Alabama Poultry, January/Febrary 2017

AP&EA P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Address Service Requested

January / February 2017 Vol. 12 No. 1

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January / February 2017

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Board of Directors

Officers Harold Hunt, President, Gadsden* Kenneth Sanders, Vice President, Brundidge* Mitchell Pate, Treasurer, Auburn* Jason Spann, Secretary, Hanceville* Tim Esslinger, Immediate Past President, Huntsville*

Directors Johnny Adcock, Woodland Lou Ayers, Jasper Sam Black, Cullman Richard Curvin, Ashland Cory Early, Albertville Dale Gambrill, Snead Ben Gore, Cullman Brian Hanna, Russellville Lane Holladay, Tyler Tim Holmes, Decatur Casey Jones, Hoover* Clint Lauderdale, Hanceville David Massey, Enterprise Kevin McDaniel, Huntsville Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Huntsville Mike Pigg, Montgomery John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Keith Rhodarmer, Collinsville Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Huntsville* Steve Smith, Hanceville Rod Thomas, Montgomery Ryan Turner, Guntersville Stanley Usery, Athens Brad Williams, Troy Len Windham, Ariton

Advisors Vernon Abney, Auburn Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery *Executive Committee Members Johnny Adams – Chief Executive Officer Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Associate Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director

AP&EA STAFF

Alabama Poultry Magazine is published by the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association 465 South Bainbridge Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Phone: 334-265-2732 Fax: 334-265-0008

Send editorial and advertising correspondence to: Alabama Poultry Magazine Editor P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101

Advertising rates and closing dates available upon request.

Editorial matter from sources outside AP&EA is sometimes presented for the information and interest of our members. Such material may or may not coincide with official AP&EA policy. Publication does not necessarily imply endorsement by AP&EA.

w w w. a l a b a m a p o u l t r y. o r g www.facebook.com/BamaChicken

CEO’s Message

Just when we thought that we had dodged the avian influenza bullet, it has come back. As of this writing, though, only two cases of highly pathogenic AI have been reported, and those were in breeder flocks in Tennessee. In Alabama there have been three cases of low pathogenic AI reported, but only one was in a commercial breeder flock in Lauderdale County, with the other two being in backyard flocks in Madison and Jackson Counties. All those flocks have been depopulated.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will post any updates on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BamaChicken) and on our website at www.alabamapoultry.org.

Even though plans are in place should an outbreak occur, we urge all of our members to intensify your biosecurity efforts to keep it from happening.

Many thanks to the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries led by Commissioner John McMillan and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier for their outstanding efforts in combating this outbreak. Thanks also to AP&EA President Harold Hunt for his leadership on the industry side.

On a more uplifting note, our “Big Bass” Fishing Tournament will be held on Friday, May 12, on beautiful Lake Guntersville. And for golfers, our “Evening of Fun” golf tournament will be played at the RTJ Silver Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe on May 19. Registration forms for both events are printed in this magazine.

We are expecting another exciting “Evening of Fun” for 2017. Our two headlining acts feature the Grammy-nominated Brothers Osborne, with hit songs “21 Summer,” “Stay a Little Longer” and “Rum;” and Smithfield, with “Hey Whiskey.”

The “Evening of Fun” is being held a little early this year due to a scheduling conflict with the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. It will be on May 27, instead of the usual first weekend in June. Tickets will be going on sale in the next few weeks, so start making plans now.

You’ll have so much fun, you’ll want to stay a little longer.

Featuring This Issue Government Affairs Association News Industry News Evening of Fun Grower Profile – Cooper’s Critters at Bluff Creek Farm Auburn Happenings Practical Applications Calendar of Events

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Governmental News

Avian Influenza Detected Near Alabama Border

MONTGOMERY – On Sunday, March 5, 2017, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7 avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial chicken breeder flock in Lincoln County, Tennessee. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in commercial poultry in the United States this year.

Samples from the affected flock, which experienced increased mortality, were tested at Tennessee’s Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory and confirmed at the APHIS National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa. Virus isolation is ongoing and a control zone has been established.

Since Lincoln County, Tennessee, borders Alabama, portions of Alabama are within the control zone which includes one commercial Tyson farm. Tyson collected samples from the farm and they have tested negative for avian influenza.

The department is adhering to Alabama’s LPAI Preparedness and Response Plan. The first priority is to test commercial poultry, but backyard flocks are also included. State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier dispatched staff professionals to go into the communities (door-to-door) within the control zone on Sunday, March 5, to collect samples from backyard flocks. Roughly 15-16 premises have been inspected and it is estimated that this surveillance is 95 percent complete.

Commissioner John McMillan has spoken directly with Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Jai Templeton and assured him that his department staff will continue to work closely with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. “I want to assure all Alabamians that our department will continue our surveillance for avian influenza and approach this incident with an abundance of caution. Every flock of chickens in Alabama is tested for avian influenza

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January / February 2017

before being processed for human consumption,” said Commissioner McMillan.

The facility in Tennessee is under quarantine, along with approximately 30 other poultry farms within a 10 kilometer radius (6.2 miles) of the site. The affected flock has been depopulated to stop potential spread of the illness and officials are testing and monitoring other flocks within the control zone. No other flocks in the control zone have experienced an increase in mortality and the first round of testing has all been negative for avian influenza.

HPAI DOES NOT pose a risk to the food supply. No affected animals entered the food chain. The risk of human infection with avian influenza during poultry outbreaks is very low. In fact, no transmission to humans was reported during the outbreak that affected commercial poultry farms in the midwestern United States in 2015. Also,

Alabama Poultry Magazine

this is not the same strain identified in that outbreak. However, out of an abundance of caution, officials with the Tennessee Department of Health and Tennessee Department of Agriculture are working together to address concerns about the health of individuals who are working on site or had contact with affected birds.

Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier has been working closely with Tennessee State Veterinarian Dr. Charlie Hatcher and encourages commercial poultry producers and backyard flock owners to observe their birds closely and continue to practice strict biosecurity measures. These include:

• Isolating birds from other animals • Wearing clothing designated for use only at the poultry house • Minimizing access to people and unsanitized equipment

Continued on pg. 30

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January / February 2017

Alabama Poultry Magazine

President Trump Strikes a Blow For Farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the last day of February, President Donald Trump ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) regulation, enacted by the Obama administration. The ordered review of WOTUS effectively repeals a major Obama policy that was particularly opposed by the agricultural sector.

