News & Updates
- White House ‘Colonnade of Eggs’ exhibit honors military familiesWASHINGTON — The White House hosted its annual Easter Egg Roll Apr. 1, in partnership with the American Egg Board. AEB expressed how proud it is to have worked on the “Colonnade of Eggs” project to support First Lady Jill Biden’s initiative to help military families. Children of National Guard families created egg designs that were displayed in the East Colonnade of the White House. “Children from National Guard families across the nation submitted egg designs to be featured at the 2024 White House ‘Colonnade of Eggs’ exhibit,” AEB said. “Designs crafted by National Guard children from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands will be on display.” However, this Easter Egg Roll art contest was met with controversy. According to Fox News, the flyer for the art contest said, “must not include any questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements. Selected designs representing the unique experience and stories of National Guard children will be brought to life on real hen eggs by talented egg artists from across the country and displayed at the White House this Easter and Passover season.” Kelly Hokanson, National Guard Bureau ... read more
- Cal-Maine facility in Texas reports positive for HPAIRIDGELAND, Miss. — A Parmer County, Texas, facility of Cal-Maine Foods reported on Apr. 2, positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza H1N5. The company reports that it depopulated 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 pullets, which amounts to about 3.6 percent of the company’s total flock. Cal-Maine is the nation’s largest producer and distributor of fresh shell eggs. It adds that this facility is temporarily closed, and the company is following USDA protocols, and is also working with its other facilities to make the impact on customers minimal. In a statement, Cal-Maine notes that it, “remains dedicated to robust biosecurity programs across its locations; however, no farm is immune from HPAI. HPAI is still present in the wild bird population and the extent of possible future outbreaks, with heightened risk during the migration seasons, cannot be predicted. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the human health risk to the U.S. public from HPAI viruses is considered to be low. Also, according to the USDA, HPAI cannot be transmitted through safely handled and properly cooked eggs. There is no known risk related to HPAI associated with eggs that are currently in the market and no eggs have ... read more
- Summer is coming, be prepared for salmonellaGAINESVILLE, Ga. — It’s getting to be that time of year when friends and families across the United States begin to have picnics and cookouts. Although, with the warmer weather, it is important to remember the threat of salmonella. Salmonella are bacteria that were discovered by an American scientist named Dr. Daniel Salmon in 1885. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are an estimated 1.35 million salmonella cases each year, along with 26,500 hospitalizations and 420 deaths. The germs can be transmitted from animals to people, along with people to people. It is common during the summer and spring months because of the warmer temperatures. Eggs are common food to eat and to use throughout the year. In the spring, which is highlighted by the Easter holiday, many people use eggs to make delicious entrees to eat such as deviled eggs and egg salad. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that salmonella can be found on the shell of an egg or inside the egg. To ensure that everyone is safe from salmonella and eggs, the FDA shared some tips for a healthy food handling: Clean · Wash hands, utensils, dishes, and work surfaces (counter ... read more
- Agricultural, environmental and conservation groups investing $2M in DelmarvaGEORGETOWN, Del. — The Delmarva Chicken Association, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance are partnering with chicken farmers to invest $2 million in cost-share programs to accelerate the adoption of chicken farming best management practices in Maryland, Delaware and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watersheds and improve riparian buffers, precision nutrient management, conservation drainage and litter management. The three-year effort, which began accepting chicken farmers’ applications for cost-share support this spring, is backed by a $997,327 grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation through NFWF’s Chesapeake Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants Program, a partnership between NFWF and the Environmental Protection Agency. Delmarva Chicken Association, the state of Maryland, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance are contributing a combined $1 million in matching funds to the initiative, and DCA is working with the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance to implement the conservation measures, farm by farm. The goal for each partner in the initiative is to improve the sustainability of the chicken community while continuing to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. “Since the 1980s, farmers have increased food production to meet growing demand ... read more
- USDA secures market access for U.S. poultry exports to ColombiaWASHINGTON — The USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative have reopened the Colombian market for U.S. poultry and egg product exports, culminating several months of collaborations with the Colombian Institute of Agriculture to resolve this trade barrier. “We’re pleased that Colombian officials are living up to the commitments outlined in the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement,” said USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor. “Holding our trading partners accountable is critical to ensuring the benefits of trade are felt by our farmers and ranchers across the United States and in their local communities.” “Reopening this market was of critical importance to U.S. poultry producers and to USDA,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Our team collaborated tirelessly with Colombian officials to demonstrate that U.S. poultry and egg products do not pose an animal health risk and can be safely imported.” Before the market was closed in August 2023 due to concerns over highly pathogenic avian influenza in the region, Colombia was the 10th largest market for U.S. poultry, with exports reaching $105 million in 2022. The post USDA secures market access for U.S. poultry exports ... read more
