Poultry Times 2-26-24

22

Features

7 | AEB looking toward ‘egg-citing’ year

8 | Auburn University names Kannan new poultry science department head

News Business

12 | Alltech announces new roles to support its global agriculture solutions, services

22 | Study finds some crops tolerate ozone pollution better than others

24 | IPPE 2024 marks largest in show’s history

26 | Del. family farm wins national enviro. award

MARCH

MAR 5-7 — FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Hot Springs, Ark. Contact: The Poultry Federation, 321 South Victory Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201; Ph: 501-3758131; info@thepoultryfederation.com; www.thepoultryfed-

eraiton.com.

MAR 7-8 — FEED MILL MANAGEMENT SEMINAR, Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: USPOULTRY, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Ga. 30084; Ph: 770-4939401; seminar@uspoultry.org; www.uspoultry.org.

“Every American should be urging Congress to pass a new farm bill as a top 2024 priority.”

— Joby Young | 10

9

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Index of Advertisers

Be sure to pay a visit to these esteemed sponsors of the Poultry Times, recognizing them as vital contributors to the industry who greatly appreciate your support.

Acme Engineering | 27 918-682-7791; www.acmefan.com

Ag Lighting | 23, 27 615-378-0108; www.poultrylights.com Agralarm | 16, 24, 27 888-968-2802; www.agralarm.com

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L.B. White | 14 608-783-5691; www.lbwhite.com

Lewis Brothers | 26 912-367-4651; www.lbmfg.com

Lyco Mfg. | 30 920-623-4152; www.lycomfg.com

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National Incinerator | 26 205-589-6720; www.nationalincinerator.com

Neogen | 36 800-234-5333; www.neogen.com

NuTech BioSciences | 18, 19 315-751-0729; www.nutechbiosciences.com

Overdrive Lighting | 16 800-657-0509; www.aglights.com

Precision Lighting | 1, 4, 28, 33 800-737-1837; www.poultrylighting.com

The Egg Carton Store | 23 866-333-1132; www.eggcartonstore.com

VAL-CO | 31 800-998-2526; www.val-co.com

Walinga USA | 3, 27 800-466-1197; www.walinga.com

Weightech | 20, 32 800-457-3720; www.weightechinc.com

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AEB looking toward ‘egg-citing’ year

DAVID B. STRICKLAND Poultry Times Editor dstrickland@ poultrytimes.com

ATLANTA — Do you want to know something “egg-citing?” This is going to be a busy, fun, and innovative year for the U.S. egg industry.

In an exclusive interview during the recent International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga., Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, provided an outlook and overview of many of the important initiatives that AEB will be undertaking this year to promote what is an indispensable food product – the egg.

“It’s an exciting year for AEB,” Metz said. “We are four years into our strategic plan. I have been talking with a lot of our members throughout the show and I think we have laid a lot of really strong foundations, and this is the year we kind of get to go on the on-ramp and at least start to race down the highway.”

One of the industry’s big promotions for the upcoming year, as well as for the previous year, is increasing U.S. egg exports around the globe.

“Top of mind for me is that we really are coming off an amazing trip to Japan and South Korea and are doubling down on that effort,” she noted, adding that in conjunction with that trade mission that there is a push to increase egg exports by 5 percent to 9 percent. There are new trade missions planned for this year to the Philippines, Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, as well as return trips to South Korea and Japan to build on new trade relationships.

“This a huge opportunity for the U.S. egg industry … to bring value back to the farm,” Metz said. “Because every egg that is going over-

seas is an egg that is competing for value on the market, and I think that is an incredible opportunity for us.”

“We have a great story,” she added. “That was one of the things when I first started in this industry … I started going on trade missions and seeing export markets firsthand and everyone said to me, ‘we love to get our hands on U.S. eggs.” Metz said that export customers note that U.S. eggs perform really well, they’re traceable, our industry is measuring sustainability, so now the effort is to get more U.S. suppliers to meet these needs.

This is another example of how AEB is working on long-term egg demand, she said, adding that another is through innovation.

“How do we get more eggs into new formats?” Metz notes. “It’s interesting over in Asia, they don’t think about the egg as a daypart like we do. Even if you have eggs at

Poultry Times photo

David Strickland, Poultry Times editor, spoke with Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, in an exclusive interview during the recent International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.

Photo by David B. Strickland

Nelson Serrano-Bahri, American Egg Board’s director of innovation, in the AEB booth at the recent IPPE was offering expo attendees some innovative and delicious items such as Vietnamese Egg Cream Coffee and specialty macarons, as well as information about the board’s new Eggcelerator Lab.

Auburn University names Kannan new poultry science department head

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn University has named Dr. Govind Kannan as its head for the Department of Poultry Science and director of the Charles C. Miller Poultry Research and Education Center, effective as of June 1.

Kannan currently serves as Fort Valley State University’s vice president for land-grant affairs and economic development.

“Dr. Kannan was chosen for his extensive experience in academic research, university leadership, and poultry and veterinary practice,” said Paul Patterson, dean of the Auburn University College of Agriculture. “This impressive

(Continued from previous page)

dinner time, people always say they had breakfast for dinner. In Asia, it’s eggs throughout the day. It’s lunch, dinner, snacking, so I think there is a huge opportunity for us here in the domestic market through innovation to present eggs to people in new ways. Not only on menus but in different finished products.”

AEB also promoted its innovation efforts at its show floor booth at the IPPE. Their display provided attendees with information about its new Eggcelerator Lab. The lab is a way for companies to utilize new collaborative partnerships and create and market new, innovative products that are egg-based.

Nelson Serrano-Bahri, AEB’s director of innovation, was in the booth providing information, as well as such tasty offerings as Vietnamese Egg Cream Coffee, and White Lavendar Macarons with Yuzu Curd Filling. This new collaborative endeavor is another of AEB’s push toward new products with a modern approach.

Metz also provided a teaser about the board receiving its first patent last year. Once everything is accepted, she added that they will reveal more about its details, but that it holds really exciting opportunities for the industry. And the companies developing new products through the Eggcelerator Lab will be coming out with them to market approximately mid-year.

“That will be a great milestone for the industry,” she added.

background positions Dr. Kannan — as well as the poultry science department — for much success in the future. I look forward to welcoming him to Auburn and working with him in his new role.”

Prior to his current role at Fort Valley State, Kannan served as dean and director of the College of Agriculture, Family Sciences and Technology. He also had served as assistant dean for research, director of the Georgia Small Ruminant Research and Extension Center and coordinator of the animal science undergraduate and graduate programs at Fort Valley State.

Prior to his time at Fort Valley

• Outreach

The AEB is also looking to increase efforts to promote eggs through the food chain.

“Since the pandemic, retailers are merchandising eggs differently, they are not promoting eggs as much and we have very in-depth studies that show when eggs are in the cart, that basket size is twice the value as opposed to when eggs are not in the cart,” Metz said. “We need to remind retailers of the anchor that eggs are for purchases and help them look at promoting those eggs in different ways. I want to remind retailers and customers on how many things they do with eggs and put those reminders in unexpected places. Like in the spice aisle, when buying chocolate chips, you may see a reminder to pick up a dozen eggs because there’s two eggs in the chocolate chip cookies you are about to make.”

• Leadership

“We have a really strong leadership team, and that is another of our big priorities this year, to keep looking to future leadership for the industry,” she added. “We have historically been food-focused, but I think that what we have come to realize is that what our producers need from their check-off is to help them to lighten their load. And there is a lot coming at our producers. Not just HPAI, but a lot of demands from customers, a changing world, a changing environment for consumption, and how can we help to be their partner in this effort.”