WOTUS went far beyond the scope of existing EPA regulations mandating that navigable waters are kept free from pollution. Instead, EPA, with the blessings of radical environmentalists, extended their purview to include intermittent streams, dry streams, wetlands on private property and even stock ponds and run-off catchments.

This raw federal usurpation of property rights has much to encourage these radicals to intrude on private property, especially agricultural property, in pursuit

of someone against whom to file suit.

Though not directly related, a casein- point would be the suit brought by the Waterkeeper Alliance against a Delmarva poultry farm in 2011. The case was eventually won by the defendants, but the cost for the farm family was devastating. It is illustrative because it goes to the climate created by the Obama administration and its overreaching EPA which encouraged nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) to violate private property rights in order to target perceived environmental offenders.

The idea is not to gut the Clean Water Act. No one wants polluted water, and in his order, President Trump clearly stated that he expects the EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to make sure, “waters are kept free from pollution, while at the same time promoting economic growth, minimizing regulatory uncertainty,” and respecting

the role of states and Congress.

In his order, Trump instructed federal officials to interpret the term “navigable waters” in a manner consistent with the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s opinion in Rapanos v. United States.

Scalia wrote in the plurality opinion, “navigable waters refers to relatively permanent, standing or flowing bodies of water and not ephemeral flows.” As an aside, he quipped, “the Corps has stretched the term ‘Waters of the United States, beyond parody.”

New EPA head, Scott Pruitt, while attorney general of Oklahoma, sued to have WOTUS overturned. Now, as confirmed EPA administrator, he will head the dismantling effort, but it will take time.

The repeal process could take months or even years. It will have to go through a lengthy public comment period. The EPA and U.S. Army Corps of

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January / February 2017

Continued on pg. 30

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Association News

Hwy. 431 South exit. Travel 18 miles to Oak Grove Road. Turn right on Oak Grove and travel approximately 1 mile to the Silver Lakes residential entrance on the left. Turn left into residential community and follow entrance road to clubhouse (approximately 1 mile).

Gadsden

High

Oa kG rov eR oad

way 431

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e Lak d. E B lv Silver Lakes Golf Course

Highway 431

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tiple tee selections (up to 12 on some holes).

The Backbreaker nine is a photographer’s dream, boasting beautiful views of the Appalachian foothills from its elevated tees. The par 5 seventh, a 623 yard thriller (466 from the novice tees), brings water into play not once, but twice.

The Mindbreaker, although a tad easier than the other two, demands shotmaking at its finest.

So get your registrations in ASAP, because you definitely don’t want to miss this opportunity.

For questions about the golf tournament only, call Casey Jones, chairman, at 608-780-5154

er Silv

This year, due to the overwhelming requests for golfing spots in the annual AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Golf Tournament, the decision has been made to move to a larger venue. This year the tournament will be held on Friday, May 19, at the RTJ Silver Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe.

Set on rolling terrain at the edge of Talladega National Forest between Anniston and Gadsden, Silver Lakes is home to some of the most scenic golf you can find. The Heartbreaker nine is dubbed by many as the most challenging nine on the Trail from the championship tees. Consider the eighth hole, a par 3 that plays over 200 yards across water and uphill to the green, or the 450 yard par 4 ninth with water rippling down the entire left side of the hole.

The beauty of Silver Lakes is the mul-

COURSE DIRECTIONS

From Gadsden on I-59 take the US

Anniston/Oxford

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List handicap. Only one-half of entry fee is refundable if the tournament is canceled due to an “Act of God” or some other unforeseeable difficulty. This year’s tournament will be a handicap scramble with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be served afterwards. Range balls are included. Entry Fee: $100 per person. Mulligan packages $10 per person. No refund if canceled after May 10, 2017. .

Name Company Address Mulligan Handicap _______________________ ________________________ ________________________________ ______ _____ _______________________ ________________________ ________________________________ ______ _____ _______________________ ________________________ ________________________________ ______ _____ _______________________ ________________________ _______________________________ ______ _____

Invoice To: NAME___________________________________________ ADDRESS _______________________________________ FAX_____________________________________________

COMPANY/FARM _____________________________ PHONE ______________________________________ EMAIL _______________________________________

( ) Check Enclosed $ _________ ( ) Bill Me $ _________ ( ) Visa ( ) Mastercard ( ) Discover Card ( ) American Express

Billing Address_________________________________________City_______________________State_____________Zip_________

Name on Card_________________________________Card Number_____________________________________Exp. Date____/____

MAIL TO: AP&EA, P.O. Box 240, Montgomery, AL 36101 • 334-265-2732 • Fax: 334-265-0008 For questions about the golf tournament only, call Casey Jones, chairman, at 608-780-5154

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

It’s Career Expo Time Again

There was a great representation of industry at Made In DeKalb. The students were very enthusiastic.

Spring career expos are a big part of helping kids decide what career path to follow. So far, this spring, Ray and I have had the opportunity to talk to kids about the benefits of Alabama’s poultry industry at two events.

The first event, Made in DeKalb, was on Feb. 16, at the Northeast Alabama Agribusiness Center in Rainsville. Several thousand ninth and 12th grade students from across DeKalb County came to be introduced to the county’s industries. Seventy-four participating industries were represented in the fifth anniversary event.

It presented a great opportunity for students to network and learn about the skills necessary for getting jobs in the various industries represented.

The second event was on the southern side of the state, at the Wiregrass Works on Feb. 21-23, at the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds in Dothan. This expo brought together more than 6,000 eighth grade students from three states: Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Kids from Barbour, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties from Alabama; Early, Miller and Seminole counties from Georgia along with Jackson, Holmes, and Washington counties from Florida.

We were fortunate to have an incubator and hatching eggs to display, much to the delight of the students, many of whom had no agricultural background at all.

It gave us an excellent opportunity to engage with the kids and discuss the various career opportunities in the Alabama poultry industry.

At both venues we had opportunities to tell the students about the 2+2 Poultry Science Degree Program at Gadsden State Community College and Wallace State Community College in Dothan.

Before the doors open, Ray has a chat with Dr. Linda Young, president of Wallace Community College, Dothan, about the success of the 2+2 Poultry Science Degree Program.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

At Rainsville, Ray talks with a high school senior who is interested in getting into the industry.

