March / April 2015 – Vol. 10 No. 2
2015 ACM New Artist of the Year – Cole Swindell 2015 AP&EA Evening of Fun Artist – Cole Swindell
Address Service Requested AP&EA P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101
Board of Directors
Officers Dale Gambrill, President, Snead* Tim Esslinger, Vice President, Eufaula* Harold Hunt, Treasurer, Gadsden* Kenneth Sanders, Secretary, Brundidge* Randall Ennis, Immediate Past President, Huntsville*
Directors Johnny Adcock, Woodland George Attwood, Anniston Richard Curvin, Ashland Cory Early, Albertville Dennis Gordon, Montgomery Ben Gore, Cullman Lane Holladay, Tyler Casey Jones, Hoover Heath Loyd, Decatur David Massey, Enterprise Dennis Maze, Horton Kevin McDaniel, Huntsville Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Huntsville Mitchell Pate, Auburn* Mike Pigg, Cullman John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Keith Rhodarmer, Collinsville Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Huntsville Jason Spann, Hanceville* Jon Strange, Guntersville Ken Taylor, Anniston Stanley Usery, Athens Ricky Walker, Snead Brad Williams, Troy David White, Russellville
Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Diane Guthrie, Auburn *Executive Committee Members
AP&EA STAFF
Johnny Adams – Executive Director Wanda H. Linker – Administrative Director Ray Hilburn – Associate Director Huck Carroll – Communications Director/Editor Jennifer Shell – Support Director
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.
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President’s Message
“Most successful people are just common people who applied themselves in an uncommon way.” What extraordinary people we have in our industry. Our growers are the best in the world. Our allied members and poultry companies are second to none. It is an honor to serve our industry through the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association. I want to start today by “thanking” a few people. One of our agenda items for the year was to reach more young people and introduce them to the poultry industry. I can say at the end of this school year, we reached out to 15,000 Alabama high school students through career days and community events. Our hope is to grow our 2 + 2 programs at Wallace State in Hanceville and Gadsden State/Centre Campus, eventually enrolling those students in Auburn. “Thanks” to Ray Hilburn and Huck Carroll for their hard work. I also want to thank our past president Randall Ennis for his leadership in steering a committee to move us forward and toward the goal of having new poultry housing built at Auburn. What a tremendous asset this will be for our students at Auburn and our entire Alabama poultry industry. Our “Evening of Fun” is fast approaching and there is a lot of excitement about our entertainers. Cole Swindell is a rising superstar in country music and when you complement his talents with Clare Dunn, we’re in for a special time. Our poultry tag project is off to a slower start than anticipated and we need your help. The purchasing process will be a challenge until we have 1,000 tag commitments. Our staff at the Association office can be of assistance and can make this process easier. The extra effort and commitment you make to purchase these tags means $41.25 per tag to fund scholarships for local students. With severe disease challenges surrounding our state, our Association and the Alabama Avian Health Advisory Board, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and other agencies are working diligently in preparation for prevention plans and action plans. On-farm biosecurity programs and strict implementations are our best defense against the rising disease challenges. Take this disease prevention challenge very seriously. Thanks for allowing me to serve! See you at the “Evening of Fun.”
Featuring This Issue
Governmental Affairs Association News Student Expos County Meetings Omelet Breakfast Board Meeting 2015 “Evening of Fun” Grower Profile: Ms. Ivy Farms Recipes Auburn Happenings Industry News Practical Applications Passing of Friends: Dr. Bob Brewer Calendar of Events
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Governmental Affairs
Dept of Ag Holds AI Table-Top Simulation
USDA’s Dr. Martin Smeltzer supervises the real-world AI outbreak containment simulation at the Alabama Department of Ag & Industries
MONTGOMERY – On March 17, one of State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier’s strategic poultry industry goals was achieved. Representatives from all of Alabama’s poultry companies, as well as those representing the table egg industry, backyard growers and game birds met at the Department of Agriculture & Industries building to play out an important scenario. That scenario: an avian influenza outbreak in Alabama. Also in attendance were representatives from USDA, NRCS and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The session was particularly timely, coinciding with the first confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 avian influenza in a commercial chicken flock in Wisconsin a week earlier. That news added a real sense of urgency to the exercise. The subject was covered in several sessions after a preliminary discussion of the basics of AI diagnosis and testing methods, conducted by Peggy Vardaro and Bruce McMurtry of the Alabama
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Department of Agriculture and Industries. That was followed by a brief discussion of the various regulatory agencies, led by USDA’s Dr. Martin Smeltzer. AP&EA’s Ray Hilburn followed with a discussion of the economic, export and political impact a major AI outbreak could have. Then the exercise began with the scenario of a backyard grower, with a mixed flock of chickens, ducks, guineas and pea fowl. He recently bought some chickens at a roadside flea market, and has just called into the Alabama Department of Agriculture to report that some of his birds have died and others are sick. His brother, a commercial poultry grower in the area, has given him some antibiotics, but they don’t seem to be working. He has questions, lots of them. Who’s going to help him and what are the costs? Will someone from the state come to test his birds? If it is avian influenza, is his family likely to catch it? He is in a state of near panic.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Participants gathered around tables with maps designating the area where the simulated outbreak had first been reported. Their mission was answer those questions and many others that would arise. Their task: establish priority protocols to test, isolate and quarantine the infected area and bring needed resources to bear on the situation. During the sessions, situational changes were also thrown into the scenario. These changes had to be factored in and adjustments had to be made. Dr. Smeltzer supervised the realworld simulation. Going from table to table, Smeltzer listened and critiqued each group’s solution. Considering the importance of the poultry industry to Alabama, this simulation carried more than academic importance. It should also serve to warn growers and industry personnel of the necessity to always insure proper biosecurity protocols are closely observed. Congratulations to Dr. Tony Frazier and his staff for this timely presentation.