“So much is about demand creation, it is also about supply pres-

State, Kannan served as a veterinary officer for a commercial poultry hatchery in Bangalore, India, and as an assistant professor at Madras Veterinary College.

Auburn University’s Department of Poultry Science offers undergraduate and graduate academic training, as well as extensive research and Extension programming. In fall 2023, the department enrolled 52 undergraduates and 31 graduate students.

The head of Auburn’s poultry science department also serves as director of the Charles C. Miller Research and Education Center, a 30-acre world-class poultry farm

ervation and helping them really feel supported. We are going to be working on that very hard this year to make sure we can provide them actionable tools to help take things off their plate,” Metz said. “If they need messaging for their new website, if they need help on social media, we want to be their extra set of hands because they are focused first and foremost on their birds and production, so we want to know how we can help partner with them.”

• Easter Easter is on the horizon, as well as a traditionally busy egg season, and AEB notes that it is again hosting the White House Easter Egg Roll on April 1.

“It’s going to be bigger and better than ever,” Metz said.“I think we’ve got a lot of really exciting things planned.”

Among the annual traditions will be the presentation to First Lady Jill Biden with a specially designed, decorative egg. There will also be eggs representing all of the states and territories on display before and after Easter at the White House. The egg roll event expects to see upwards of 35,000 visitors, and Metz noted that AEB will be providing a lot of signage that will offer the visitors plenty of facts about eggs and egg farming. About 100 egg farmers are also registered to attend.

“We are really happy to be bringing agriculture together for the event,” Metz said.

• Feeding the world

“Our farmers do better here than

Kannan

offering the latest technology for every aspect of the global poultry industry, from breeding and hatching to nutrition and processing and more, the university notes.

anywhere else in the world,” Metz noted. “People really value how we produce food in this country and desire that safe, wholesome supply that’s provided day-in and day-out. That is powerful for our producers.”

She added that the egg board wants to remind people of the value of eggs and what they mean to so many aspects of food purchasing, meals, and more.

“We did a study last year, we have really leaned in to insights and analysis and understanding the consumer,” she said. “We were in consumer’s homes, and it’s interesting how the egg carton almost becomes invisible in the fridge. It is so indispensable to their daily life that they don’t even think about when they are opening the carton to grab out an egg for breading chicken or two eggs to make cookies, or French toast, or what have you, and we need to remind them that eggs are in all of those things and they are incredibly valuable to them and get them to focus on this, as opposed to looking at fluctuations of basic supply and demand.”

She also noted the importance of looking at and changing the mindset of how useful eggs are, as well as the frequency of use.

“We need to help (consumers) focus on the fact that eggs are invaluable to their life and hopefully get them moving through that carton a little bit faster too,” Metz said, and getting consumers to think about, “how many things eggs are in and changing over the carton more frequently and increasing the demand in this way.”

Should ‘Chicken Wing Sunday’ replace Super Bowl Sunday?

PT

BY ELIZABETH BOBENHAUSEN Poultry Times staff ebobenhausen@ poultrytimes.com

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Super Bowl Sunday may need to be changed to Chicken Wing Sunday.

The National Chicken Council notes in its 2024 Wing Report that Americans ate 1.45 billion chicken wings during the Super Bowl.

“Football is great. Wings are great. But they’re even better together,” said Tom Super, NCC’s senior vice president of communications. “Sure, you can have your chips, your guacamole, your pizza. But when it comes to menus (on Super Bowl Sunday), wings rule the roost. So, grab a wet napkin and enjoy America’s favorite party food for the Big Game.”

The organization also created a TikTok video to describe the number of wings that were eaten on Super Bowl Sunday.

Among the information in the TikTok included:

• 1.45 billion wings are enough for every man, woman, and child in the United States to eat four wings each.

• If Kansas City Coach Andy Reid ate 50 wings every day, it would take him 79,452 years to eat all 1.45 billion.

• 1.45 billion wings are enough to put 693 wings on every seat in all 30 NFL stadiums.

• If laid end-to-end, 1.45 billion wings would stretch 1/3 of the way to the moon.

• If each wing represented one second moving forward, 1.45 billion would be 46 years from now, or the year 2070.

The TikTok video can be viewed at: https://www.tiktok.com/@chickencheck.in/ video/7330083982559677742.

“One of these days, Buffalo will get back to the Big Game which would give wing consumption a nice boost,” Super said. “Maybe

we’ll see Taylor Swift breaking out the ‘seemingly ranch’ again, to dip a wing in this time, though.

Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist in the Texas A&M University Department of Agricultural Economics added that the tradition of eating chicken wings and drumsticks during the Super Bowl is not going away. Chicken wings were once considered to be an undesirable cut of meat many years ago. In 2024, it is the most popular cut of chicken.

“Chicken wings are here to stay,” Anderson said. “They were a poultry cut that used to be practically worthless. But once someone created Buffalo wings and added some ranch dressing or blue cheese, you had something great. Now they’re so popular that more and more restaurants want to capitalize on their sales. I don’t see that changing.”

Anderson also noted that the cost of chicken wings per pound has increased since last year. How-

Chicken wings continue to be a favorite among sports fans. The seasonal demand for them peaks around the Super Bowl each year.

ever, wholesale prices have increased by a little and they still remain below a 5-year average. This year, wholesale chicken wings cost $1.76 per pound and last year they cost $1.02. The cost of wholesale chicken wings for Super Bowl 2022 were at a cost of $2.02 and the cost per pound was at $2.66.

Anderson noted that in regard to prices of wings that it’s dependent on supply and demand, also seasonal demand for the Super Bowl.

“Last year we had dramatically lower prices, which led production to be scaled back some, and that lower production has now led to some of the price increases we’ve seen. It’s a great snapshot of the cause-and-effect from the production side to the consumer side and vice versa,” he said.

“Wings are everywhere now,” Anderson added. “Even pizza places are outdoing wings, and a large chicken chain is putting them on their menus just in time for the Super Bowl. But a lot of the wings’ position in popular culture today has been driven by businesses desire to cater to sports fans, and nothing is bigger than the Super Bowl.”

Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller

VIEWPOINT

POULTRY TIMES

AFBF: finding solutions for farmers in 2024

COMMENTARY BY JOBY YOUNG American Farm Bureau Federation

Joby Young is executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation. This column is drawn from one featured in Farm Bureau’s ‘Focus on Agriculture’ series.

WASHINGTON — In 2023, my first full year serving as executive vice president at the American Farm Bureau Federation, I enjoyed witnessing the complete cycle of the grassroots policy development process, from county Farm Bureau meetings to last year’s convention in Puerto Rico. Together, our farmer and rancher members have accomplished much, and we have the potential to do even more in 2024.

the COVID-19 pandemic, trade wars and weather disasters are just a few examples of why we need modernized legislation.

The farm bill has always been a bipartisan effort and we encourage lawmakers to work in that spirit to get the job done early in 2024.

• Ag labor

“Every American should be urging Congress to pass a new farm bill as a top 2024 priority.”

Farm Bureau took a giant step forward on the right to repair issue in 2023 by signing memorandums of understanding with five farm equipment manufacturers. The agreements formalize farmers’ rights to access tools and parts to repair their equipment. Our members called upon us to find a private solution to this issue, and we answered that challenge. Now, almost three-quarters of agricultural equipment in America is covered by right to repair agreements.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a major victory for America’s farmers and ranchers in its “Sackett v. EPA” ruling. The justices ruled unanimously that EPA overstepped its authority under the Clean Water Act. It forced EPA to rewrite the “Waters of the United States” rule. Our work continues to create a rule that is clear and concise, while protecting our nation’s waterways.

• Farm bill

Every American should be urging Congress to pass a new farm bill as a top 2024 priority. This legislation is a critical tool to ensure our nation’s food and farm security and to meet new challenges, continue innovating and advance sustainability goals.