There is nothing like baby chicks to get the kids interested.

There were times that the crowds around the chicks were like those around rock stars with kids jockeying for position to get a better look.

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Industry News

International Processing & Production Expo – Still Growing Strong

ATLANTA – In its fifth year as an expanded expo, the International Processing & Production Extravaganza Expo, continues to grow and amaze. The costumes, the languages, the educational opportunities and especially the products are astounding. Computer driven automation was everywhere.

This year’s event, Jan. 31 – Feb. 2, featured 1,260 exhibitors in more than Randall Smith was busy talking mortality 530,000 square feet of exhibit space, freezers at the American Proteins’ booth. covering two halls, corridors and a whole bunch of meeting rooms. Then, there were the afterhours hospitality gatherings. It was more than the mind could comprehend, and far more than one’s feet could comfortably attend.

The vendors covered the widest spectrum of poultry growing, processing and distribution needs. Equipment and automation companies were well represented. D&F Equipment Sales’ booth was always crowded.

The primary breeders were well Auburn biosystems engineering students were making the rounds and enjoying themselves. represented with Aviagen, Cobb and Hubbard hosting large numbers of prospective clients. Once again, Cobb brought their old delivery truck for display.

That wasn’t the only vehicle on display. There was a tricked-out civilian Hummer and, of course, a number of modern service vehicles. There was one, however, that stole the show. Van der Graaf, a Canadian manufacturer of drum motors and belt cleaners, displayed an original 427 Shelby Cobra, There was always activity going on around autographed by Carroll Shelby. I don’t the Auburn department of poultry science know how much attention their booth booth. got, but the car was a show stopper.

Auburn poultry science students were busy networking.

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It was the baddest car at the show, the 427 Shelby Cobra.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Aviagen was busy with customers and those about to become customers.

Casey Jones was busy at L.B. White – no golf clubs in sight.

Tim Esslinger (the tall guy with his back turned) was getting the straight skinny at the ChemStation booth.

Pat Meggs was all smiles at the Cumberland display.

John Edwards and AP&EA President Harold Hunt, both with Koch Foods, checking out processing equipment.

The beautiful old Cobb egg pickup was on display at their busy booth.

There were also a number of timely briefings on a variety of subjects that are vital to the industry. One such, the Poultry Market Intelligence Forum, addressed external factors affecting the poultry industry.

“Animal rights activists take many approaches. There are environmental groups that would like to see the end of animal production and consumption,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Animal Agriculture Alliance, during her Business was sparking at D&F Equipment presentation at the Poultry Market InSales. telligence Forum. Thompson-Weeman discussed the many external influences that affect the poultry industry in her presentation titled, “Securing the Poultry Industry’s Future: Responding to Animal Right Activist Threats.”

Thompson-Weeman mentioned that these groups of animal rights activists have several tactics for which producers should be aware. She remarked that recently activists have been attempting to gain access to farms following floods in North Carolina to obBilly Tyson and the crew at Hubbard taking a tain pictures or videos of animals in break after the opening rush. Time to check difficult conditions, attempting to presemails and make plans for the next onslaught ent the animals’ situation as their norof customers. mal existence. The people visit or trespass on farms with no concept of biosecurity. They also invest in youth, giving talks against animal production and meat consumption in high schools and colleges, in addition to advocating to religion to present their points of view.

In his presentation on “Performance Trends for the Poultry and Egg Industry,” Mike Donohue, Agri Stats, said that in 2016 broiler farmers gave It was always a pleasure to go by International up some of the tools used in production Paper Company’s booth.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

The Klarion folks were busy explaining their cleaning and sanitizing system to an attentive audience.

Marel automation was on full display in their large well laid out booth.

Mike McGregor and his crew at the Southwest Agri-Plastics booth were talking breeder house, broiler house and hatchery easy clean products.

They were speaking avian at the Merial booth, and folks were listening.

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The Vincit Group’s new booth drew in a lot of folks.

to appease customers, restaurants and the retail market. Donohue stated that the challenges for 2017 are the same, except that production gains will be reduced due to changes in medication programs. He also remarked that poultry genetic companies keep improving the performance of broilers over time.

“Among the challenges for 2016 was avian influenza, the loss of export markets and the value of leg quarters.

Production gains were reduced due to changes in medication programs. We are enjoying relief in feed ingredient costs, but the future direction of production costs remains uncertain. Ethanol is not going away,” commented Donohue.

Dr. Paul Aho, Poultry Perspectives, gave an overview of “Domestic and

Apart from their standard booth, Elanco had a special booth for quieter discussions.

Global Drivers for 2017.” Aho discussed the poultry industry’s position in the commodity cycle and interest rate cycle, as well as trends in median household income and projections for growth.

Aho predicted a shift from corn production to soybean production. He mentioned that corn production is stable in the U.S. and overseas, and there is not a huge incentive to grow. Aho commented that soybean meal has not reached its highest point yet, and production is rapidly increasing in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and the U.S. Aho predicted that grain prices will rise in 2018-2019.

Aho expects pork production to increase by 5 percent and beef production

The National Poultry Technology Center gurus were always busy answering questions.

by 3 percent. There will be higher quantities of meat in the market, though he “predicts no problem if economic growth continues.” Aho further observed that poultry production volume in the U.S. can continue to grow by approximately 4 percent, this, not withstanding any unforeseen events.

Aho also provided a forecast on the world economy. He speculated about the trade relations with Mexico and the rising U.S. dollar against the Mexican peso. Aho stated that Mexico is the largest buyer of U.S. chicken leg quarters, purchasing 25 percent of all leg quarters. The next largest buyer is Cuba.

Aho posed the question, “Will the U.S. have smooth diplomatic relations with Mexico and Cuba this year?”

Cagle Promoted to President of D&F

various management tenures at Hudson Foods, Tyson and Marel Food Systems. He is married to his wife, Teresa, for 20 years Teresa, with children Brittany, Brooke and Tucker.

D&F Equipment Sales, Inc. is a family owned OEM in the Poultry, Meat and Prepared Foods processing industry D&F Company owner Lynn Fortenberry and new Presi- serving the contiguous United dent Greg Cagle States market for 30 years with $60 million in revenue annuCROSSVILLE – D&F Equipment Sales, Inc. an integrated food process- ally. In recent years D&F has made ing equipment manufacturer announced great strides in product equipment direcently announced the promotion of versification in the poultry, meat and Greg Cagle, senior vice president to prepared sectors that have enabled them president. A 1988 graduate of the Uni- to double their revenues and increase versity of Georgia with a BSA in agri- market share in these sectors.