Association News
Ray Hilburn and Huck Carroll Take On the Expo Circuit For AP&EA It’s grueling and sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, but it is an important way to get the poultry story out to folks who otherwise might never hear it. This is especially true for young people. With the average age of poultry growers hovering around 55, it’s time to get some new blood interested in poultry careers. To that end, Ray and I took to the highway and the career expo circuit. Our first stop took us to Cullman for the 2015 Cullman County Career Awareness Fair on March 19, at the Cullman County Fairgrounds. Here we talked to hundreds of 8th graders, many of whom had no experience with poultry even
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coming from a prime poultry growing area. On April 10-11, we participated in the Alabama Farm & Poultry Expo in Boaz. This expo was open to everyone, and, while the Friday crowd was low due to the rain, Saturday’s crowd was strong. We got to talk to a lot of folks and Ray represented the AP&EA well in a chicken-eating contest. In Blount County on April 16, we talked to 10th graders at the Blount County-Oneonta Agri-Business Center. Ten Blount County high schools were represented, so we met a bunch of kids. Through these efforts, we were able to spread the poultry message to hundreds of kids, who just maybe ...
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Dr. Gary Lemme
Dr. Trisha Marsh Johnson
Steve Musser, NRCS
County Association Meetings
Elaine Reeves and outstanding FFA student Hannah Reynolds
Ronnie Davis, Rural Development
Dr. Tony Frazier
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During April there were county association meetings in three areas of south and central Alabama. Dr. Gary Lemme, director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System spoke at the Wiregrass Poultry & Egg Association meeting on April 4, at El Bethel Baptist Church in Chancellor. His topic was a general overview of the importance of farming and in particular the poultry grower to the economy of the state. He cited the 1961 statistic of an average farmer feeding 26 people, today that same farmer feeds 155 people. State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier was the keynote speaker at the Southeast Alabama Poultry & Egg Association meeting on April 21, in Ariton at the Ariton Baptist Church. Dr. Frazier, in his humorous way, talked about the current avian influenza situation, explaining the difference in low pathogenic and high pathogenic strains of the virus. He stressed that maintaining proper biosecurity protocols was essential in controlling the situation, and that growers were the first line of defense. Brooding Management was the topic of the presentation by Dr. Trisha Marsh Johnson at the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association Meeting in Greenville on April 24. Dr. Johnson is a veterinarian consulting with JonesHamilton, maker of PLT Litter Treatment. She discussed the proper method for preparing a house with existing bed-
Alabama Poultry Magazine
ding for receiving new chicks. She told growers to shut their houses tightly after the last flock is harvested to retain heat and “cook-off” the ammonia and moisture. She also stressed the need to pre-heat your houses for 48 hours, yearround, before getting chicks. Each meeting featured presentations by representatives from NRCS and USDA Rural Development. The messages were much the same in each place, whether it was NRCS’s Josh Elliot at the Wiregrass meeting or Steve Musser at Ariton, NRCS, through the EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), in the Farm Bill, to provide financial assistance for growers to get energy audits and energy upgrades, such as tube heating, attic insulation, and LED lighting. Previously spray foam had been included, but that is on hold as of now. So far this year, every energy audit has been funded, but money for upgrades has been limited. Ronnie Davis, director of USDA Rural Development in Alabama, said, relating to his agency’s relationship to NRCS, “Same government, different set of rules.” His agency, he said, has received $4 million to fund projects in Alabama, and they do cover spray foam. They require an energy audit, but it can be from an NRCS source. These very well-attended meetings were sponsored by First South Farm Credit and Alabama Ag Credit. Clint Lauderdale and Jones-Hamilton also sponsored the Greenville meeting.