While Congress passed an extension of the 2018 farm bill, providing short-term stability and allowing for more time to get revisions right, a new farm bill must be a priority in the new year. Supply chain challenges we experienced during

Securing labor remains one of agriculture’s most frustrating challenges and urgent needs. The H-2A visa program doesn’t provide enough workers to meet the demand of many farms, and a flawed wage calculation system makes it difficult for many farmers to afford help.

AFBF has long called for a bipartisan, workable solution for labor reform and while we were unable to find that solution in 2023, it must be a top priority for lawmakers in 2024 to create meaningful labor reform.

• Trade

Many of the trade issues we faced in 2023 will continue into 2024. The U.S. Trade Representative’s case against Mexico to reverse its ban on biotech corn remains open under the provisions of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. This ban puts food security in Mexico in jeopardy and unfairly disadvantages America’s farmers, who are committed to growing safe and affordable food for families here in the U.S. and around the world. Mexico must live up to its commitments under USMCA.

We’re also concerned that the U.S. is falling behind other ag-exporting countries in forming new trade agreements. Trade leaders must refocus on finding new markets and rebuilding relationships with former trading partners in order for the U.S. to be successful in the global marketplace.

Last year was a big year for dairy policy, with the start of USDA’s multi-part Federal Milk Marketing Order reform hearing, which Farm Bureau called for start-

POULTRY

ing in 2022. As the hearing resumes this year, we’ll keep boots on the ground for as long as the process takes to advocate for the right reforms. We may not see the final outcome of the hearing until 2025, but something this important is worth the wait. It’s essential that we get this right for our dairy farmers, who haven’t seen meaningful change to the way their milk is priced in nearly 50 years.

• Technology and consumer engagement

New and existing technologies, such as artificial intelligence, drones and gene editing will play an ever-growing role in our future. As social media continues to evolve and expand, consumers are demanding

more information on where their food comes from than ever before.

It will take all of us telling our agriculture story — to lawmakers, neighbors and consumers on social media — to ensure understanding and acceptance of these technologies that help us grow the most affordable, abundant, safe and sustainable

food supply in the world.

These challenges and opportunities await us in 2024. I have no doubt that when the Farm Bureau family comes together to provide our unified voice, we will succeed in advancing priorities that help to ensure a bright future for farmers and for agriculture as a whole.

BUSINESS

Alltech announces new roles to support its global agriculture solutions and services

LEXINGTON, Ky. — During the past 15 years, Alltech has grown its portfolio significantly, the company announces, adding that, from soil health to solutions for sustainable animal production, the company has an unparallelled global offering of technologies and services to support its customers worldwide with efficient, profitable and sustainable agriculture.

To reflect this growth in its customer offering, Alltech has formed a new team, the Technology Group. This team will be responsible for Alltech’s nutritional technologies, services, and technical support. Its focus will be on providing customers with the Alltech advantage, drawing upon the company’s diverse range of solutions and services to offer customized support.

To lead the Technology Group, Alltech has appointed:

• Nick Adams (UK), commercial director. Adams has worked with Alltech for 24 years, most recently as global director of the Alltech Mycotoxin Management platform.

• Dr. Jules Taylor-Pickard (UK), technical director. Taylor-Pickard has worked with Alltech for 22 years and previously served as global director of the Alltech Gut Health platform.

• Martin Minchin (UK), commercial marketing director. Minchin previously served as global marketing manager of the Alltech Mycotoxin Management platform. He has been with Alltech for nearly seven years.

Other recent Alltech appointments include:

• Steve Elliott (U.S.), global vice president, corporate accounts and pet. Elliott has been with Alltech for more than 29 years in a variety of roles. Most recently, he served as global director of the mineral management division.

• Russell Gilliam (U.S.), global director of business development for pork. Gilliam has worked with Alltech for nearly 24 years. Prior to this role, he was Alltech’s U.S. pork business leader.

• Dr. Daniel Graugnard (U.S.), dairy research director. Graugnard, who has worked with Alltech for more than 12 years, most recently served as monogastric research director.

• Dr. Jose Soto (U.S.), monogastric research director. Soto most recently served as global swine technical manager. He has worked with Alltech for two-and-a-half years.

• Claire Boudwin (U.S.), global product launch marketing manager. Boudwin, who previously served as North American species marketing manager, has worked with Alltech for nearly six years.

• William Wallis (U.S.), Eastern U.S. marketing manager, is now

also serving as U.S. poultry marketing manager. Wallis has worked with Alltech for 12 years.

For more information, visit www.alltech.com.

Aviagen: Discover ‘Decades of Breeding for Welfare and Sustainability’

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Aviagen® Group introduces its latest publication, “Decades of Breeding for Welfare and Sustainability.” Building on the success of the 2016 release, “Decades of Welfare and

Sustainability Selection at Aviagen Chickens and Turkeys,” this extensive update shines a light on the steady advancements Aviagen has made over the years, the company said.

Balanced progress in the breeding program has translated into continuous improvements observed in the field. Breeding for welfare and sustainability is not a final destination, but an ongoing journey, promising a continuous strengthening of bird health, welfare, efficiency, and sustainability, Aviagen added.

The company is inviting those

interested to check out the new publication. Provided will be an exclusive, glimpse into the world of balanced breeding, and its leading-edge selection techniques that leverage latest innovations in its breeding programs.

Links to the publication include:

• Aviagen: https://aviagen. com/assets/Welfare/AviagenDecades-of-WelfareReport_2023.pdf

• Aviagen Turkeys: https:// www.aviagenturkeys.com/engb/ documents/search?q=Decades+o f+Breeding+for+Welfare+and+Su stainability

The publication also highlights the inseparable connection between bird welfare and sustainability, Aviagen said, adding that these two vital aspects combine to ensure economic prosperity for poultry producers and contribute significantly to the preservation of the planet. They also promote food safety and security, a top Aviagen Group commitment that is in line with one of the International Poultry Council’s prioritized United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – SDG2, Zero Hunger.

Training for 100 meat companies to measure emissions, set climate targets

WASHINGTON — Up to 100 of America’s leading meat companies will have the opportunity to complete climate training programs offered by Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT), following a $65,000 investment by the Meat Institute to kickstart the partnership and enable members to participate in training focused on setting science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Supplier LOCT is a collaborative program launched in 2021 to accelerate climate progress across supply chains. The Meat Institute’s investment supports its target for 100 percent of members to set science-based emissions reduction targets by 2030, subsidizing Supplier LOCT participation for up to 100 Meat Institute members in 2024.

Interested Meat Institute members must register no later than March 15 at https://nami. swoogo.com/supplierloct. Registration is capped to the first 100 registered companies and each company may have up to five staff members participate.

“Achieving our ambitious Protein PACT targets requires longterm commitment plus shortterm practical action, including to fill technical gaps and build capabilities,” Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts said. “That’s why the Meat Institute is honored to partner with Supplier LOCT and excited to facilitate this critical education opportunity that will help meat companies measure emissions and set emissions targets.”

“Accelerating climate action requires collective action, and meat companies can play a critical leadership role in driving emissions reductions,” Nicole DelSasso, director, Supplier LOCT, added. “Supplier LOCT welcomes this partnership as an opportunity to continue scaling up collaborative approaches to durable climate solutions.”

Meat Institute member OSI is a Supplier LOCT participant and highlighted the initiative’s importance: “Partnership throughout our supply chains and across the industry is essential to achieving global climate goals. Supplier LOCT provides access to practical resources and actionable tools that enable OSI and our supply chain partners to accelerate and amplify our actions.”