- HPAI virus found in cattle in some western statesGAINESVILLE, Ga. — The USDA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as other local officials are looking into instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza found in cattle. The disease is primarily found in birds. The USDA reports in a release that the states of Kansas, Texas and New Mexico have reported finding HPAI in some cattle. An oropharyngeal swab test was conducted on a dairy farm in Texas. Unpasterized clinical samples were gathered from two dairy farms in Kansas and one farm in Texas. The tests concluded that the virus was making cattle ill. However, some other tests were performed on March 22-24 because farmers had seen deceased birds on their land. The findings in Texas showed that the transmission of the disease was from wild birds. The National Veterinary Services found no evidence that suggests that HPAI can be transmitted to humans due to no mutations in the virus. According to the Kansas Department of Agriculture, symptoms can include a drop in milk production, loss of appetite and changes in fecal consistency. The illness seems to be affecting older cattle. The USDA and the Kansas Department of Agriculture said that ... read more
- USPOULTRY seeking nominations for the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence AwardTUCKER, Ga. — The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations for the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award through July 1. The goal of the award, which has been presented since 2013, is to recognize outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, that have made a significant positive impact on the poultry industry. Nominations can be accepted from universities and research institutions that conduct poultry research, as well as from anyone in the research community or any USPOULTRY member, staff and sponsored committee. Self-nominations are also allowed. Nominations should focus on research projects completed within the past five years but may include projects completed at an earlier time if a project’s impact has only recently become recognized. Additional information about the award can be found by video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT6uTXTFnwQ. To submit a nomination, please send a letter to Dr. Denise Heard, vice president of research, at dheard@uspoultry.org. The letter should include the nominee’s name, a brief description of the nominee’s research accomplishments and the impact of the research. The recipient of the Dr. Charles Beard Research Excellence Award will be the primary researcher who conducted the recognized research project(s) and ... read more
- TAMU: Feeding cattle after the wildfiresCOLLEGE STATION, Texas — Truckloads of hay rolled in from across Texas and beyond, bringing much-needed feed for cattle in the wake of more than 1.2 million acres of ranchland and pastures blackened by wildfires across the Texas Panhandle. According to USDA numbers, in most years, almost 100,000 head of cattle graze pastureland in Hemphill, Roberts, Gray, Hutchinson, Oldham, Potter and Carson counties. The wildfires burned as much as 50 percent of these acres, with a greater percentage in some counties than others, and grassland won’t be available for grazing this season. Ranchers couldn’t make it without this much-needed donated hay. However, the livestock’s nutrition care doesn’t end there, according to two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialists. · Daily feeding Dr. Ron Gill, a professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science, Bryan-College Station, said cows will consume about 2 to 2.6 percent of their body weight in dry hay depending on quality, so it is important to provide enough for their full daily intake. “Depending on the number of cattle on hay, it may be necessary to put out numerous hay rings so cows have adequate access to ... read more
- Case Farms announces changes to executive leadership teamTROUTMAN, N.C. — Case Foods Inc., a leading poultry company, and its Case Farms affiliated companies announce the appointments of Chuck McDaniel to president and chief operating officer, and Brian Roberts to chief commercial officer, effective immediately. McDaniel brings extensive industry experience, having previously worked for Case Foods from 2003 to 2012 in various roles, including vice president and general manager for the Ohio operations and director of commodity sales. McDaniel has also served in various sales management positions with Columbia Farms, Gold Kist, and Koch Foods. For the last 12 years, he has served as vice president, account management for Agri Stats. “Chuck has been an integral part of our growth in Ohio during his tenure of 10 years with me. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the company in this new leadership role,” said Mike Popowycz, Case Foods vice chairman and CEO. Originally from South Carolina, McDaniel graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in psychology, received his master’s degree in management science from the University of Central Texas, and served in the U.S. Army for 5 years as an Apache attack helicopter pilot. Roberts joined Case Foods in 2016 as ... read more
- Chick-fil-A changes policy for antibiotic free chickenGAINESVILLE, Ga. — One of the nation’s most well-known chicken fast food restaurant chains announces that it’s making a major change in the type of chicken it will be using going forward. Chick-fil-A released a statement saying, “Chick-fil-A restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico will transition to chicken raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM) starting in the spring of 2024.” The Chick-fil-A website explains that “NAE means no antibiotics of any kind were used in raising the animal.” The company adds that, “NAIHM restricts the use of those antibiotics that are important to human medicine and commonly used to treat people, and allows use of animal antibiotics only if the animal and those around it were to become sick.” According to Yahoo News, the restaurant committed to using chickens that had been raised with antibiotics 10 years ago and the implementation began five years ago. “If the animal does become ill, it will be treated with antibiotics not intended for humans,” Chick-fil-A added. “In accordance with (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) requirements, all antibiotics must be cleared from the chicken’s system before it is considered available for the chicken supply.” The ... read more