"We are very proud of our philosocultural economics, Cagle has been working in the food industry since 1988 phy at D&F," says Lynn Fortenberry, beginning at Seaboard Farms and at past president and current owner, "hav-

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

ing always put our people along with our customers and partner’s interests first. We are confident in Greg to continue our heritage of service and of his vision of the future of our company and continued leadership in our industry" Cagle often describes the company’s mission statement simply and with one word – “Servants.” This value was instilled by the owners and is the driving force of our company.

D&F Equipment Sales, Inc. is an integrated food processing equipment manufacturer that specializes in engineering, fabrication and installation of custom conveyor systems across the contiguous United States. The company has two locations, one in Crossville, Alabama and the other in Springdale, Arkansas, with Alabama Machine Works and Arkansas Machine Works as subsidiaries.

The Ribbon is Cut on Wayne Farms’ Mega Feed Mill

DALE COUNTY – It took just 17 months, from ground breaking to ribbon cutting on Jan. 11, 2017, for the opening of one of the largest poultry-related feed mills in the nation. Located on County Road 18 between Newton and Ozark, the new Wayne Farms’ feed mill will provide chicken feed to the hundreds of Wayne Farms’ growers, not only in the Dothan area, but also for growers associated with Wayne Farms’ complexes in Troy and Union Springs.

The facility features state-of-the-industry automation technology, enabling the production of up to 25,000 tons a week of 15 types of poultry feed. The mill has room for storage of 6,000 tons of finished feed and 6,000 tons of ingredient storage, and is 232 feet tall.

To facilitate this capacity, there are three receiving systems; two rail pits and one truck pit. There is a 90 rail car grain loop with 80 car ladder track soft stock storage. On the 165.2 acre site there is 1.4 mile loop track with 3.2 miles of track. This rail access will allow the plant to receive 50,000 bushels of corn an hour, as well as 350 tons of soybean meal an hour. Truck receiving will be accomplished at 14,000 cubic ft. an hour.

Plans call for the purchase of over building of 165 new chicken houses 3 million bushels of locally grown corn throughout the Wiregrass. each year.

Wayne Farms’ new CEO Clint There is also a dedicated scale Rivers, revealed that Wyne Farms’ inhouse with robotic sampling arm for in- vestment in the project, including the coming and outgoing ingredients. It is feed mill, renovation of the Dothan estimated that there will be 78 outgoing complex and the new farms will total shipments of feed per day to poultry out at over $150 million. farms across the Wiregrass.

It is the kind of investment that The new feed mill will employ 16 makes a lot of people very happy. salaried employees, plus another Some very happy folks at the ribbon cutting 20 hourly positions.

Dale County Commission Chairman Mark Blankenship, in his presentation at the ribbon cutting pointed out that Wayne Farms had invested $55 million in the property, and that he expected (Left to right) Rep. Donnie Chesteen, Geneva County; Rep. Steve Clouse, it to stimulate an Dale County; Clint Rivers, new Wayne Farms CEO; Jeremy Kilburn, Wayne Farms assistant vice president; Brad Williams, Wayne Farms south additional $60 Alabama area manager; Elton Maddox retired Wayne Farms CEO; Johnny million invest- Adams, AP&EA CEO; Rep. David Sessions; chairman Alabama House ment in the Agriculture Committee, Mobile County.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

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Evening of Fun

Brothers Osborne – Coming to AP&EA EoF

Years before they climbed the country charts with songs like “Stay a Little Longer” and “Rum,” the Brothers Osborne grew up in Deale, Maryland, a small fishing town on the Atlantic seaboard. It was a cozy place, filled with blue-collar workers who made their living on the water. During the weekends, many of those workers would head over to the Osborne household, where a series of loose, all-night jam sessions filled the Maryland air with the sounds of Bob Seger, Hank Williams, Tom Petty and George Jones.

The Osborne siblings strummed their first chords during those jam sessions. From the very start, TJ Osborne was the brother with the voice. He sang in a thick, low baritone, crooning like Johnny Cash long before he was even old enough to drive. Older brother John,

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on the other hand, was the family’s guitar shredder, his fingers capable of down-home bluegrass licks, arena-worthy rock riffs, country twang, and everything in between. Combined, the two Osbornes could play everything from traditional country music to rock & roll, creating a broad, full-bodied sound that would eventually fill the 11 songs on their major-label debut, Pawn Shop.

Like its title suggests, Pawn Shop offers a little bit of everything. There’s bluesy slide guitar, country duets, southern rock solos, harmonies, and plenty of groove. The hooks are big, the guitars are loud, and the songs — every last one of them co-written by the Osbornes, who reached out to award-winning songwriters like Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman for help — intro-

Alabama Poultry Magazine

duce a duo whose music bridges the gap between the mainstream and the alternative world. Some songs were written at home in Nashville, while others came together on the road, where the guys spent several years headlining their own club shows, touring the country with Darius Rucker, and playing some of the biggest arenas in America with fellow rule-breaker Eric Church.

“Most duos are built on singing,” says TJ “But John is an incredible guitar player, and this band is built on me singing and John playing guitar. It gives us two parallels that work nicely together.

“It’s like an old-school rock approach,” adds John, who cites classic bands like Aerosmith and the Allman Brothers as influences on the duo’s dynamic. “Groups like that always had the

lead singer as well as the sideman guitar player. That’s what we’re going for, too.

We’re carving our own path in country music.”

That unique path has already led the band toward the upper half of the country charts. “Rum” got them there first, mixing the feel-good sunshine of a beach tune with a far more realistic storyline. There’s no actual beach in “Rum,” after all. Instead, Brothers Osborne turn the song into a tribute to the simple pleasures that their Maryland hometown offers: friends, good weather, and the occasional drink. They even filmed the song’s music video in Deale, filling the clip with footage of friends, relatives, and locals.

“Most people we grew up with don’t go to these beautiful beaches,” says TJ. “They can’t afford to do it.

They don’t have the time for it. What we’re most familiar with is people going to the local bars and hanging out with each other.” John adds, “We tried to have the biggest time possible with what little we had. ‘Rum’ explains that.” The brothers agree, “We had to say it from our own perspective.”