Animal Agriculture Alliance opens 2024 enrollment in Animal Ag Allies program

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Animal Agriculture Alliance is seeking applicants to join the rankings of Animal Ag Allies in 2024.

The Animal Ag Allies program, launched in 2020, is a development program to empower farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and industry professionals to be outspoken advocates for agriculture online and in person.

The Animal Ag Allies program provides opportunities for networking, training, and continuous development of issue expertise and communication skills. Animal Ag Allies are on the front lines of responding to emerging issues and sharing positive content about animal agriculture.

Coming into 2024, more than 150 participants have completed the modules and have consistently rated the overall value and usefulness of the program and its resources as a 4.7 out of 5.

The program consists of two phases: five self-paced, online training modules and a private forum to discuss engagement strategies and emerging issues. Participants will have six weeks to complete the modules and will then be invited to a private online group where they will have the ability to interact with other Allies. Program modules include: overviews of each sector of animal agriculture, hot topics and emerging issues facing animal agriculture, how to address contentious issues, growing your social following and reaching outside the choir, and public outreach.

“Research has shown time and time again that the most effective ambassadors we have within animal agriculture are those on the farm every day — in particular, farmers, ranchers, and veterinarians,” said Abby Kornegay, manager, issues and engagement, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “The Animal Ag Allies program equips those with their boots on the ground to feel confident telling their story and engaging with the public on key issues in animal agriculture.”

The deadlines for enrollment and time periods to complete the upcoming 2024 modules are:

• Spring: apply by April 5; online modules open April 22 and run through June 3

• Summer: apply by July 1; online modules open July 15 and run through Aug. 30

• Fall: apply by Sept. 6; online modules open Sept. 23 and run through Nov. 1

Farmers, ranchers, veterinar-

ians, and others who want to make a difference in public understanding and perception of animal agriculture are encouraged to submit interest, the alliance noted.

For more information and to apply, visit https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/animalag-allies/.

USPOULTRY’s Feed Mill Management Seminar to focus on effective mill management

TUCKER, Ga. — Feed manufacturing is one of the most important areas in poultry and egg production and processing. As feed mill management challenges get more complex from year to year, the costs continue to increase. The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association 2024 Feed Mill Management Seminar is a valuable source for staying abreast of the latest technology and techniques to keep your mill running efficiently and effectively. The seminar will be held March 7-8 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown in Nashville, Tenn.

“This year’s program planning committee has developed a well-rounded agenda that has something for everyone involved in poultry feed production,” Darrin Poole, corporate feed mill QA manager, WayneSanderson Farms, and program committee chair, said. “This year’s program has topics that range from technical operations and inventory management to energy cost savings and trucking mandates, and much more.”

Program topics will include a Regulatory and FSMA Update; Elevator Belt and Bucket Selection; Die Specs for Production; OSHA / DOL / NFPA Update; Inventory Management; Transportation: Feed Trucking Industry Challenges and Sanitary Transportation Rule and Tractor Specs / New Mandates; Boiler Operation; Feed Mill Biosecurity; a New Mill Virtual Tour; Feed Mill Cost Savings: Energy and Electrical; Predictive Maintenance Programs; Technology Update: In-line

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NIR and Mycotoxin Testing; and Liquid Application Systems.

During the seminar, the American Feed Industry Association and USPOULTRY Integrator Feed Facility of the Year Award will once again be presented.

The 2024 Feed Mill Manage -

ment Seminar planning committee includes Darrin Poole, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, program chair; Larry Hooper, CobbVantress; Richard Obermeyer, Aviagen Inc; Kevin Campbell, Simmons Foods Inc.; Trey Nelson, George’s Inc.; and Dr. Wilmer Pacheco, Auburn University.

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

IPPE services offered to international attendees

ATLANTA — The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo, sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association, Meat Institute and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, offered a wide range of services to international attendees.

With approximately 25 percent of attendees coming from outside of the United States, IPPE noted that it is a proud partner with the U.S. Department of Commerce as a participant in the International Buyer Program. The program recruits thousands of qualified foreign buyers, sales representatives and business partners

to U.S. trade shows each year. The Commerce’s Commercial Service will be ready to help attendees enhance their international trade efforts while at IPPE.

The 2024 IPPE offered buyer matching, conference rooms, translation services, importexport counseling and access to export directories in the International Trade Center.

There was an Exporting 101 education program offered for exhibitors that focused on how U.S. companies can achieve sales into overseas markets, trends that impact international efforts and managing trade barriers.

Also, USPOULTRY offered the La Cumbre Avícola Latinoamericana (Latin American Poultry Summit) education program that addressed improvements in the areas of breeding, incubation, grow-out, egg production, processing and health. The program was offered with translation to Spanish for all presentations.

For more information about next year’s IPPE, visit www. ippexpo.org.

AFIA opens registration for Feed Industry Institute

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Feed Industry Association has opened registration for its Feed Industry Institute), June 17-20 in Minneapolis, Minn. This biennial event brings together emerging professionals in the animal feed industry to learn more about the ingredients, processes and regulations used within the industry to manufacture and sell animal feed.

“The Feed Industry Institute is a great educational opportunity for people in the feed industry, especially those who may be new, to learn from experts,” said Dr. Paul Davis, AFIA’s director of quality, animal food safety and education. “We hope that attendees gain a deeper understanding of the process and importance of producing high-quality feed.”

The FII 2024 agenda will provide

attendees with a 101-style overview of the U.S. feed industry, animal physiology and nutrition basics, the types of ingredients used and their purpose in animal food, the role of medications and additives and formulation and various processing techniques. It will also include sessions on building consumer trust, participating in international trade and engaging with the various regulatory agencies. The full agenda is available on the event’s website — www.afia.org/ events/fii-2024/agenda/.

In addition to the educational sessions, FII includes several networking opportunities for attendees, including a reception on Monday, June 17, and an optional paid outing to a Minnesota Twins baseball game on Wednesday, June 19. These opportunities help attendees, particularly those who are early in their careers or new to the industry, expand their professional networks.

The AFIA encourages attendees to register before Friday, March 8, for the early-bird rate of $799 for AFIA members and $999 for nonmembers.

For more information and to register for FII 2024, visit www. afia.org/events.

Case Farms donates therapy hours for N.C. children in crisis

TROUTMAN, N.C. — Case Farms recently donated $20,000 to the Children’s Hope Alliance, a nonprofit with a long history of child advocacy and welfare.

With the donation, Case Farms was named the title sponsor of the nonprofit’s “Planting Seeds of Hope” luncheon for the eighth time which will be held at The Cove Church in Mooresville, N.C., on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Registration will begin March 1, on their website.

“We are thrilled to renew our role as the title sponsor for this year’s CHA fundraising luncheon. Re-

flecting on the impactful work of the Children’s Hope Alliance in assisting and transforming the lives of children, it deepens my gratitude for being part of such an exceptional company,” said Leonard Parks, director of human resources at Case Farms. “We take pride in the positive difference we are making in our community, and through our partnership with CHA, we have confidence that our resources are effectively contributing to the betterment of young lives.”

Case Farms has supported the Children’s Hope Alliance, formerly known as Barium Springs Home for Children, since 2004. Throughout the last 20 years, the company has

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contributed more than $181,000 to the nonprofit through various fundraising efforts.

“This spring, CHA is hoping to garner enough community support to provide over ten thousand hours of therapy for local children and families. North Carolina is facing a youth mental health crisis and CHA wants to help in a big way,” said Celeste Dominguez, president, and CEO of Children’s Hope Alliance. “We are extremely grateful to Case Farms for stepping up to be our lead sponsor for our fundraising event in the Lake Norman area.”