Garrison Named to Cullman HOF
Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association President Adam Hudson presents Nancy Garrison with her Cullman County Poultry Hall of Fame plaque. Congratulations, Nancy!
CULLMAN – Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association held its annual meeting at the Cullman County Civic Center on Saturday, April 18. Prior to the start of the meeting, $500 checks were awarded to the American Red Cross, Cullman Area Rural Transportation System, Cullman
County Autism Society, Cullman Caring for Kids/United Way, Good Samaritan Health Clinic, Hospice of Cullman County, Pilot Light Home, Project Lifesaver and Victim Services of Cullman Inc. “Harbor House.” These checks are a continuation of Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association’s commitment to charitable work in the Cullman area. The funds come from raffle ticket sales for a John Deere Gator. One of the great highlights of the evening was the announcement that Nancy Garrison of Goldvine Farms of Vinemont had been selected for membership in the Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association Hall of Fame. Nancy and her husband, Phillip, were profiled in our
March/April 2013 magazine. Nancy has been growing chickens for 58 years, first for Gold Kist and then Pilgrim’s Pride. They now grow for Ingram Farms. They raise cattle and produce honey from their more than 50,000 bees. Nancy has won just about every farming award in Cullman County. She has also won a number of cooking and baking awards. The event was well attended, with a number of vendor/sponsors with displays. The AP&EA big chicken got lots of attention, and I got to tell everyone about the 2015 “Evening of Fun” and make a pitch for the new Alabama Poultry car tag. The barbecue chicken was a crowd pleaser, and there was a genuine feeling of fellowship in the Civic Center. Then it was time for the door prizes. They were piled up across the stage thanks to generous sponsors. Of course the most anticipated event was the drawing of the raffle ticket for the John Deere Gator. The lucky ticket holder was Bill Hendrix. He was there with his wife, Geraldine, and their granddaughters, Madeline and Belle Hendrix.
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MONTGOMERY – Wednesday, April 8, was a beautiful day. Alabama legislators, elected officials, State House employees, and even a few princesses came out to enjoy some AP&EA hospitality on the south lawn of the Capitol. It was a fest of industry gratitude to those elected officials and others who make laws and regulations that insure the Alabama poultry industry will have the opportunity to continue to prosper. With friends like these, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, it is no wonder that the Alabama poultry industry continues to grow. And, while we might feed the world, we are truly grateful for the continued support of our governmental and regulatory friends. Inside the big tent, poultry pros manned the omelet pans, flipping well over 500 tasty omelets for hungry guests. Those cooks represented poultry and allied industry, faculty and staff from Auburn University poultry science department, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and AP&EA board members and staff. The event is sponsored annually by the Heavy Penny-A-Hen Committee and Alabama’s egg producers through state support funding from the American Egg Board.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
Dale Gambrill
Kenneth Sanders
Randall Ennis
AP&EA Spring Board Meeting Held
With the completion of the annual AP&EA Legislative and Media Omelet Breakfast, the AP&EA board assembled for the their Spring meeting, with President Dale Gambrill at the helm. After thanking everyone for their attendance, he thanked the staff for their work during the year. He gave special thanks to Immediate Past President Randall Ennis and his Auburn University Poultry Facilities Committee for its work on relocating the Auburn poultry farm. He then challenged the board to redouble its efforts to promote the AP&EA car tags. He also expressed his excitement over the “Evening of Fun” line-up. With the avian influenza outbreak much on everyone’s mind, there was much praise for the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries sponsorship of the AI Tabletop Simulation conducted in March. Following his remarks, there was a series of committee reports. Casey Jones, chairman of the Allied Committee, reported on the successful smoked chicken sale, and the upcoming fishing tournament. Jones also reported that all money raised was going for scholarships to the 2+2 Program. Grower Committee Chairman Kenneth Sanders reported the grower seminar to be held before the “Evening of Fun” concert would feature Dr. Jeremiah Davis. The topic will be alternative bedding sources. “It will be a great opportunity for growers to meet the newest member of the NPTC,” he said. Randall Ennis opened a discussion on the poultry farm relocation, by relating the progress made so far. The optimistic goal is to have birds in place at the relocated facility by the beginning of 2016. Next began a series of advisory reports. Dr. Joe Hess led off with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System report. He reported on a generally favorable series of articles on the Alabama poultry industry that had appeared in online at AL.com. He also commented on the progress of the 4-H Chick Chain Program which is now in 61 counties. Peggy Vardaro reported from the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries. She thanked AP&EA for helping sponsor the AI Tabletop Simulation and reported that high-path AI was now in nine states. She also reported that there was no evidence of a lateral transfer from commercial flocks to other commercial flocks. Migratory waterfowl seem to be the transfer agent. The best preventative, she stated, was proper biosecurity on the farm. Dr. Don Conner, head of Auburn’s department of poultry science reported that there would be 80 students enrolled in poultry science this fall, and that this spring there would be seven graduates, all of whom either had jobs or were planning to go to graduate school. Jim Donald with biosystems engineering announced a housing short course for Oct. 13-14, in Auburn. AP&EA Executive Director Johnny Adams concluded the meeting with a report on the activities of the Alabama legislature affecting the industry.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Dr. Don Conner
Dr. Joe Hess and Peggy Vardaro
Diane Guthrie of NRCS
Johnny Adams
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Evening of Fun
The “Evening of Fun” Is Almost Here
Cole Swindell won the New Artist of the Year Award at the Academy of Country Music awards, because his fans voted for him.