A similar theme runs throughout “Dirt Rich” and “Pawn Shop,” two songs that stress the importance of appreciating what you’ve got. Pawn Shop dishes up plenty of love songs, too, from “Loving Me Back” — an old-

school country duet featuring vocals from Lee Ann Womack — to “Stay a Little Longer,” the band’s biggest hit to date. While a three-minute guitar solo brings “Stay a Little Longer” to an epic, anthemic close, Brothers Osborne also devote time to more laid-back songs, from the nostalgic California country of “21 Summer” to the 420-friendly “Greener Pastures.”

Brothers Osborne, who co-produced the album with Jay Joyce (the award-winning producer behind Little Big Town’s Painkiller, Eric Church’s The Outsiders, and Carrie Underwood’s Storyteller), recorded most of Pawn Shop during breaks in their busy touring schedule, using members of their own touring band rather than session musicians from the Nashville community.

The result is an album that’s stamped with the unmistakable mark of a band.

It doesn’t sound like two singers, flanked by anonymous players. Instead, it sounds like a group of road warriors who’ve spent years sharing bus seats and hotel rooms, creating the sort of chemistry that can’t be faked. Pawn Shop is both raw and real, and Brothers Osborne — who, years after those household jam sessions in Deale, now have a handful of nationwide tours under their belts, songs on the charts, and a career on the rise — are no longer a family secret.

Photo courtesy of Jenny Harding

Alabama Poultry Magazine

Smithfield to Open EoF

SmithField was founded in 2011 with a dream as big as their home state of Texas. Comprised of vocalists Trey and Jennifer, SmithField took the stage by storm with their memorable music and stunning harmonies. Having grown up together, their on-stage chemistry is undeniably genuine and natural. After more than a year of performing together, the duo headed to Nashville to start a new chapter in their musical career.

Country duos are a unique breed in the music industry. Two voices have to blend perfectly together, and that combination is often hard to find, even in two great singers. Against all odds, the duo has continued to persevere with their music and develop their sound, and found that with a lot hard work and passion that anything can be accomplished. After one year in Nashville, industry executives began to take notice and SmithField began to open for established artists including Eric Paslay, Scotty McCreery, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Brothers Osborne and Craig Campbell.

Mixing the heavily rock influenced background of Trey and the classical country tendency of Jennifer, SmithField creates a contemporary country sound that’s different and compelling.

SmithField’s sophomore single “Hey Whiskey” made its video world premiere on CMT this fall and is currently on SiriusXM The Highway, Spotify and iTunes.

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Grower Profile

Cooper’s Cooper’s Critters Critters at Bluff Creek Farm Bertha, the Red Wattle sow and her pile of piglets. Could there be an Arnold Ziffle or a Babe in the litter?

Kerry and Christy, at home on their 30-acre farm. When I first met them Kerry was clean shaven. The beard is one of those bucket list things that just sort of hung around. Christy doesn’t seem to mind, however. She’s just glad to have him around.

Christmas Day, the bunny, was born on ...

Christmas Day.

Trump, the llama, watches over his herd of calves. The Coopers are looking for a female friend for the lonely boy.

Christy and her kids, goats that is ...

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The day of the tornado, April 27, 2011, is a day that neither Kerry or Christy Cooper will ever forget. Kerry and his youngest stepson, Tristan, were at home working on the farm, while Christy and her oldest son, Tyler, were coming home from Phil Campbell.

The Coopers live about a quarter of a mile off the main road, down a hard packed dirt driveway lined with tall pines and hardwoods. Christy was nearing the turn when she and Tyler saw the tornado strike what they knew was their farm as sheets of twisted tin and timbers were swirling madly in the air. To make matters worse, downed trees blocked the driveway. Fortunately Kerry and Tristan, hunkered down in the family pickup truck, were not injured, but their home was extensively damaged and their poultry houses, built in 2007, were totally destroyed.

Because of the damage to their home, they were forced to live in two campers in their driveway.

In her application for assistance from AP&EA, the diminutive Christy stated boldly, “I am a third generation poultry farmer. We are staying and we will rebuild.” To emphasize her commitment, she underlined “We are staying.”

One year later, when we first visited, we found the house repaired well enough for them to live in it, but the poultry houses were still months away from construction. Constant rain and a scarcity of contractors had greatly slowed their progress.

In early October, with their three new 55’ x 600’ houses nearing completion, Kerry, who was 10 days short of his 49th birthday, had a heart attack. Even with a history of heart disease in his family, he thought that he was in perfect health.

Since then he has lost 70 pounds.

Still, even as Kerry was recovering, Christy was busy getting the houses finished and stocked with chicks. Even a dust up with their insurance company and an unexpected IRS bill couldn’t stop the Coopers. When Christy said, “We are staying,” she meant every word.

Kerry was soon able to resume his full-time job as a water operator at the Upper Bear Creek Water Authority, where he has now worked for the last 23 years.

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Today, three new 55’ x 600’ houses replace the four that were lost on April 27, 2011.

(Right) Kerry and Christy stand on the hill overlooking site prep for their new houses in 2012. Heavy rain caused construction delays in getting their new houses up and running.

Christy’s oldest son, Tyler Godsey, wants to be a chicken farmer. He is gradually taking over that aspect of the farm, giving Christy time to take care of the other critters on the farm.

When he and Christy first met at her aunt and uncle’s home, he worked as a corrections officer. Christy teases him that he wasn’t mean enough. He laughs, but the seven years spent guarding prisoners took a toll on his life and helped end his first marriage. He and Christy have been married for 12 years.

Christy has had her own heartaches, but she has two sons: Tyler, 21, is dedicated to being a chicken farmer; and Tristan, 19, who attends Northwest Shoals Community Colleges and works building modular homes. They look up to Kerry as their dad.

Kerry has two daughters by his previous marriage. He also has one granddaughter.

Although they started out growing for Pilgrim’s, as did her parents and grandparents, they now grow a 4-lb. chicken for Mar-Jac Poultry. Last year, for the first time since the tornado, they showed a profit in the poultry business.

Several years ago they bought a

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couple of bottle-fed calves. That seemed to start the critter collection.

Kerry wanted to raise rabbits for meat, but found that he was too tender-hearted to slaughter them. Now, he lets Tyler do that work.