This year, the luncheon theme is “Planting Seeds of Hope,” which will approach brain science and how a child’s view of the world around them can impact brain development and well-being. “Planting” positive thoughts and experiences in a child’s life through therapy builds resilience to overcome future life struggles. Luncheon speakers and a self-guided lobby experience will help attendees better understand the challenges youth face today — whether it’s negative thoughts, too much screentime or peer pressure about self-image. The luncheon is free to the public and the community is welcome to register to attend and learn more about this important issue facing today’s youth.

Chore-Time Europe names Sanz

Rituerto regional sales manager

PANNINGEN, Netherlands — Daniel Sanz Rituerto has joined Chore-Time Europe as the regional sales manager for South Europe, according to Paul Janssen, sales director for the CTB Inc., business unit. Sanz Rituerto brings extensive poultry systems knowledge and experience to his new position to help ensure the further development and positioning of Chore-Time and its products in southern European markets. He will be responsible for continuing to expand the sales of Chore-Time products and creating win-win situations for both the customers

as well as the company in this territory, the company announced.

Prior to joining Chore-Time Europe, Sanz Rituerto gained more than 10 years of experience as an Agri-Food and Rural Environment Engineer in the poultry industry working with the distribution, sales and service of Chore-Time products.

Sanz Rituerto received a bachelor of science degree in agricultural engineering and a master’s degree in plant protection and organic agriculture from the University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Aragón in Spain. Sanz Rituerto currently resides with his family in Zaragoza, Spain.

Butterball executive retires, new VP of live operations named

GARNER, N.C. — Officials at Butterball LLC recently announced that Walter (Gator) Pelletier, vice president of live operations, retired at the end of 2023. Vernon Felts, who most recently held the role of senior director of live operations, immediately assumed Pelletier’s vacancy. Pelletier will remain a member of Butterball’s board of directors as a Goldsboro Milling Co. representative.

Pelletier joined Butterball in October 2006 when Maxwell Farms LLC acquired Butterball. He was responsible for all of North Carolina’s turkey growing operations until 2015, when we became head of Butterball’s live operations nationwide.

“Without a doubt, I’ll miss spending time daily with the leadership team (at Butterball) and the entire live operations team,” Pelletier said. “They are great people to work with! However, I’ll enjoy getting to spend more time with our seven grandkids and additional time traveling with my wife and family.”

Felts, who worked with Pelletier at Maxwell Farms, also joined Butterball in the 2006 acquisition. His longevity with the company and lengthy career in nutrition and farm management uniquely qualified him to for the vice president of live operations role. Felts sits on the Agricultural Advisory Board at University of Mount Olive in North Carolina, serves as a board member

for the National Turkey Federation, and is a member of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association Foundation Research Advisory Committee. He also served as an adjunct assistant professor in the poultry science department at North Carolina State University from 2005 to 2021.

“I look forward to being responsible for the production of all of Butterball’s turkeys nationwide,” Felts said. “I’m most looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that come with supporting and leading a wonderful team of experienced, industry-leading live operations team members.”

Felts will work out of Butterball’s Goldsboro, N.C., office. He is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in poultry science and a Ph.D. in animal science with a focus on poultry nutrition.

“Vernon brings a significant amount of expertise and professionalism to our live operations division. His leadership is outstanding, and I’m confident he will continue building a best-in-class program,” Butterball CEO Jay Jandrain said. “We will miss Gator as a part of the leadership team, but

we’re happy he will remain a board member. Retaining that continuity will prove beneficial to Butterball.”

Popeyes to launch in Italy

TORONTO — The Popeyes® brand and Restaurant Brands Iberia (RB Iberia), the parent of the master franchisees for Burger King® Spain, Burger King Portugal, Popeyes® Spain, and Tim Hortons® Spain, are announcing entry into a master franchise and development agreement to develop and grow the Popeyes brand in Italy.

Founded in New Orleans in 1972, Popeyes has more than 50 years of history and culinary tradition incorporating Cajun and Creole flavor profiles. Popeyes distinguishes itself with a unique New Orleans-style menu developed by an in-house team of professionally trained chefs featuring the brand’s signature chicken sandwich, spicy chicken, chicken tenders, fried shrimp, and other regional items. Popeyes famous chicken is freshly prepared, marinated for at least 12 hours, battered, and breaded by hand using its seasonings and

Sanz Rituerto

slow cooked.

“We’re very excited about growing the brand in Italy with RB Iberia, a long-term partner and strong operator,” said David Shear, president of International, Restaurant Brands International, parent company of Popeyes. “We have set ambitious expansion plans for our iconic brand, and today’s news highlights our commitment to serving Popeyes bold Louisiana flavors to more guests around the world.”

Chicken lovers in Italy can soon look forward to getting their hands on Popeyes world-famous menu items, including the brand’s signature Chicken Sandwich, which was declared one of the most successful quick service product launches when it was released in the United States in 2019, the company added.

“We are thrilled to spearhead the launch of Popeyes in Italy. It is an iconic brand, that has been wellreceived in Spain, and we are fully committed to its success within the Group,” said Gregorio Jiménez, chairman of Restaurant Brands Iberia. “Our company excels in managing master franchises, so we have a great business opportunity ahead of us, which will contribute to job creation in Italy and diversify

the QSR market for our Mediterranean neighbor.”

RB Iberia is committed to providing guests with an excellent digital experience, utilizing personalization and the latest service channels to serve our guests in the iconic hospitable way that is characteristic of the brand.

Popeyes is one of one of the world’s largest chicken quick-service restaurant brands with more than 4,300 restaurants in over 35 countries globally. This agreement marks a continuation of Popeyes’ expansion plan in Europe, with Popeyes restaurants already present in Spain, Switzerland, the UK, Romania, France, and recently in Poland and Czech Republic. The first Popeyes restaurant in Italy is scheduled to open later this year.

Product of Year USA names award winners

NEW YORK — Product of the Year USA, a consumer-voted awards program focused on product innovation, has announced the winners of its 2024 Product of the Year Awards, which span across 46 trending categories. Determined through a national study of 40,000 American shoppers in partnership

with Kantar consumer research, the Product of the Year winners have all been awarded as the most innovative in their category.

Product of the Year has operated for 16 years in the United States, and more than 30 years globally, supporting shoppers as a trusted guide to the best new products on the market, both online and in-store. With more consumers minding budgets and being more selective in their purchasing, the Product of the Year red seal is a distinctive mark that helps consumers cut through the masses of product on shelves to locate the best new products that stand out in the points that matter, such as thoughtful design, quality and innovation. By allowing shoppers to easily identify the top trendsetting products on the market, voted on by 40,000 fellow consumers, the emblem also serves as a valuable marketing tool for brands to build consumer awareness, especially among competitors within their respected spaces.

“The significance of Product of the Year has reached new heights in 2024 as consumers enjoy unprecedented access to products, and the marketplace becomes more dynamic with strategic part-

nerships that amplify reach and impact,” said Mike Nolan, global CEO of Product of the Year management. “The Iconic Product of the Year Seal not only recognizes innovation but also signifies a powerful endorsement in the modern retail era, enhancing the winners’ visibility and credibility in the marketplace. The 2024 award winners reflect the everchanging trends in the American market while also highlighting outstanding features in function, design, packaging, or ingredients. As a company, we are enthusiastic about maintaining our position at the forefront of recognizing and celebrating these remarkable products.”

From food and beverage, personal care, household products, pet care and more, a couple of the notable winners include:

• Meat Entree — Boar’s Head® FireSmith Flame Grilled Chicken Breast.

• Specialty Dairy — Organic Valley Reduced Fat Eggnog.

The winners of the 2024 Product of the Year Awards were revealed at the annual Product of the Year Awards Show in February at Tribeca 360° in New York City.