Can you believe it? I mean – we’ve got Cole Swindell coming. He just won the Academy of Country Music’s New Artist of the Year Award, and he’s coming to entertain us at the 2015 AP&EA “Evening of Fun!” He’s going to sing all of his great songs like “Chillin’ It,” “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and “Let Me See Ya Girl.” Clare Dunn is going to be there too. She’s an up and coming new talent. She’s opened for the likes of Keith Urban, Florida Georgia Line and old Bocephus hisself. You can almost taste the country. Wow! You do have your tickets, don’t you? Sure, there’s still time, but don’t be wasting it. Tell your service tech that you want some tickets or call us today for your tickets. To add to the fun, as if we needed to add anything more, we’ll have the award-winning Red Bay FFA String Band to start things off right. These kids are great. Later, after the concert, you can dance your socks off in the Sheraton Ballroom to the sounds of the versatile Tip Tops from Mobile. The Tip Tops band plays Motown, Soul, Funk along with current Pop and Top 40. Start off with The Supremes, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye and mix in some Sam Cooke, Kool and the Gang. The high-energy, fast-stepping brass section known as “The Dancing Horns” make The Tip Tops a total entertainment package.
Let’s Take Care of Some Business First
The Red Bay FFA String Band has been making a lot of fans also. Once you hear them, you’ll be a fan as well.
Miss Wanda says we got to talk some business first, so ... We will be holding a grower meeting and seminar at 4:00 p.m. in the Sheraton Ballroom. During the meeting new directors will be elected and five crisp $100 bills will be awarded as door prizes. Every farm represented gets a ticket for the drawing. That’s a nice incentive to get somebody to babysit your brood, or at least your chickens. We’ll even feed you before the concert. Speaking of your brood: All of your kids 18 and under get into the concert free. So load up your van. We don’t care if they are your kids or just friends, bring them on. We just need a paid adult to handle the brood. Back to the seminar. Dr. Jeremiah Davis, the most recent addition to the poultry gurus at the National Poultry Technology Center, will speak on some new ideas for bedding materials that he developed while at Mississippi State.
You Can Ride the Bus to the “Evening of Fun” For Free This year AP&EA is furnishing three buses for ticket purchasers to ride to Birmingham to enjoy the grower seminar and the concert. There is no charge for the bus trip, but we must know if you are planning on riding and how many people are going to be with you by Monday, June 1. We also need someone to be the leader of each bus to make sure everyone gets on the bus for the trip to Birmingham and the return trip back. We will furnish two tickets to the first people from each location to volunteer for this. One of the locations will be from Troy. The bus will load at the Pike County Cattlemen’s Building located at 4100 U. S. Hwy. 231 South and the bus will depart at 1:00 p.m. so you can arrive at the Sheraton by 4:00 for the grower seminar. Another bus will leave from the Rainsville Civic Center
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located at 1504 Main Street East at 1:30 p.m. There is another event going on there that day so you need to park where the bus will be located on the east end of the parking lot by Katie’s Restaurant. The third bus will leave from Smith Poultry in Moulton located at 9909 AL Hwy. 157 at 2:00 p.m. Please contact Jennifer or Ray at the AP&EA office at 1800-254-2732 to sign up for the bus ride. We will need all names of riders (including your 18 and under free guests) and a cell phone number for each person or at least the parents or responsible person for each rider so that we can contact you if you do not show up at the appropriate times to load the buses. All buses will leave from a designated spot at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex immediately following the concert at approximately 9:30 p.m.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Grower Profile Ms. Ivy Farms Wins Wayne Farms Environmental Stewardship Award
Like a pastoral postcard, Ms. Ivy Farms lies nestled in the hills and valleys of Morgan County. Even the community name is picturesque, Apple Grove. It puts you in mind of sipping ice tea in the porch swing on a lazy summer day, But, get that thought out of your head, this is a working farm, and the ladies of Ms. Ivy Farms will show you what hard work can do.
