News & Updates

  • Iowa State University awarded recruiting grant from USPOULTRY Foundation
    TUCKER, Ga. — The USPOULTRY Foundation has awarded a $7,000 student recruiting grant to Iowa State University to assist with enlisting students with an interest in poultry to become future industry leaders. With Iowa State’s Robert T. Hamilton Poultry Teaching and Research Facility and the Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility, many opportunities exist for students to gain hands on experience in both the laying hen and turkey industries while completing their degree at Iowa State. The funds will be used for the annual FFA Poultry Career Development and Educational Competition and the “Flock to Your Future” event, held in conjunction with the Iowa Egg Symposium. The funds will also assist in engaging young learners through Animal Science Learning Day, as well as by directly engaging with the poultry industry through industry trips to tour processing plants and allied poultry companies throughout the state of Iowa and Midwest. “These tours allow students to engage with the industry and observe new trends in poultry production and processing,” Dawn Koltes, assistant professor in the Department of Animal Science and Poultry Interest Group advisor, said. “Additionally, with the assistance of extension program specialist, Amy Powell, this funding will support ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-18By Staff Author
  • Take a ‘PEAK’ at this year’s Midwest show
    MINNEAPOLIS — Progress, Experience, Advancement and Knowledge — what do these words represent? They represent some, but not all, of the aspects of this year’s “Midwest Show.” PEAK 2024, the annual convention of the Midwest Poultry Federation, is getting geared up for three days packed full for all attending this regional trade show that organizers note as being, “the nation’s largest trade show and convention focused exclusively on the business and food production of poultry.” This year’s PEAK, April 17-19, is changing up its schedule of days, shifting to a Wednesday to Friday format featuring a trade show floor, numerous educational sessions, as well as several networking opportunities. “PEAK is the ideal place to connect with professionals, researchers, and industry experts to exchange ideas with others in the poultry industry,” Ross Thoreson, MPF president, whose company, Best Veterinary Solutions, is a long-time show exhibitor, said. “PEAK attendees stay informed about industry trends, scouring the trade show floor for the latest innovations, technologies, and trends in the industry that will benefit their farm businesses and help them stay competitive.” There are many educational sessions to take part in during this year’s convention. Beginning with the annual Pre-Show Nutrition and ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-18By David Strickland
  • Wayne-Sanderson Farms provides meals to Texas wildfire victims and responders
    BRYAN, Texas — As the Smokehouse Creek Fire continues to impact Texas, Wayne-Sanderson Farms’ Bryan Processing Complex has donated 20,000 pounds of fresh chicken and 500 cases of ice to help feed local families and first responders. Company representatives delivered the chicken to the Borger Salvation Army, which is working with local officials to provide relief to victims and emergency responders. The blaze has become the largest fire in state history, engulfing over a million acres and burning across several towns along the Texas Panhandle. “We are thinking of our neighbors in Texas and are glad to provide some support to those impacted by this devastating fire,” said Allen Laughlin, Wayne-Sanderson Bryan Processing Complex manager. Wayne-Sanderson Farms partners with hundreds of local family poultry farms and operates four poultry processing complexes in Texas, including feed mills, production facilities and hatcheries. The post Wayne-Sanderson Farms provides meals to Texas wildfire victims and responders appeared first on poultrytimes.com. ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-15By Staff Author
  • Mountaire Farms recognized as AFIA’s Integrator Feed Facility of the Year
    ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Feed Industry Association, in partnership with Feedstuffs and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, has named Mountaire Farms’ Scotland County feed mill in Maxton, N.C., as its 2023 Integrator Feed Facility of the Year. Gary Huddleston, AFIA’s director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs, presented the award to plant manager Hector Pacheco during the recent USPOULTRY Feed Mill Management Seminar. “The fact that this facility has been recognized as the Integrator Feed Facility of the Year two years in a row speaks volumes about their dedication to running an excellent facility,” Huddleston said. “Their focus on producing safe quality poultry feed and employee safety is second to none.” In 2022, the feed manufacturing facility produced 1,048,635 tons of feed, with the plant designed for an expansion to increase production capacity to 1.75 million tons of feed annually. The facility is Safe Feed/Safe Food certified through AFIA’s certification program. In addition to excellence in feed production, Mountaire Farms is committed to prioritizing employee safety and philanthropic efforts through two unique programs. The “Goal Zero” program aims for zero workplace accidents, and the “Mountaire Cares” program illustrates the company’s commitment to giving back to its ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-14By Staff Author