We are pleased to be able to offer the most effective reliable solution for poultry house sanitation available anywhere in the industry

– The Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer, manufactured by Flame Engineering in LaCrosse, Kansas.

By using the Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer, you will be able to maintain much greater control over the environment you are providing for your flocks.

We have seen indisputable excellent results in our area from the use of the Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer in the form of drier litter, greatly reduced pathogen levels, insect populations and ammonia levels reduced so that no chemical interventions are necessary.

The Red Dragon Poultry House Sanitizer is the safe, economical way to maintain your poultry houses with greater reliability and certainty than other methods you may be using.

• Flaming litter reduces ammonia. o <25ppm is desirable, the lower the better.

• Growers who flame are having great results.

• They are lowering their mortality by as much as ½% or more.

• They are increasing bird weight, an average of ¼ pound.

• They are moving up the ladder in their group at settlement.

• They are earning more money than their chemical peers.

• They are earning more money than they ever have in the past.

• For the growers and the integrator, this is what determines success.

• Properly applying 2000 degrees to litter gets results.

• As part of a total housekeeping system, flaming will solve and prevent problems.

If you would like to know more about this beneficial technology, please visit our website at

www.flameengineering.com and see the equipment in action or call 800-255-2469.

Study finds some crops tolerate ozone pollution better than others

BY JAN SUSZKIW USDA Agricultural Research Service

BELTSVILLE, Md. — Differences in the photosynthetic “machinery” of certain crop plants can make them more or less prone to harm caused by ground-level ozone pollution, according to a recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences paper published by a team of USDA Agricultural Research Service and University of Illinois scientists in UrbanaChampaign.

The findings — that so-called “C4” crops like corn and sorghum tolerate increased ozone levels better than “C3” crops, like rice or snap beans — open the door to better models for predicting crop responses to the effects of global climate change, as well as developing more resilient varieties that can sustain humanity’s increasing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel.

A crop is designated as C3 or

C4 depending on whether the CO2 it captures from the air is initially converted into a 3-carbon or 4-carbon compound. The general ability of C4 crops to tolerate increases in ground-level (or “tropospheric”) ozone better than C3 crops has long been suspected but not widely tested under actual field conditions, noted Lisa Ainsworth, a research molecular biologist who leads the ARS’s Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit at UIUC.

Together with her PNAS coauthors — namely, ARS research plant physiologist Christopher Montes and a UIUC team led by Shuai Li — Ainsworth conducted an extensive analysis of both published and unpublished data — the first set culled from 46 journal papers and the second set from 20 years’ worth of openair experiments conducted in the United States, India and China.

Specifically, their analysis focused on the responses of five C3 crops (chickpea, rice, snap

bean, soybean and wheat) and four C4 crops (sorghum, corn, giant miscanthus and switchgrass) to both ambient levels of ozone and increased concentrations of the gas, ranging from 40 to 100 parts per billion.

Of particular interest were changes in the crops’ photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll content and fluorescence (a form of measurement for the pigment), antioxidant leaf activity, biomass material and seed yield. Drilling down a bit further, the team also compared the ozone sensitivities of hybrid and inbred lines of corn and rice.

C3 and C4 crops differ in how their leaves capture carbon dioxide from the air as a key component of photosynthesis. It is the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, a sugar that helps power their growth, repair and development — and, in turn, sustain other forms of life on the planet, including humankind.

is very high. This enables higher rates of photosynthesis and greater efficiency of water use. Thus, C4 plants have lower stomatal conductance, resulting in less diffusion of carbon dioxide and ozone into leaves.

According to Ainsworth, the open-air experiments—properly known as “Free-Air Concentration Enrichment (or “FACE”) — provide a kind of ground truth about crop sensitivity to ozone (and carbon dioxide) that closed-air studies cannot.

“We’ve used both controlled environments and field studies to investigate crop responses to ozone,” Ainsworth said. “The advantage of FACE experiments is the real-world setting for experimentation. Plants are grown in soil, not pots, and there is no disruption of the continuum from soil to plant to atmosphere.”

Whether

grow a top

make a soft fluffy bedding without the need to decake or add shavings, we have the equipment to fit your operation. We have various models, sizes and options to fit your needs. Keep in mind, our goal is customer service, quality equipment and of course the BIRDS.

While both C3 and C4 crops use the enzyme called rubisco to convert carbon dioxide into sugars, C4 crops isolate rubisco in specialized cells where the concentration of carbon dioxide

In general, the team reported in their PNAS paper, exposure to increased ozone levels correlated with reduced chlorophyl content, fluorescence and seed yield in C3 crops more than the C4 group.

But there were differences within the two categories of crops as well, with snap bean,

Photo courtesy of Institute for Genomic Biology/University of Illinois Open-air field experiments are clarifying how some crops respond to ground-level ozone pollution.

rice, wheat, chickpea, soybean, maize, giant miscanthus, sorghum and switchgrass being ranked the most to least ozone sensitive. These findings differ from prior results that suggested soybean was the most sensitive and rice the least. Another finding highlighted in the PNAS paper was that increased ozone inflicted lower grain yield losses in hybrid lines of corn and rice than inbred lines.

The researchers note that current studies would benefit from side-by-side comparisons of the crops under open-air conditions. The protective role of phenolics and other antioxidants in the leaves of C4 crops also warrants further study.

Ainsworth said ozone pollution has risen to the level of other environmental stressors such as pressure from pests and disease, as well as drought and diminished soil health. However, there is hope for better crop resiliency. For example, the genetic variability in them can be key to unlocking traits for greater tolerance or photosynthetic efficiency. Also, management decisions that farmers can make — such as growing crops in new areas, planting earlier in the season or using later-maturing varieties — could further improve crop tolerance.

Jan R Suszkiw is a public affairs specialist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Md.

IPPE 2024 marks largest in show’s history

ATLANTA — The 2024 International Production & Processing Expo displayed its largest trade show floor ever with 621,350 square feet of exhibit space and 1,427 exhibitors.

The Expo was bustling with

robust crowds, busy exhibitors, and lively enthusiasm evident throughout the trade show floor, organizers noted. This year, IPPE had more than 31,000 poultry and egg, meat, and animal food industry attendees representing

130-plus countries. Final attendee numbers will be released after the registration database has been audited for duplications.

Sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, American Feed Industry Association, and the Meat Institute, IPPE is the world’s largest annual poultry and egg, meat and animal food industry event of its kind.

“The 2024 IPPE is our largest, most comprehensive event to date. We are thrilled with the excitement and energy displayed by this year’s

attendees and exhibitors and the business conducted on the trade show floor,” IPPE show organizers said. “The attendee and exhibitor numbers and large trade show floor continue to complement IPPE’s comprehensive education sessions, valuable networking opportunities and extensive exhibits highlighting the most current innovative technology, equipment and services for our industries.”

The large trade show floor continues to be the central attraction. Numerous companies are show-

casing their new products and services at IPPE, with all phases of the animal food, meat, and poultry and egg industries represented, from live production and processing to further processing and packaging.

The comprehensive education program schedule complements the exhibits by informing industry management about the newest issues impacting the industries. The 2024 line-up had more than 80 hours of education sessions, including information on animal agriculture sustainability, food safety, worker safety, animal food industry trends, poultry market trends, and more.

Other featured events included the International Poultry Scientific Forum, the Latin American Poultry Summit, Pet Food Conference, Food Safety Design Principles Workshop, Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit, TECHTalks program, New Product Showcase and publishersponsored programs, all of which were great contributions to the 2024 IPPE.

The next IPPE will be Jan. 28-30, 2025. For more information, visit www.ippexpo.org.

Lower Fuel Use Through Ammonia Control

The use of propane gas presents a number of challenges in poultry production, with its cost for poultry growers and its environmental impact topping the list.

