce similar cooling, this doesn?t mean there are not significant differences between plastic and paper pads. Not taking into account these potentially important differences can 28

result in an increased likelihood of heat-stressed birds and wet litter in houses equipped with plastic pads.

1) Plastic pads are more prone to carry water into pad rooms. The flutes (the holes which air passes through) in plastic pads tend to be U-shaped and are much larger than those in traditional pads.

Paper pads have alternating 45° and 15° flute angles. The 45° flutes are sloped downward toward the outside surface of the pad which helps

to keep most of the water on the outside surface of the pad.

The inside surface of a paper pad will be damp, but there will be essentially no water flowing over the surface. In contrast, air flow through the large U-shaped flutes tends to pull water from the outside surface of the pad to the inside surface of the pad, resulting in a substantial amount of water flowing over the inside surface of the pad. Large water droplets collect on the inside surface of the pad which tend to be blown into the pad room, causing water to collect on the pad room floor. Though this is not necessarily a major problem for houses with pad rooms, it can result in significant litter wetting if the

pads are installed directly on the side of a house. For this reason it is not generally advisable to install plastic pads in systems mounted directly on the side wall of a poultry house.

2) Plastic pads are more difficult to wet than paper pads. Because plastic pads do not wick water, to insure the entire pad is thoroughly wetted, the amount of water circulated over the pad needs to be greater than with traditional paper pads (ie. twice as much). For this reason, reduced water flow over plastic pads will tend to result in a greater reduction in cooling than with paper pads. Many older distribution systems are likely incapable of supplying the higher volume of water flow required of plastic pads and/or doing so without producing a significant amount of water wastage.

3) Plastic pads dry out much faster than paper pads. Paper pads tend to have more internal surface area than plastic pads and

have the ability to soak up and retain a relatively high volume of water. The combination of these two factors means that when wetted, paper pads can hold more water than plastic pads. The reduced water-holding capacity of plastic pads means that when the circulation pumps turn off, plastic pads dry out faster than paper pads.

Whereas it typically takes 30 minutes or more for a wetted paper pad to dry out, preliminary studies have found plastic pads dry in one-half to one-third of the amount of time (Graph Below). Since plastic pads dry out faster, the cooling they produce will be more affected when controlled by a ten-minute timer than paper pads. As a result, managers may find that operating plastic pads using a timer is counterproductive.

4) Plastic pads are not as standardized as paper pads. For the most part, six-inch paper, 45° X 15° flute angle pads are constructed very similarly and as a result are interchangeable. There can be significant

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differences between plastic pad construction and materials which could affect both the static pressure and cooling associated with each manufacturer. As a result, it is very important when considering using plastic pads that the manufacturer of the plastic pad provides test data showing that the cooling efficiency and static pressure associated with the pad they are selling are similar to that of traditional six-inch paper pads.

5) A little dirt on plastic pad surfaces can be of benefit. Because paper pad flutes are fairly small, dirt/minerals collecting on the interior surfaces can quickly increase static pressure the tunnel fans are working against which in turn can reduce air speed. Since the flutes are larger on plastic pads, a little dirt on interior flute surfaces doesn?t affect the static pressure as greatly. In addition, a slight dirt/mineral coating on plastic pad surfaces tends to make it easier for the water to wick throughout the pad, thereby aiding cooling (Photo Above). Research has shown that the dirt and minerals that tend to collect on pad surfaces over time tend to increase the cooling produced by plastic pad systems. But, like paper pads, if dirt/mineral accumulation becomes excessive on pad surfaces, house air speed and therefore bird cooling can be significantly reduced.

Plastic evaporative cooling pads have proven to be a viable option for use on poultry houses 30

provided producers understand there are characteristics of plastic pads that need to be taken into account to insure that bird cooling will be maximized during hot weather. If the pads are properly wetted, installed in a traditional pad room, and special attention taken if their operation is controlled using an interval timer, conditions within a house should be similar to those produced by a traditional paper evaporative cooling pad system. Whether the additional cost of plastic pads has a good return on investment depends to a large extent on the quality of water circulating over the pads. Quite simply, the poorer the water quality on a farm, the more likely a plastic evaporative cooling pad will make economic sense.

Mr. Michael Czarick Department of Poultry Science ? Engineer The University of Georgia 706 540 9111 www.Poultryventilation.com

Meet t he t eam at American Poult ry Company

Sm all Tow n Com pan y w it h a Nat ion al Foot pr in t Neel has more than a decade of experience working in real estate private equity and a proven track record of successfully helping organizations place investments into the market.

Neel has raised investment capital, sold companies, and bought companies. He has experience in a number of industry verticals ranging from farm land to multifamily investments. Due to his rich background of experience, he brings to the company a fresh approach that delivers truly exceptional results.

Neel's business philosophy is simple: "Understand the real business you're in and know there is no magic, only hard work and experience." When we serve our clients with this type of dedication we really can move mountains.

Neel Gibson , Ch ief Execu t ive Of f icer , Br ok er

Greg has been advising, mentoring, and investing in companies and real estate for over 25 years.

The company relies on his extensive knowledge of marketing, software development, and company guidance. Greg has performed on numerous projects in various market segments and brings to bear a deep understanding of business valuation, analysis, and management. Greg is passionate about innovative, industry-changing technologies and out-of-the-box business strategies that have the potential to spin off into high growth companies or services.

Greg truly is an entrepreneur. His love for the game, wins and failures, is what drives his creativity constantly pushing the company to new heights.

Gr eg Gibson,

Ch ief M ar k et in g Of f icer

Like the Gibson brothers, Kim's experience didn't stem from the poultry business. Kim worked as an Executive Legal Assistant for a private law firm before trading trial litigation and preparation to managing American Poultry Company's multi-state footprint. Kim's attention to detail and relentless focus on client relationships is what has truly raised the bar for the company. Along with overseeing the company day-to-day operations, she is often personally involved in farm transactions ensuring that client expectations have not only been met but exceeded.

Kim ber ly St even son , Ch ief Oper at in g

Of f icer

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