Red Oden took a big chance in 1974. He built two 600 foot steel truss chicken houses on his farm in Apple Grove, just outside Somerville, without a contract to grow. He had wanted to grow for Wayne Farms, but they only went as far north into Morgan County as the Ruth community. His wife’s cousin grew for Wayne Farms and liked them, but they wouldn’t come down Ruth Mountain, so Red signed on with ConAgra instead. Red and his wife, Ivy (her real name is Iva, but everyone knows her as Ivy) had purchased the 500 acres in 1956. It was the last acreage of the old Forman Plantation, a plantation that had been purchased after the Civil War by a Yankee soldier, who had marched with Sherman on his way to Atlanta. Red and Miss Ivy raised cattle; row cropped and built a house. Red even did some moonshining, even had a few scrapes with the law. He must have made some memorable whiskey, because two years after he died, an old man showed up at the farm looking for him. Rita told him that her dad had passed away. He said that he was from Georgia and wanted a taste of Red’s whiskey before he died. He was mighty disappointed. Red and Miss Ivy had five children, Rita was the youngest, and he called her “Odie.” Rita was 16 when he
built those two houses. He paid her for her work that hot dusty summer by buying her a rusted-out 1965 Mustang and giving her $200 for school clothes. Her first solo driving experience was driving to Cullman to pick up supplies for the poultry houses. She remembers those days, especially the cold nights when they had baby chicks. The houses were heated by coal-fired heaters. In the evening, Red would stoke the stoves full of coal and put a pile of coal beside each heater. He’d turn the brooder heaters up as high as possible. Then he would bed down in one house and Rita would bed down in the other. Sometimes she would have to get up and “walk” the chicks to move them around to help them generate body heat. About 1 or 2 a.m., her father would wake her up and they would put the piled coal in each of the heaters. Only then would they return home to their real beds. In those days they were growing smaller birds, about four pounds. Each house held about 30,000 birds with a sixweek growout. In the summertime side curtains would be raised or lowered depending on the prevailing winds to keep the house cool. They had trough drinkers and mini drinkers (Miss Iva kept those clean). They had no fans. Red died in 1979. He is buried in a small family ceme-
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tery on a knoll overlooking the farm. Beside him lie the graves of the Forman family, dating back to the 1870s. Two months after his death, representatives visited Miss Ivy from Wayne Farms wanting her to grow for them. She joyfully accepted. Rita continued to work with her mother on the farm part-time. She began working full-time with Eaton Corp., in Arab. It was here that she met her future husband, David Harvell. Less than a week away from her wedding in July1986, Rita was getting the farm ready so that she could leave for a week-long honeymoon in Florida. Cleaning the water filter on the line that came out of the pond and supplied water to the chicken houses Mark Morrow, Wayne Farms North Alabama broiler manager, presented the was the last task on her list. She certainly didn’t want award to Rita Oden-Harvell and Miss Ivy. Miss Ivy, who is just a little smitten by to get a call on her honeymoon saying that no water Mark, insisted that he stand beside her for the photograph. was getting to the chickens. In 1997, they built four 500’ houses across the road from To clean the filter, she had to use a small flat-bottomed boat to go out into the pond and lift the line out of the water, their other houses. These houses were not the standard clean it and put it back. She enlisted Miss Ivy to help. The houses of the time. Because of the north-south orientation of boat was pulled halfway up on the bank and Miss Ivy got in. the houses and the prevailing west wind, Rita was going to Rita pushed the boat into the water and was starting to step have to install expensive insulated curtains on the west walls into the shallow water to climb into the boat when she saw of the houses. Rita began looking for options. At this time the water start to roil and writhe with hundreds of angry Gold Kist was building solid side walled houses, but Wayne water moccasins that had nested underneath the boat. She Farms was not. After some research, Rita found that she had to throw herself violently backwards to keep from falling could install a solid sidewall on the western side of the houses for only a little more money than the insulated curinto certain death. Ivy, sitting in the boat with no paddle, was terrified. tain. She enlisted the help of Mark Morrow, her Wayne “Stay still and quiet,” Rita yelled to her mother, as she headed Farms’ service tech and now broiler manager with Wayne for the house. In the house she found a 410 gauge shotgun Farms – North Alabama to help convince the higher-ups at and a box of shells, and came running back. By the time she had fired every shell in the box, the water Wayne Farms to approve the project. It took several months was red with snake blood. Any snake that survived the on- of effort to convince them, but Rita can be very convincing. slaught was either gone or too shell-shocked to do anything. They finally relented and the houses were built, making Ms. Rita waded out into the water and brought her mother to Ivy Farms the first Wayne Farms’ houses to have a solid sideshore and safety. Rita managed to get her shaking mother wall. The east walls were, however, still curtain walled. It back to the house, then, calmly returned to finish what she would be another 17 years before those walls were changed to solid sidewalls. had