  • Like a bad penny, talk of reporting ammonia is back
    TUCKER, Ga. — There’s an old saying, “A bad penny always turns up.” Apparently, the phrase dates as far back as the 1300s and comes from the occurrence of counterfeit pennies in circulation. Now the phrase is often used to describe something that is unwelcome or someone or something that unwantedly re-occurs. This phrase is certainly fitting for the subject of reporting the emission of ammonia from poultry houses. On Feb. 15, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closed the docket on accepting comments after issuing an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) that requested information that would assist the Agency “in the potential development of regulations to reinstate the reporting of animal waste air emissions at farms under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).” EPCRA resulted from Congress’s passing of a federal statute that was introduced after a release of a pesticide in 1984 from an industrial plant in Bhopal, India. One key provision of EPCRA is a requirement to immediately report an accidental release of “Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHSs) and CERCLA hazardous substances. Following the initial notification of an accidental release, the facility must also provide a follow-up written report on the incident. State Emergency ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-14By Guest Author
  • PACK EXPO East bringing latest technologies to Philadelphia
    HERNDON, Va. — PMMI, the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, is bringing PACK EXPO East to the city of brotherly love, March 18-20, for its sixth iteration — and largest show to date. The event represents a comprehensive showcase of packaging and processing technologies. “Philadelphia is a critical innovation hub at the crossroads of some of the world’s biggest brands and many emerging companies,” Jim Pittas, PMMI president and CEO, said. “PACK EXPO East brings cutting-edge technologies to the backyards of those engineers, plant managers, package designers, and other busy brand professionals so they can see up close and in person the solutions that stand to transform their operations.” More than 7,000 professionals are expected to attend, representing a wide range of manufacturing sectors, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, household, industrial and agricultural chemicals, and personal care, toiletries, and cosmetics. Mirroring a series of PMMI Business Intelligence industry-focused reports, PMMI projects the top trends to see are sustainability, automation, and remote services. Sustainability remains central in packaging and processing, driven by increasing government regulations on environmental impact. Companies are not only complying with these laws but also implementing internal strategies to enhance sustainability in their operations and ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-14By Staff Author
  • Maple Leaf Foods announces refreshed strategic focus
    MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has announced an update to the company’s strategic focus and a realignment of its organizational structure, including several executive changes. “For the past five years, our vision to be the most sustainable protein company on earth has been our north star and raising the good in food is what gives us purpose every day,” said Curtis Frank, Maple Leaf Foods CEO. “As our business shifts from an intensive phase of investing in building and commissioning new plants to realizing the benefits of our world-class network, the time is appropriate to refine the strategies that underpin our Purpose and Vision through an evolved strategic Blueprint.” The company unveiled its new, evolved Blueprint, which acts as a strategic compass for the organization. The Blueprint outlines the company’s five core strategies in its pursuit of delivering shared value for its stakeholders: · Lead the Way – By making better food, taking better care and nurturing a better planet. · Build Loved Brands – By growing consumer relevance, delivering impactful innovation and leveraging our unique capabilities. · Broaden our Impact – By extending our geographic reach, developing new channels and categories and diversifying our protein ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-13By Staff Author
  • USDA soliciting input on petition to deregulate corn developed using genetic engineering
    WASHINGTON — USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is soliciting public input on a petition submitted by Bayer U.S.-Crop Science to deregulate a corn cultivar developed using genetic engineering. The cultivar is designated as MON95379. It was modified to resist feeding damage caused by target lepidopteran pests, including fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), sugarcane borer (diatraea saccharalis), and corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea). The input received during the public comment period will help identify issues and potential impacts that should be considered in review and determine the appropriate environmental documents to prepare to document a decision, USDA noted. USDA said that it is evaluating MON95379 corn under its legacy regulations (formerly, 7 CFR § 340.6) because Bayer submitted the product for review prior to implementation of current biotechnology regulations. The legacy regulations focused on whether a plant pest was used in the product development and if there are potential increased plant pest risks compared to conventional counterparts. Under the legacy regulations, APHIS first solicits public input on the petition for 60 days. The comments received on the petition aid the agency in preparing appropriate environmental documents. A second opportunity for public involvement will come when its publishes either a notice of ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-13By Staff Author