The hogs came from a visit to a friend who introduced them to the Red Wattle breed. They eventually wound up with two sows and a boar. The piglets followed quickly afterwards.

Several times a year they take one of the pigs to the processor, and fill their freezer with some fantastic pork. They also sell half shares in the hogs.

A year ago, Kerry and Christy put

Tyler in charge of the farm and took an extended vacation to New England.

Both had become interested in discovering their genealogy, (in doing so, they found out that they were actually distant cousins) so they went to discover many of their shared ancestral roots.

These are two of the most fun people that I have ever interviewed. Of course, it was a tough interview – we all kept laughing so much. And, the bacon they sent home with me was incredible.

Our industry is so blessed to have folks like the Coopers. Their indomitable spirit is an inspiration. I’m glad that they stayed.

Kerry and Christy don’t do a lot of traveling these days. The reason is Gizmo. Part Shizuh and Rat Terrier, his feet have hardly touched the ground. He spends his time on the big back porch.

You might think of him as a sort of canine snowflake.

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Recipes

These light-as-a-feather spring treats will have your guests asking for the recipe.

It’s up to you if you want to let them know your secret. The eggs make the difference in these delectable concoctions, just in time to add some sweetness to your Easter table. Anyone ready for seconds?

NOT YOUR AVERAGE POUND CAKE 1/2 1/2 1 3 6 1 tsp 1 tsp 3 1/2 tsp 2 1/2

cup butter, softened cup shortening (8-oz) package cream cheese cups sugar eggs coconut extract vanilla extract cups all-purpose flour baking powder cups fresh frozen coconut, thawed cup sweetened flaked coconut for garnish or fresh berries or fresh fruit slices

Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan; set aside. In a large bowl, beat together butter, shortening and cream cheese until blended. Add sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add coconut and vanilla extracts; mix well. Gradually add flour and baking powder; beat until smooth. Stir in thawed coconut flakes. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in a preheated 325ºF oven until a knife inserted into cake comes out clean or about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Allow cake to cool on a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes before removing cake from pan.

Sprinkle with sweetened flaked coconut and/or fresh fruit for garnish.

TASTE OF THE TROPICS CHEESECAKE 2 1/4 1/4 3 1/2 6 1 1 1/2 1/2

Cooking spray cups crushed coconut cookies cup sugar cup butter, melted (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened cup sugar eggs (15-ounce) can cream of coconut cups fresh frozen coconut, thawed cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted*

Evenly coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray, set aside. Combine crumbs, sugar and butter in a small bowl, mix completely. Firmly press into the bottom and 1-inch up sides of prepared pan. Bake crust in a preheated 350ºF for 8-10 minutes; let cool in pan. Reduce oven temperature to 325ºF. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer, gradually adding sugar. Add eggs, 2 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in cream of coconut and thawed coconut. Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake at 325º F until cheesecake looks almost set, but still shakes slightly in center or about 50-60 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkle toasted coconut around rim of cheesecake or in center if desired. Cool and chill for 8 hours or overnight. Carefully run a thin bladed knife around the rim of the cheesecake; loosen the outside of the pan. Carefully run a long, sharp knife under the crust of the pan to loosen. Carefully transfer cheesecake to serving plate.

If desired, serve with a strawberry, raspberry or chocolate sauce or just garnish with toasted coconut and fresh fruit.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

Auburn News

Biosystems Engineering Students Prepare for IPPE

Auburn poultry science faculty, Wilmer Pacheco and Charles Starkey, hosted an Introduction to Feed Milling Workshop for 30 biosystems engineering (BSEN) undergraduate and gradu-

ate students and five BSEN faculty in late January in preparation for a trip to the 2017 International Production and Processing Expo. Students got to experience an operational feed mill and see

how the various machines tie together to create a functional system. The workshop gave the students an appreciation for a part of what they experienced at the IPPE.

Ennis and Frazier Recognized By Auburn Alumni For Service

Randall Ennis

Dr. Tony Frazier

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At a ceremony in Auburn on Feb. 8, ten successful professionals who hold academic degrees from Auburn University’s College of Agriculture were honored as the college’s most outstanding alumni for 2017. Two of those award winners are closely associated with the Alabama poultry industry.

This year’s Alumni Service Award

recipient is Huntsville businessman and international poultry industry leader Randall Ennis.

Ennis, who graduated from Auburn with a B.S. degree in poultry science in 1983, is CEO of the nonprofit World Poultry Foundation and former president, COO, CEO and Global Business Development director of Huntsvillebased Aviagen, the world’s leading poultry breeding company. He is also a past president of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association.

Throughout his exceptional career,

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Ennis has been a strong supporter of and advocate for the College of Agriculture. In addition to mentoring Auburn agriculture students, speaking at special events and helping recruit new students, he chairs the college’s “Because This is Auburn” fund-raising campaign and is a member of both the Poultry Research Farm Relocation Committee and the planning committee for a new, state-ofthe-art poultry-processing facility north of Auburn’s main campus.

Also recognized for outstanding service was Dr. Tony Frazier. Frazier (B.S., ’84, animal and dairy science) of Montgomery graduated from Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1988 and worked in private practice until 1995, when he joined the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries’ Animal Industries Division as veterinary medical officer. He now is in his 16th year as division director and state veterinarian.

Auburn Holds FFA Spring Poultry Judging Clinic

On Feb. 14, the Auburn department of poultry science held its Spring Poultry Judging Clinics in conjunction with the College of Agriculture’s Spring Judging Clinics. At these clinics, FFA students from across the state come to learn about poultry judging. They experience several stations where they learn These students are learning to judge layer how to observe, score, and record their quality. answers in preparation for the FFA Ca- students in their evaluations. reer Development Events. More than This event is a great chance for 120 students from schools all across the poultry science students to offer an edstate participated in the two-day event. ucational workshop for high school stuThese stations include exterior shell dents. And, it is also a great recruiting quality grading, carcass placement, tool for bringing new poultry science parts identification and bone-in and scholars to Auburn. bone-less further processed product Current poultry science students, evaluations. Students currently major- like Trevor Lee and Madison Poland ing in poultry science and are involved certainly seem to enjoy sharing their with the Auburn Poultry Science Club knowledge with the high school FFA man each station, and guide the FFA students.

Auburn poultry science professor Dr. Manpreet Singh gives instructions on the criteria for judging chicken carcasses.