started. In 2014, they upgraded all of the houses, including the Rita continued to work for Eaton until January 1987, older houses. Rita says, “We put everything that we could when she left to form Ms. Ivy Farms with her mother. It was a totally female run operation. Her first priority was to get into those houses to make them as energy efficient as the new the farm, which had run down some following her father’s mega-houses.” Those improvements, in fact, have prompted Scott Teal, Wayne Farms’ housing coordinator, to call them death, back into shape. The operation was tested in 1988 when snow collapsed mini-mega-houses. Teal is also one of their former service poultry house number one. Rita went to Wayne Farms about techs. The four newer houses all got new controllers and the rebuilding. They told her that the only way she could rebuild the house as a 600’ house was to build it as a “positive-pres- older house got like-new controllers. All of the houses got sure” house. She visited several of the positive-pressure solid sidewalls, scraperboards and more energy-efficient houses, but was not comfortable with the design. She opted fans. All of the houses had CFL bulbs previously, but those instead to build a 400’ house with Wayne Farms’ blessing. were changed to the new LED lighting. In fact, Rita liked the Within a few months the benefits of the “positive-pressure” new LEDs so well that she installed them in all of the buildhouse had been discredited, leaving Rita, no doubt, with a ings around the farm. In 1988, with the collapse of one of the old 600’ houses, strong feeling of vindication.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
they had put new trusses and a new roof with a changed pitch on the remaining house. In 2014 they added an extra baffle to channel airflow down on the birds. And, while the old house will never reach Wayne Farms’ AA standard, as the other five houses have, Miss Ivy insists that it still grows the best chickens. Rita had gravel put around the perimeter of the six houses to stave off any erosion problems. It also helps in pest control and keeps the place looking neat. She liked the perimeter gravel so much that she had gravel poured between the four new houses and the area in front of the houses. It gives the farm a very finished look. It is that look, not just around the poultry houses, but also as a whole that sets Ms. Ivy Farms apart. The farm straddles Forman Bottoms Road, and, even a casual observer driving the road would be struck by the quiet beauty of the place. It is a beauty that extends far beyond the roadside. There is a sense of order that bespeaks hard work and dedication to detail. There is absolutely no clutter; fence lines are straight, even the pasture grass looks manicured. It is a jewel nestled in the hills of north Alabama. Over the years Ms. Ivy Farms has worked closely with NRCS, implementing their first nutrient management plan in 2001. In 2004 they began participating in the Conservation Security Program (CSP), soil testing every year since then. Through that participation they were able to build two litter containment sheds, ensuring that at no time is the litter exposed to the elements. All of the litter is land applied on the farm. Rita monitors what field gets litter and when. As a part of the NRCS Conservation Practice Standards split nitrogen application program, she makes sure that each field never gets a full application of litter at one time, reapplying as needed to minimize nitrogen loss. This results in cleaner ground and surface water; reduced costs; improved soil health and improved yields. As a part of the program she over-seeds cool season grasses and legumes. Ms. Ivy Farms also practices rotational grazing for their herd of 129 brood cows and three registered herd bulls. Over the years, the farm has consistently performed to a high degree, always finishing in the top 10 percent of Wayne Farms’ growers. They now grow a 9+ pound bird, which, because of lower bird placement numbers, has taken them out of CAFO status. Still, Rita continues to have yearly QCP inspections and files her paperwork. It is this consistent dedication to environmental stewardship that led Wayne Farms to recognize Ms. Ivy Farms with its first-ever North Alabama Environmental Award. At the award presentation on April 27, Rita, in accepting the award, thanked Wayne Farms and said, “Wayne Farms has always encouraged growers to practice environmental stewardship.” It is encouragement that has certainly found a welcomed home at Ms. Ivy Farms.
Miss Ivy doesn’t get around as well as she used to, so Rita handles the day-to-day operations of the farm. Miss Ivy spends a lot of time with her flowers, of which she is very proud. She does, however, still love to get out and see the farm. She is very proud of Rita’s efforts to keep the farm moving in the right direction.
Rita spends a lot of time and effort growing the best birds possible. In talking about grower standings, she once told Morrow, “If I can’t be first, don’t let me know, cause being second is just the first loser.”
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Recipes TOASTING NATIONAL EGG MONTH Topped-toast raises the bar on creativity and deliciousness Spring may have begun on March 20, but May is the month when gardens are blooming, birds are singing and trees are bright with fresh greenery. May is the time when we can see and feel the world is alive with a new vigor and hope, liing our spirits up along with it. So it’s no accident that May is also National Egg Month. e egg has been an icon of spring for millennia, incorporated into the earliest belief systems from Rome to Persia as a sign of new life. And although it may be symbolic to some, it also signals deliciousness to people from every corner of the Earth.