  • Easy Bio acquiring Devenish Nutrition
    SEOUL, South Korea — Easy Bio, a South Korean animal nutrition company, announces the acquisition of a 100 percent stake in Devenish Nutrition LLC, a U.S. corporation specializing in feed additives, in a move to strengthen its feed additive and premix business in North America, the company said. Specifically, the former’s U.S. subsidiary, Easy Bio USA, took over Devenish Nutrition from its parent company, Devenish Holdings Limited located in Northern Island. Since its launch in 1998, Fairmont, Minn.-headquartered Devenish Nutrition has been competitively operating businesses such as feed additives and premixes, which meet various needs of customers through five production plants and six research facilities in the United States and Mexico, the company added. In particular, more than 30 of its 200-plus employees are Ph.D.-level personnel, which helped the company establish a firm position in the North American livestock market through value-adding products and services based on high-quality technology and research capabilities. After its foundation in 1988, Easy Bio has headed the technology in alternative antibiotic solutions, cost-saving solutions, and animal gut health solutions under the banner of “Guidance for Sustainable Animal Industry” and has focused all of its capabilities on setting out directions for the future eco-friendly animal industry ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-12By Staff Author
  • University of Georgia announces increases to campus security
    ATHENS, Ga. — Hundreds of students from the University of Georgia and Augusta University mourned the loss of their classmate Laken Riley with a vigil on the UGA campus recently. Riley, who was a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, went out for a run Feb. 22 on a trail near the intramural fields on the UGA campus in Athens, Ga. Her friend informed the university police that she never came back. She was found dead in a wooded area near the running trail. Police arrested the suspect Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, and he is being held without bond. Officials note that Ibarra did not know Riley, and Jeff Clark, chief of the UGA police, said they are calling it a “crime of opportunity.” On March 7, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill dubbed the “Laken Riley Act,” which requires federal detention of migrants who commit crimes such as burglary and theft. In the light of this recent crime, the nation’s colleges and universities are taking a serious look at how to keep students safe. The University of Georgia announced that it is reconstructing its security procedures to ensure the student population is safe. “The protection of ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-12By Elizabeth Bobenhausen
  • Vertical Cold Storage expands its presence in DFW market
    KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vertical Cold Storage, a developer and operator of temperature-controlled distribution centers sponsored by real estate investment firm Platform Ventures, has purchased a new facility in Burleson, Texas. Burleson is Vertical Cold’s second facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth market and will provide customers with the flexibility and additional capacity they need, the company said, adding that the new warehouse will employ up to 70 full-time team members. “Our new facility enables us to optimize the location of our customers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth market from our Richardson facility on the east side of Dallas to Burleson just south of Fort Worth. Burleson leverages our integrated IT platform, standard processes, automated material handling equipment, and AI technology to ensure safe and efficient operations for our customers and associates,” said West Hutchison, Vertical Cold Storage, president and CEO. The facility, located adjacent to I-35, is more than 400,000 sq. ft, with an average clear height of 55 feet and 53 dock doors. It includes multiple rooms convertible to -20 degrees F and is well-suited for a wide range of frozen and refrigerated food and other perishable products. Vertical Cold will be implementing a new, efficient refrigeration system ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-11By Staff Author
  • EPA makes key decision on year-round E15 fuel
    GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Eight midwestern governors recently made a request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to allow the sale of 15 percent ethanol gasoline year-round. The governors included J.B. Pritzker, Illinois; Kim Reynolds, Iowa; Jim Pillen, Nebraska; Tim Walz, Minnesota; Mike Parson, Missouri; Mike DeWine, Ohio; Kristi Noem, South Dakota; and Tony Evers, Wisconsin. The agency granted the request of the eight governors and the sale of E15 gasoline will begin April 28, 2025. Reuters reported that the corn-based ethanol industry became frustrated at the later starting date. “We are glad to hear this decision from EPA, as it puts us on the road to providing more certainty to America’s corn growers and consumers who will save money at the pump,” Harold Wolle, National Corn Growers Association president, said. “However, given that this decision will not take effect until the summer of 2025, we question and are concerned about the implications of the timeline for growers and consumers this summer.” Previously E15 gasoline has not been sold during the summer due to federal government regulations. According to Reuters, the regulations were put into effect because of smog concerns. However, the biofuel industry said the reservations of smog ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-11By Elizabeth Bobenhausen
  • College Student Career Program keynote offered students career advice
    ATLANTA — Nearly 500 students from 41 colleges and universities nationwide convened in Atlanta, Ga., recently for the USPOULTRY Foundation College Student Career Program, held in conjunction with the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The students had an opportunity to meet and interview with 83 human resource managers and recruiters representing 27 companies. The keynote address, provided by Casey English, FSQA supervisor for Cobb Genetics and a former College Student Career Program participant, gave a fresh perspective on poultry industry careers. Urging students to “find your why,” English emphasized the importance of the poultry industry in feeding the expanding world population. English reassured attendees that there are many valid reasons to join the industry and work in different roles. He also emphasized that it is okay for motivations and roles to change over time. Following his address, English opened the floor for questions and provided several answers to students. The College Student Career Program continues to be an efficient and effective way for the poultry industry to find the leaders of the future and has played a vital role in numerous companies’ hiring process for many years. It is the premier career event of its kind for students ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-08By Staff Author
  • Camryn Wilder receives 2024 Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year Award
    ATLANTA — Camryn Wilder, Texas A&M University, was awarded the Frank Perdue Scholarship Student of the Year during the USPOULTRY Foundation’s College Student Career Program, held in conjunction with the 2024 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The scholarship is named in Frank Perdue’s honor, for his dedication to aspiring young people studying for careers in the poultry industry. Perdue was a long-time supporter of the College Student Career Program and attended the program and interviewed students for many years. Abigail Flores, Texas A&M University, and Zachery Keeter, North Carolina State University, were recognized in second and third place. “We received many high-caliber applicants this year for the Student of the Year, making it difficult to choose a winner. It is rewarding to see this program continue to grow and expose talented future leaders to the poultry and egg industry,” said Kevin McDaniel, senior vice president and general manager, Fresh Division at Wayne-Sanderson Farms, USPOULTRY board member and College Student Career Program Advisory Committee chair. Students also participated in Club of the Year and Scrapbook of the Year competitions. North Carolina State University was named Club of the Year, which is based on year-long activities and community engagement ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-08By Staff Author
  • Animal ag and public health on the docket for 2024 Stakeholders Summit
    ARLINGTON, Va. — Veterinarian and master of public health Dr. Michelle Kromm, alongside HealthforAnimals’ Alex Rinkus, will dive into the topic of animal agriculture and its role in public health at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2024 Stakeholders Summit. The 2024 event, themed “Ready, Set, Solve! Advancing Animal Agriculture,” is set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Mo. Check out the full agenda and register at https://bit.ly/AAA24. “Antibiotics are an important tool for people and animals, and their continued effectiveness is paramount to safeguard animal health and food availability,” said Emily Ellis, manager, communications and content, Animal Agriculture Alliance. “Eliminating this tool from farmers’ toolboxes would do more harm than good and be in direct violation of recommended animal welfare practices. Michelle and Alex will provide an expert view on the subject, backed up with decades of research, to support the animal agriculture community and our partners along the food chain in identifying solutions to the challenging issue of antibiotic resistance.” Antibiotics and their effectiveness have been a long-standing hot topic in the agriculture community and with consumers. Kromm and Rinkus will share more than 20 years of insights into managing the balance between animal and public health. This ... read more
    Published on 2024-03-07By Staff Author