Grower Clay Nichols Speaks to Auburn Poultry Science Club.

AUBURN – On Monday, Feb. 20, Clay Nichols, a successful young broiler grower for Koch Foods, Montgomery, spoke to the Auburn Poultry Science Club about the importance of maintaining a strong relationship between the grower and the company’s service technician. He stressed that mutual trust, respect and open lines of communication were essential to maintaining that relationship. He also talked about career opportunities in the poultry industry.

The meeting was held in the classroom at the Auburn Poultry Research Farm, with Auburn Poultry Science Club President Madison Poland presiding.

Alabama Poultry & Egg Associa-

Auburn Poultry Science Club Officers with Clay and Ray – (Left to right) Jennifer Botta, philanthropy chair; Judd Powell, treasurer; Madison Poland, president; Clay Nichols; Ray Hilburn; Andrew Wear, vice president; Casey Regan, secretary; and Trevor Lee, public relations chair.

tion Associate Director Ray Hilburn thanked the group for its help throughout the year in all AP&EA functions.

Hilburn also noted that there would be a change in consideration for awarding scholarships this year. This change would place a renewed emphasis on leadership and participation, as well as

academics. He encouraged all poultry science students to apply for these scholarships.

Hilburn also encouraged the students receiving scholarships to consider purchasing an AP&EA license tag as a way of putting money back into the scholarship program.

Alabama Poultry Magazine

January / February 2017

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Practical Applications

Mycotoxins in Broiler and Breeder Feeds Mycotoxins are compounds produced by molds to compete with bacteria in their environment. Molds are relatively slow growing organisms, and to compete with bacteria they must find an edge. Over time, molds have developed mycotoxins to kill or deter bacteria, and they produce these toxins when they are not experiencing optimum conditions for growth. Mycotoxins in feed ingredients have always been difficult to anticipate and/or monitor from year to year. Crop growing conditions can lead to high or low levels of mycotoxins in grains and local conditions can mean that mycotoxin contamination can vary from area to area as poultry companies source grains to make feeds. In addition, there are hundreds of mycotoxins that might pop up in the field, a generous handful of which can cause problems for broilers and breeders. Add to this the concept that combinations of various mycotoxins may cause more problems than any one alone, and you have a difficult situation to understand when evaluating a new crop of grains each fall.

might be a problem from year to year. Each company must weigh the risk of encountering a certain mycotoxin against the cost of testing for it. This ratio changes each year as the growing and storage conditions change.

J.B. Hess, W.J. Pacheco, W.D. Berry and W.A. Dozier – Poultry Science Department, Auburn University

Poultry Company Programs: Poultry companies use a number of techniques to reduce the risk of mycotoxin problems in feeds within their organizations. A number of quick tests exist to look for common mycotoxins in incoming grain, soybean meal and DDGS shipments. In addition, many companies require suppliers to provide mycotoxin screens prior to shipping grains from the Midwest and other grain growing regions. Beyond these screening methods, it can be difficult to determine whether mycotoxins might be a problem in feed ingredients from each new crop. Companies can only justify looking for a few of the most common mycotoxins because assays for others are expensive and time consuming. It would be extremely expensive to try to test for all possible mycotoxins that

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Problems from the Fields: Mycotoxins tend to be expressed in grains when Drought-stressed corn might contain mycotoxins crops are stressed through field condi- Those mycotoxins that tend to cause tions. If perfect growing conditions kidney problems and lead to excessive prevail, grains and soybeans are not water consumption and wet droppings stressed and are able to fight off molds also tend to show up after wet weather and some insect pests. If the crops are has been a problem. In early 2016, we stressed by drought or too much rain, by had wet, cool weather early on in the too much heat (with drought) or too growing conditions in the corn belt, much cold, bugs and molds can invade with hot, dry conditions in some areas and lead to potential problems in ingre- in early summer. Rains in August as we dients for our feeds.

Aflatoxins traditionally are considered a problem when hot weather is paired with drought. Fortunately, drought coverage for 2016 is small or not in grain growing regions.

If local drought conditions affect our grain supplies, companies begin to look for quick tests of incoming ingredients that would indicate an aflatoxin issue. Cool, wet weather tends to allow a different class of mycotoxins to flourish that lead to mouth lesions and other gut irritations as these mycotoxins cause problems due to direct contact with the mucus membranes.

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move into corn harvest in the Southeast may cause last-minute worries about corn moisture levels and mold growth in storage. Movement from an El Niño pattern to La Niña will lead to dryer weather in the fall. Despite this, bumper crops of wheat and corn may lead to increased outside storage, which can increase mycotoxin threats. As is often the case, we will need to look for mycotoxin issues coming from these areas and see if these weather events have increased our exposure to mycotoxins.

Mold can grow on feed in feed bins

Look for the Warning Signs: Mycotoxins can develop in the field, in storage or on the farm. Poultry producers and the companies they work with need to monitor conditions during each stage of this process to make sure that birds are receiving the most nutritious feed possible. Corn, soybeans and DDGS are generally stored longest outside the control of the poultry companies. For this reason, many companies request a mycotoxin screen of grains prior to shipment or complete quick tests on site as grains are delivered.

These programs help to catch mycotoxin problems originating prior to pur-

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chase, but they cannot find all problems and help from flock advisors and growers is needed to catch mycotoxin issues early. Although feed ingredients and finished feed are not held for any length of time at the feed mill or farm feed bins, mycotoxin problems can develop at this stage of the chain and growers can help maximize performance and efficiency through keeping their feed system clean on the farm.

One area in which growers can help themselves and their production company avoid losses due to mycotoxins is through on-farm identification of problems. Early detection of health issues, whether they are disease signs or mycotoxin effects can allow companies to alter programs to reduce field losses.

Indications of mycotoxin increases might include mouth lesions in older birds; birds backing off feed; an increase in water consumption along with wet droppings in the houses; increased mortality and failure to grow optimally.

Obviously, many of these could be caused by a number of factors other than mycotoxins, but mouth lesions in particular are commonly associated with a certain group of mycotoxins.

Since mouth lesions are caused by mycotoxins that act on contact with the mucus membranes, they tend to show

Mycotoxin Control on the Farm: Bruising problems with broilers in Alabama have been reduced in the past through cleanup in feed mill bins and feed bins and hoppers on the farm.