A University of Georgia study, which evaluated the carbon footprint of poultry farms in the U.S., showed the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (68%) from broiler farms was from the use of fossil fuels, particularly propane gas used for heating during brooding and cold weather.

Jones-Hamilton set out to quantify how much propane consumption could be decreased, assessing both cost and environmental impact, through the reduction of ammonia during growout. Its litter amendment, PLT®, lowers litter pH and eliminates ammonia, thereby decreasing ventilation needs. When sufficient amounts of PLT are used, two independent studies found:

1. A decrease of 665 gallons of propone for every 1-ton of PLT applied, equating to a reduction of 16,000lbs of CO2 (winter)

2. A decrease in fuel costs for growers of 33 - 37% for a savings of up to $1,200/flock (based onclimate)

The impact of ammonia control on fuel was only one part of this research initiative. Additional details can be found at JonesHamiltonAg.com.

Del. family farm wins national enviro. award

ATLANTA — L & J Farm of Harrington, Del., was one of five farms across the United States to receive USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award during the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo in Atlanta, Ga.

The family farm’s owners, Linda and John Brown, were in Atlanta to receive the award, having been nominated for the honor by Delmarva Chicken Association. USPOULTRY sponsors the annual awards in recognition of exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.

The Browns raise 150,000 organic broiler chickens per flock for Perdue Farms, and theirs was the first commercial organic farm on Delmarva. They have opened their doors to many people over the years, including professionals, CEOs, farm suppliers, buyers, schools and more. L & J Farm makes use of an EcoDrum composter and was the first farm in Delaware to take advantage of the USDA cost share program for this equipment. Litter is primarily windrowed, with partial and complete cleanouts when necessary. They test their litter annually, and all litter removed from the farm is used for offsite cropland. Linda is an officer on the Tax Ditch Committee, part of the network of drainage ditches on Delmarva that help protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Browns also take online courses to keep up with the latest

best management practices.

The Browns have implemented many measures on their farm to make it more environmentally friendly, as well as neighbor friendly. Grass buffers at fans and tree buffers at the property line help to ensure that dust and odors are contained, and a pollinator garden, heavy use pads, improved roads and stormwater drainage ponds help to protect and enhance the surrounding environment. Using solar energy, including to charge their electric car, helps to reduce their environmental impact. Last year, anterooms were added to two houses in order to improve biosecurity as well.

L & J Farm received Delmarva Chicken Association’s inaugural George (Bud) Malone Environmental Award in 2022. Afterwards, DCA worked to nominate their farm for USPOULTRY’s highest environmental recognition, and USPOULTRY named the farm a semifinalist, earning them an all-expense trip paid to IPPE. USPOULTRY representatives toured the farm last fall during the judging process.

“John and Linda are fully dedicated to operating their farm with the highest standards of sustainability, and we at DCA are incredibly proud of what they have accomplished in decades of growing chickens,” said Holly Porter, DCA’s executive director, who attended the trade show and congratulated the Browns at their award ceremony.

Special L&J Farm, Harrington, Del., were recently among the winners of the USPOULTRY’s Family Farm Environmental Excellence Awards. At the IPPE for the award ceremony were John Brown, left, and Linda Brown, right, owners of L&J Farm; along with Holly Porter, center, Delaware Chicken Association executive director.

Calendar

MARCH

MAR 5-7 — FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Hot Springs, Ark.

Contact: The Poultry Federation, 321 South Victory Street, Little Rock, Ark. 72201; Ph: 501-3758131; info@thepoultryfederation.com; www.thepoultryfederaiton.com.

MAR 7-8 — FEED MILL MANAGEMENT SEMINAR, Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: USPOULTRY, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Ga. 30084; Ph: 770-493-9401; seminar@uspoultry.org; www.uspoultry.org.

MAR 12-14 — AFIA PURCHASING and INGREDIENT SUPPLIERS CONFERENCE, Grand Hyatt San Antonio River Walk, San Antonio, Texas. Contact: American Feed Industry Association, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 810, Arlington, Va. 22201. Ph: 703-524-0810; www.afia.org.

MAR 18-20 — ANNUAL MEAT CONFERENCE, Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, Tenn.

Contact: North American Meat Institute, 1150 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; Ph: 202-587-4200; www.meatinstitute.org.

APRIL

APR 11 — AFIA/KSU-500, Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing. Online course runs through May 14, 2024. Contact: American Feed Industry Association, 2101 Wilson Blvd., Suite 810, Arlington, Va. 22201. Ph: 703-524-0810; www.afia.org.

APR 16-17 — ENVIRONMENT, LABOR & SAFETY CONFERENCE, Loews New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, La. Contact: North American Meat Institute, 1150 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; Ph: 202-587-4200; www.meatinstitute.org.

APR 17-19 — PEAK 2024, Minneapolis Convention Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Contact: Midwest Poultry Federation, P.O. Box 265, Buffalo, Minn. 55313; Ph: 763-284-6763; info@ midwestpoultry.com; https://midwestpoultry.com.

APR 17-19 — WORKFORCE SUCCESS & ENGAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, Destin, Fla. Contact: USPOULTRY, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Ga. 30084; Ph: 770-493-9401; seminar@uspoultry.org; www. uspoultry.org.

APR 24 — TPA SERVICE TECH WORKSHOP, Farm Bureau Expo Center, Lebanon, Tenn.

Contact: Tennessee Poultry Association, 1404 N. Main St., Shelbyville, Tenn.; Ph: 931-2251123; info@tnpoultry.org; www. tnpoultry.org.

Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036; Ph: 202-5874200; www.meatinstitute.org.

MAY 15-17 — NPFDA 2024

MAY

MAY 15-16 — POULTRY PROCESSOR WORKSHOP, Embassy Suites Downtown, Nashville, Tenn. Contact: USPOULTRY, 1530 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Ga. 30084; Ph: 770-493-9401; seminar@uspoultry.org; www. uspoultry.org.

MAY 15-16 — ANIMAL CARE & HANDLING CONFERENCE, Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Kansas City, Mo. Contact: North American Meat Institute, 1150

SPRING EXCHANGE & GEORGIA POULTRY LAB TOUR, Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier Islands, Buford, Ga. Contact: National Protein & Food Distributors Association, 2014 Osborne Road, Saint Marys, Ga. 31558; Ph: 912-4393603; www.npfda.org.

MAY 21 — TPA GOLF

SCRAMBLE, Hermitage Golf Course, Old Hickory, Tenn. Contact: Tennessee Poultry Association, 1404 N. Main St., Shelbyville, Tenn.; Ph: 931-225-1123; info@ tnpoultry.org; www.tnpoultry.org.

New Mich. climate resiliency program to address long-term challenges in ag.

BY CAMERON RUDOLPH Michigan State University

EAST LANSING, Mich. —

Last year was the warmest year on record across the globe, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1850, the 10 warmest years have occurred in the past decade. Climate scientists have pointed to this trend as the root of more frequent and severe weather events.

For growers and producers of agricultural commodities, these climate challenges pose a variety of threats. From the extremes of flooding and drought to new pests and diseases, the environmental conditions farmers contend with are increasingly difficult to manage.

In Michigan, agricultural industries are dealing with both short- and long-term issues, but most funding has been provided to address urgent needs.

But a new partnership among the Plant Coalition (Michigan plant agriculture organizations), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), and Michigan State University is aimed at helping Michigan plant agriculture mitigate and adapt to climate change, while promoting environmental sustainability and the protection and efficient use of the state’s water resources.

The Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program — which operates through MSU AgBioResearch and MSU Extension — was established in 2024 through the MDARD budget with $1 million in recurring funds to support faculty and Extension positions. A one-time investment of $5 million will go toward a

competitive grants program, in which MSU researchers and Extension specialists can apply for three-year grants of up to $1.25 million.