- Scientists fear for penguin populations as Antarctica sees first case of bird fluGAINESVILLE, Ga. — In February, Reuters reported scientists discovered a fatal case of a type of avian influenza on the continent of Antarctica that could cause harm to the penguin populations. Spain’s Higher Council for Scientific Investigation (CSIC) said, “This discovery demonstrates for the first time that the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus has reached Antarctica despite the distance and natural barriers that separate it from other continents.” CSIC noted that the virus was found through samples of dead skua sea birds that were discovered by Argentine scientists near the scientific station of Primavera. “Analysis has conclusively shown that the birds were infected with the H5 subtype of avian influenza and at least one of the dead birds contained the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus,” CSIC noted in the report. Reuters added that Fabiola Leon from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile participated in an expedition from late 2023 to early 2024. Her task was to observe the bird flu in Antarctica. “We are talking about a very worrying risk,” Leon said in the report. “There are species in danger of extinction, such as emperor penguins and other birds.” The organizer of the expedition, the Chilean ... read more
- U.S. egg industry continues trade mission efforts in South KoreaWASHINGTON — Egg industry officials, along with USDA and dozens of agribusinesses, farm organizations and state departments of agriculture representatives are making what is a second trade mission to South Korea in six months, during the week of March 25-28. The mission is being led by USDA Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor. American Egg Board President and CEO Emily Metz, and Greg Hinton, vice president of sales at Rose Acre Farms, Seymour, Ind., will be representing the U.S. egg industry. AEB notes that South Korea is a key strategic target market for the U.S. and is the number five top export destination for U.S. egg products. “Returning to South Korea with the USDA after our very successful egg industry trade mission last November reaffirms our commitment to targeting significant growth opportunities in this top egg-buying export market,” Metz said. “Our objective is to help our producers diversify their sales portfolios and increase access to safe, high-quality U.S. eggs and egg products as part of a larger strategic goal to double U.S egg exports in the next five years.” AEB adds that it is working in partnership with the USA Poultry & Egg Export ... read more
- TAMU: Egg prices increase ahead of Easter holidayCOLLEGE STATION, Texas — Egg prices are on the rise as Easter approaches, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert, but they are lower than what consumers may have paid at the grocery store earlier in the year. Consumers — and the Easter bunny — may have noticed the price of eggs increasing recently but that has mostly to do with demand, said Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension economist, Bryan-College Station. Anderson said he expects that trend to continue leading up to the Easter holiday. “We’re actually producing more eggs than we did a year ago, but eggs have a seasonal pattern to them,” he said, “And with Easter being earlier than usual this year, we’re also seeing prices rise earlier than we typically would.” Producers saw wholesale prices for cartons of shell eggs strengthening through this past week with the increasing demand. Holidays tend to drive demand up as consumers purchase more eggs than usual for eating and baking. The Easter holiday demand also includes the purchase of eggs to dye and hide. · Egg prices rising but lower than previous month According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in February the Consumer ... read more
- Industry leaders meet to ‘Stand Up for Grain Safety’GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announces that the Stand Up 4 Grain annual convention will be held this week in Mitchell, S.D., beginning on March 25. South Dakota is also home to the Corn Palace. Since 1892, the Corn Palace has represented the state’s healthy agricultural conditions. The conference will run through March 29, and include the participation of OSHA, the Grain Handling Safety Council, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, and the National Grain and Feed Association. “Despite a reduction in grain bin fatalities, far too many people are still being harmed or losing their lives as they work to produce our nation’s food supply,” OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer Rous said. “The agricultural industry must never overlook the importance of following all safety procedures to protect workers from the dangers lurking in grain bins, such as engulfments and heat illness, which can quickly lead to tragedy.” Stand Up 4 Grain Week launched at the South Dakota Grain Bin Engulfment Prevention Summit, “a hybrid in-person and online event where industry leaders and stakeholders led safety demonstrations and other discussions. The event is presented by Agtegra Cooperative, Oklahoma State University, OSHA ... read more
- Connect, Grow and Thrive: Reflections from NPFDA’s 2024 chairST. MARYS, Ga. —I am honored to have been selected to serve as the 2024 board chair for the National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA). My road with NPFDA started back in the late 1980s when I was working at Lehar Sales in Oakland, Calif. Lehar Sales was a founding and active member of NPFDA. In the mid-1990s, Lehar’s Bob Gaddini sent me to an Urner Barry Conference in Las Vegas. He called Kristin McWhorter, who was the executive director of NPFDA at the time and asked her to look after his girl. A dear friendship ensued, and almost 30 years later, Kristin and I still look after each other. After I departed Lehar, I stayed connected with NPFDA thanks to the prodding of Kristin, but it wasn’t until I was at Foodlinx that I became truly involved. NPFDA was formed in 1967 when a group of independent poultry and protein distributors gathered to discuss the fast-changing concepts of their business. They knew that there was no organization in the country that could deal with the exclusive problems of their industry. It was through these discussions that the National Independent Poultry and Food Distributors Association – or “NIPFDA” – ... read more
- Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian flu confirmed in Alaska
Highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza has been confirmed in a wild mallard duck from a state wildlife refuge in Alaska, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced on August 26 … read more
- 3 Important Biosecurity Concepts for Your Poultry Farm
The effectiveness of any biosecurity program is affected by what is in the program and whether the program is being followed. All it takes is one instance of a policy circumvented … read more
- Arkansas Poultry Industry Braces for Bird Flu
Many Arkansans are looking skyward, eager to see migrating ducks from the north flying though the state when hunting season opens in November. Many other Arkansans are looking … read more