PROSCIUTTO TOAST AND EGG Prep. Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Makes: 1 serving Ingredients: 1 thick slice country white bread 1 teaspoon unsalted butter Cooking spray 1 large egg 2 thin slices prosciutto Few leaves arugula OR baby lettuce 1 teaspoon shredded Swiss cheese Directions: 1. TOAST bread. SPREAD with butter. 2. Meanwhile, SPRAY a small skillet with cooking spray. SCRAMBLE egg medium heat. 3. WARM prosciutto in microwave oven OR skillet. 4. TOP bread with arugula and prosciutto. PLACE egg on top. SPRINKLE with cheese. HELPFUL HINTS: • You may substitute mayonnaise for the butter. • A fried OR poached egg may be prepared in place of the scrambled egg. • Lean ham, Canadian bacon or crisply cooked regular bacon may be used in place of the prosciutto. • Garnish plate with green grapes. TIPS: • Fresh eggs are best for scrambling, frying or poaching. • To SCRAMBLE an egg, beat egg and 2 tablespoons reduced fat milk until blended. SPRAY a small skillet or add 1 teaspoon butter or vegetable oil. HEAT skillet on medium heat. ADD egg mixture. As mixture begins to cook, gently DRAW an inverted pancake turner completely across bottom and sides of skillet, forming large curds. Continue COOKING until eggs are thickened and there is no visible liquid. DO NOT stir constantly. • To FRY an egg, spray small skillet with cooking spray OR add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil. HEAT skillet on medium-high heat. SLIP egg into pan and immediately reduce heat to low. COOK slowly until white is completely set and yolk begins to thicken. BASTE egg with butter OR turn over to cook both sides. • To POACH an egg, bring 2 to 3-inches of water to boiling in deep skillet or omelet pan. BREAK cold egg into a custard cup. SLIP egg into water. COOK until whites are completely set and yolk begins to thicken but is not hard, about 3 to 5 minutes. REMOVE carefully with a slotted spoon.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
AVOCADO TOAST AND EGG Prep. Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Makes: 1 serving Ingredients: 1 thick slice country white bread 2 teaspoons unsalted butter Cooking spray 1 large egg 2 thin slices avocado 2 thin slices tomato 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro Salt and pepper, optional Directions: 1. TOAST bread. SPREAD with butter. 2. Meanwhile, SPRAY a small skillet with cooking spray. FRY egg according to personal preference for doneness. 3. TOP bread with avocado and tomato. SPRINKLE with cilantro. PLACE egg on top. SPRINKLE with salt and pepper if desired. HELPFUL HINTS: • Substitute mayonnaise for the butter. • A poached egg may be prepared instead of a fried egg to top the toast. • Add chopped green onions and shredded Cheddar cheese to this tasty open-faced sandwich, if desired. • Garnish plate with a sprig of cilantro. TIPS: • Fresh eggs are best for frying or poaching. • To FRY an egg, spray small skillet with cooking spray OR add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil. HEAT skillet on medium-high heat. SLIP egg into pan and immediately reduce heat to low. COOK slowly until white is completely set and yolk begins to thicken. BASTE egg with butter OR turn over to cook both sides. • To POACH an egg, bring 2 to 3-inches of water to boiling in deep skillet or omelet pan. BREAK cold egg into a custard cup. SLIP egg into water. COOK until whites are completely set and yolk begins to thicken but is not hard, about 3 to 5 minutes. REMOVE carefully with a slotted spoon.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
March / April 2015
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Auburn Happenings
Friends of Auburn Poultry Have Some Fun
AUBURN – On the evening of April 8, as a prelude to the big golf tournament know as the Ag Classic, Friends of Auburn Poultry gathered for food and fellowship at the pavillion at Ag Heritage Park. The meal, sponsored by Charles and Carol Wilton, parents of Mark Wilton, was sumptuous and delicious. It was great to see so many smiling faces, many of whom had, that morning, been cooking omelets at the AP&EA Legislative and Media Omelet Breakfast. Several had also participated in the AP&EA board meeting. Auburn ag alumni, ag students, faculty, administration and friends of the Auburn University College of Agriculture come together each year to celebrate their common her-
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
itage with some great food and even better fellowship. Flora meets fauna to feed, house and clothe the world. Next morning, bright and early, participants started lining up on the veranda of the Robert Trent Jones Grand
Dr. Bill Batchelor and the poultry pros-in-training, Phillip Thompson, Adam Batchelor,Thomas Hayes and John Roberts
National Golf Course, in Opelika, to register and get their team assignments for the Ag Classic Golf Tournament. With the shotgun start, foursomes
headed out to tee off on the incredibly beautiful addition to the RTJ Golf Trail.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Randall Ennis always putts better with a camera in his face
March / April 2015
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Industry News
Mar-Jac Poultry Announces Ala. Expansion