“Climate resiliency is one of our highest priorities at MDARD. We know the longterm prosperity and viability of Michigan agriculture, especially our specialty crops, depends on our ability to adapt to shifting climate conditions,” said Dr. Tim Boring, MDARD director.

“Thanks to Gov. Whitmer’s bipartisan budget and commitment to agriculture, the department was able to make these key investments in climate and water science, which long-term, are really investments in the future of our Michigan farm families.”

The concept of the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program started several years ago with the plant coalition. The organizations’ leaders were interested in a mechanism that could benefit all of Michigan plant agriculture.

“This initiative really began in about 2016 when Michigan agriculture leaders got together and discussed research that could cut across commodities,” said Jim Zook, executive director of the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. “Existing programs have done a nice job of meeting specific industry needs, but we needed something that would support longer-term research for the betterment of Michigan agriculture as a whole. It’s essential to involve growers in this process because they’re the ones who have dedicated their lives to these industries, and MSU does a great job of working with them directly.”

For MSU leaders, the Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program represents an opportunity to position the university at the forefront of climate and water research, while delivering practical strategies to growers.

“The program is fundamentally about ensuring that Michigan is part of the solution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, in addition to issues around water quality,” said George Smith, director of MSU AgBioResearch. “Research will be multidisciplinary and geared toward sustainable approaches such as regenerative agriculture because we know that bolstering the resiliency of our agricultural systems in the face of new challenges is essential to Michigan and beyond.”

Proposals for the first set of projects are due March 1 and will be evaluated by a panel of experts from MSU, MDARD and the plant coalition.

“It’s important that this work is grounded in the field and applicable to farms across our state,” said Quentin Tyler, director of MSU Extension. “We want growers to be embedded into the program, helping to define the program’s goals that ultimately meet their needs. Through MSU Extension’s presence in all 83 Michigan counties, we can ensure that our entire agricultural community has access to the research outcomes generated by the climate resiliency program.”

In addition to competitive grants, one of the program’s objectives is to increase MSU knowledge and expertise in strategic areas of climate and water

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What’s NEW With You?

The Eclipse Flush Mount Kit provides brown out conditions while eliminating the need for a doghouse. The Eclipse, being a brown out version, still blocks light and allows for better airflow in your barn.

The light trap is on hinges allowing you to swing it open and easily maintain your fans.

The Narrow Loop Chain Feeder provides uniform feed distribution for your male birds. The unique grill prevents males from eating from inside the loop, encouraging them to eat from the outside of the system so they can be easily inspected and evaluated. This system is only 24” wide with a new hopper that can send feed in both directions at the same time. Additionally, only one winch lifts the entire system up in the air at night, enabling

the trough to be filled, then lowered in the morning for presentation feeding. Even better, this system uses a lot of the same parts as our hen feeders, ensuring that farmers and dealers have less parts to keep on the shelf.

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science. This involves a cluster hire of six new faculty positions and two Extension educators with the $1 million State of Michigan recurring investment. Startup packages are being supported in part by funds from the MSU Office of Research and Innovation and the Global Impact Initiative.

The faculty roles, which will be housed in departments within the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, will focus on:

• Groundwater use and availability for agriculture.

• Water quality with emphasis on nutrient flow and retention in surface water and soil.

• Economic impact of climate change on Michigan farms and programs focused on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

• Lifecycle analysis of agricultural systems — greenhouse gas emissions, impact of management, cost of inputs — with the goal of identifying return on in-

vestment for farmers.

• Modeling the impact of climate change on pest emergence and management.

• Modeling climate-smart agricultural management practices using remote sensing, climate data, soil information and more.

One of the Extension educa-

tors will develop programming on conservation-focused crop production that improves soil health and carbon sequestration. The second educator will lead educational efforts on how precision agriculture approaches such as remote sensing and statistical models can improve soil health and reduce

input costs.

On top of these eight positions, an additional six faculty members will be hired with support from the MSU Office of the Provost.

“These areas were identified as critical gaps that hinder our ability to form multidisciplinary teams to solve these climateand water-related problems,” Smith said. “It takes knowledge in key aspects of climate and water science to do this type of research, and while MSU is one of the leading plant science institutions in the world, we need additional experts to enhance our research capacity. We’re appreciative of the State of Michigan and the plant coalition for recognizing the long-term role MSU can play in improving our agricultural operations across the state and addressing climate challenges through this investment.”

Serving the Meat, Poultry and Seafood Industries

MARKETS

Compiled by David B. Strickland, Editor 770-718-3442

dstrickland@poultrytimes.com

National Turkey Market:

(Feb. 12): The market on frozen 8-16 lb. hens and 16-24 lb. toms was steady with mixed undertones. Demand light with buyer cautious. Offerings light to moderate. Frozen domestic Grade A basted equivalent processor offering prices on a national basis for Grade A 8-16 lb. hens were 87¢-$1.03 FOB and 16-24 lb. toms 87¢-$1.05 FOB for current shipments. No trading reported. The market on frozen tom breast meat was steady with mixed undertones noted and fresh steady at best. The fresh destrapped tenderloins market was steady with mixed undertones, frozen is steady with mixed undertones. The white trim markets were mostly steady. Demand light to moderate. White meat and white trim offerings ranged light to moderate. The market on 4-8 lb. breasts was steady to instances weak while institutional sized breasts were generally steady. Demand light to instances moderate. Offerings light to moderate. The domestic market on tom drums was steady to instances firm, tom necks steady to weak, and wings steady with a steady to firm undertone with 2-joints strongest. Wing demand mostly moderate, balance of tom bulk parts light to moderate. Offerings of hen and tom wings very light to light, balance of hen and tom bulk parts light to moderate. The thigh meat and bone-in thigh markets were steady to firm. Demand moderate to good. Offerings very light to light. The mechanically separated turkey market was mostly steady. Demand light to good, mostly moderate. Offerings very light to light, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports.

National Broiler/Fryer Slaughter:

Broiler: Estimated slaughter for week ending Feb. 10 was 157,696,000. Actual slaughter for the week ending Feb. 3 was 159,509,000.

Heavy-type hen: Estimated slaughter for the week ending Feb. 10 was 1,730,000.

Actual slaughter for the week ending Feb. 3 was 1,656,000.

Light-type hen: Estimated slaughter for the week ending Feb. 10 was 704,000. Actual slaughter for the week ending Feb. 3 was 704,000.

Total: Feb. 10: 160,130,000; Feb. 3: 161,869,000. The estimated number of broiler/fryers available for the week of Feb. 17 is 170 million.

Grain Prices

(Courtesy: Central Ohio Farmers Co-op, Marion, Ohio)

Broiler/Fryer Report

For week

USDA National Composite Weighted Average

Negotiated prices in trucklot and less-than-trucklot quantities of ready-to-cook whole body broiler/fryers delivere d to first receivers; prices in cents per pound

Egg Markets

USDA quotations

New York cartoned del. store-door: Jan.23 Feb. 12

Extra large, up $1.11 $2.21--$2.25 $3.32--$3.36

Large, up $1.11 $2.19--$2.23 $3.30--$3.34

Medium, up 38¢ $1.87--$1.91 $2.25--$2.29

Southeast Regional del. warehouse: Jan. 23 Feb. 12

Extra large, up $1.20 $1.99--$2.12 $3.19--$3.43

Large, up $1.20 $1.95--$2.07 $3.15--$3.38

Medium, up 50¢ $1.75½--$1.84 $2.25½--$2.33

Turkey Markets

Weighted avg. prices for frozen whole young turkeys

Weighted average (cents/lb.) F.O.B. shipper dock