Similar improvements were seen due to feed mill and farm cleaning in a North Carolina operation that was having aflatoxin problems leading to poor performance and bruising. Attention to repairing any leaks in older feed bins can help reduce hot spots of mold and mycotoxins. Also, repainting bins with a reflective paint can reduce temperatures in the bin and reduce moisture migration in the feed as the feed heats up during the day and cools down at night. Cleaning caked material Dry cleaning of feed bin boots and hoppers helps avoid from the feed bin boot occa- mycotoxins sionally between flocks can up in birds eating the most feed. Along help reduce the amount of molded ma- those lines, expect to see mouth lesions terial that gets metered bit-by-bit to the in large broilers during the last third of birds. Many operations don’t suggest the growout and in broiler breeders. washing the inside of feed bins unless Aflatoxins, a commonly-encountered you have an extended downtime and mycotoxin in our feed ingredients often will have dry weather to allow the bin causes an increase in bruising, which to dry out. If the bin may not be noticed on the farm, but does not dry out prior to may show up when the birds are hanfeed delivery, you may dled and processed. have added moisture that Mycotoxins are an ongoing probwill lead to mold growth lem that might spring anew each year during the next flock. depending on growing conditions.

Occasional cleaning of Each year, we must pay attention to feed hoppers inside the signs in our ingredients and feeds as chicken house can re- well as interpreting what our birds have duce mold growth as the to tell us in deciding whether mycotoxfeed is going directly to ins are a problem this year and what the birds. will need to be done about it.

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Routine Brooder Maintenance - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words – By: Auburn NPTC - Jess Campbell, Jeremiah Davis, Dennis Brothers, Gene Simpson and Jim Donald

Underperforming Radiant Brooder

Same Brooder After Maintenance

Floor Temperature Below Heater = 95.9°F

Floor Temperature Below Heater = 120.5°F

Sometimes the biggest opportunities to gain full efficiency in poultry housing are right in front of us and sometimes hard to see. The pictures above show the same radiant heater before and after maintenance. It is easy to see in the picture on the left, the heater is not burning properly and puts out little to no radiant heat. The picture on the right shows the same heater after servicing. If you are wondering what the gas pressure was at the underperforming heater, it was reading 6” of water column, so the pressure is adequate for this heater to be performing properly. Sometimes the problems are obvious and sometimes they are not. Let’s see what was causing the problem.

Problem #1

Can you identify the major problem in this picture below? Yes, the heater hose is kinked and is restricting the gas flow and pressure to the heater. This hose came with a spring installed to keep the hose from kinking. However, the spring was never properly mounted up over the metal gas fitting. Not only is the spring not preventing the kinking at the brooder, but the extra weight has increased the severity of the kink. We actually found that the majority of the springs on the gas supply hoses were not properly mounted and the gas hoses were severly kinked in this house. Once the spring was correctly moved back over the fitting and the hose straightened, the heater pressure improved but still didn’t seem to give off that bright red glow we were looking for.

So we inspected the orifice inside the burner and guess what we found?

Problem #2

Can you identify the obstruction in the center of the orifice in the picture below? If you guessed it was a darkling beetle you would be correct. Who would have guessed that a darkling beetle could take on a radiant brooder and win?

In order for the heater to operate at full radiant potential the burner orifice opening must be clear of dust and beetles too.

Once both of these items were corrected and the unit was dusted off, the heater burned bright and put almost 25°F more heat to the floor, as measured just below the canopy.

Bottom Line: Brooder maintenance is an efficiency multiplier. Make sure all heaters are inspected for maximum heat output and if you see a heater that just doesn’t look right, take the time to find out what is wrong. A simple, inexpensive temperature gun can tell you a lot about radiant heater output by checking floor temperatures. Routine heater maintenance cannot be overlooked.

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Alabama Poultry Magazine

Avian Influenza – continued from pg. 4 • Keeping the area around the poultry buildings clean and uninviting to wild birds and animals • Sanitizing the facility between flocks • Cleaning equipment entering and leaving the farm • Having an all in, all out policy regarding the placement and removal of the poultry • Properly disposing of bedding material and mortalities

•Avoiding contact with migratory waterfowl Frazier reminds all poultry owners and producers to strictly adhere to the biosecurity guidelines mentioned above. During this time, backyard flock owners should refrain from moving birds offsite or introducing new birds.

The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Poultry Division is available to answer any questions concerning movement of poultry and

should be notified at 334-240-6584 if birds show unusual signs of disease (flu-like symptoms) or flocks experiences unexplained mortalities.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has created a website to assist backyard flock owners with maintaining healthy birds and to provide answers for Avian Influenza control. The website can be found at www.AlabamaAvianInfluenza.com.

You can also find AI updates on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/BamaChicken or on our website at www.alabamapoultry.org. Please take this situation very seriously. If you have questions about biosecurity, talk to your service tech, or call your company.

Trump Begins WOTUS Repeal – continued from pg. 7 Engineers, which jointly administer WOTUS, will have to justify their finding with scientific research. Then there are the likely court cases that will delay repeal.

Congressional help may be coming in the form of a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio to repeal WOTUS using the Congressional Review Act. Agricultural leaders have been quick to react. John Starkey, president of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, re-

leased the following statement.

“USPOULTRY is very pleased that the thousands of family owned and operated poultry farms will gain relief from this unreasonable, uncertain and confusing WOTUS rule. Like many other agricultural groups, we never believed EPA’s rule fairly considered comments from the growers and producers who own and operate these farms. In fact, it caused greater confusion and significantly expanded EPA’s authority on private, predominately

family owned farmlands far beyond the scope authorized by the Clean Water Act. Ultimately, our Association saw little choice other than to join with other agricultural and business groups in litigation against EPA over this rule. With this executive order, we look forward to finding opportunities to work with EPA to continuously improve the environmental sustainability of poultry farms across the nation in a cooperative and productive fashion.”

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for spring and raise money for poultry science scholarships –

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pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg.

7 31 19 29 26 4 5 27 17 2 24 32 25 21

CALENDAR OF EVENTS AP&EA “Big Bass” Fishing Tournament Friday, May 12, 2017 Lake Guntersville

AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Golf Tournament Friday, May 19, 2017 Silver Lakes Golf Club Glencoe

AP&EA “Evening of Fun” Concert Saturday, May 27, 2017 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Birmingham

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