SPRUCE PINE – Mar-Jac Poultry Alabama LLC announced an expansion initiative at its northwest Alabama poultry operations starting with a $25 million feed mill. Mar-Jac plans to build the new feedmill in Spruce Pine in Franklin County, Ala. The company expects to create at least 30 new jobs and retain another 20 positions at a nearby facility. “After careful consideration, the Mar-Jac board of directors chose Spruce Pine as the location for this investment to ensure the present and future growth of our northwest Alabama operations,” Doug Carnes, a Mar-Jac director, said in a statement. “Mar-Jac’s new feedmill is a critical part of our poultry complex in supplying feed to farms throughout north Alabama.” Spruce Pine is close to the center of the company’s grower base, Carnes said, with access to the Norfolk Southern railroad line that will bring in up to 100 rail cars of grain and soy every
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seven to 10 days for the feedmill. MarJac will buy additional soy and corn produced by local farms. Additional projects include a $10 million expansion of Mar-Jac’s processing plant in Jasper, Ala. that will create 50 jobs and a $7 million expansion of a hatchery in Moulton, Ala. that will create 25 jobs. Also in the works — a poultry house construction project. Mar-Jac plans to contract with area farmers to build 100 to 125 broiler, pullet and hen houses. “Alabama is a major poultry producing state, and the industry is responsible for a substantial economic impact and thousands of jobs,” Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield said in a statement. “This expansion by MarJac Poultry will strengthen the industry’s base in northwest Alabama and create and retain jobs in Franklin, Walker and Lawrence counties, and throughout the region.” Mar-Jac processes chicken for
Alabama Poultry Magazine
New $17 million Mar-Jac Poultry feed mill in Maysville, Ga.
wholesale distributors, the foodservice industry and for export. In January 2014, the company acquired Birming-
ham, Ala.-based Marshall Durbin in a deal that included a poultry processing plant, hatcheries, feed mills, a laboratory and distribution center.
From Meat & Poultry Magazine
Hubbard Holds Open House
FACKLER – On March 6, Hubbard LLC held an open house at their first primary breeder facility in Alabama. Nestled in the hills of Jackson County, the farm is owned by first-time growers, Justin and Jill Shiflett. The Shifletts had always wanted to grow chickens, but because of the isolation of their farm, no poultry company was interested. Then they saw an ad in the Stevenson newspaper for a breeder grower for Hubbard. The Shifletts’ isolation was just what Hubbard was looking for. That isolation meant that sources of potential biological contamination would be far away. Hubbard constructed two 40’ x 400’ houses. Connecting the houses is the traditional egg collection and sorting room. There is also a cooled egg storage room. However, there is also a shower room where workers shower and put on special clothing before entering the houses to ensure proper biosecurity. The pullets for these Hubbard grandparent houses come from Hubbard flocks in Statesville, N.C., and Pikeville, Tenn. Eggs from the houses will be transported to the Hubbard hatchery in Pikeville, Ten. At the open house, Hubbard LLC Production Director Mark Harmon said “Hubbard LLC is very proud to be an integral part of the state of Alabama by starting up our production in this region.” He went on to say, “The state and local Jackson county officials have been very accommodating in the whole process. We are looking forward to additional placements in 2015 as we increase our housing with the current and future demands of Hubbard breeding stock both internally and externally.”
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Harmon’s words were echoed by Hubbard LLC CEO Mark Barnes as he said “It’s a great business we have,” He added, ”At Hubbard we want to be good stewards to the community and to the animals.” The event was well attended by community leaders, Hubbard’s poultry vendor partners, state representatives and many interested individuals from the state of Alabama. Hubbard’s Production and Technical Teams were on hand to tour and explain their facilities first hand as well as to educate the attendees on Hubbard’s initiatives in the “Less Feed, More Meat” campaign.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
The Shiflett family: T.J., Maylee, Justin and Jill with Hubbard CEO Mark Barnes, Production Director Mark Harmon and Sean Holcombe, director of technical services & sales
Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Reese McKinney chats with Hubbard CEO Mark Barnes.
Aviagen Increases Breeding Stock Production in Tennessee Valley
HUNTSVILLE – Aviagen announced it has expanded the capacity of its hatchery in north Alabama by 52 percent. With this expansion Aviagen is poised to hatch up to 8.2 million chicks from this hatchery, which will help enable the company to meet growing demand for Aviagen breeding stock throughout the region and the world. “In 2014, this hatchery supplied approximately 5 million breeder chicks domestically and internationally to 18 different countries around the world. ” said Keith McCay, director of Pedigree/GGP Operations at Aviagen. “Increasing the capacity of this hatchery will enable us to better serve customers as demand for poultry continues to grow globally.” The hatchery expansions, repre-
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senting a total investment of about $8 million, come with infrastructure improvements needed to support the larger facilities. A $200,000 federal grant, awarded by Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, will be combined with a $237,000 investment from Aviagen to fund the infrastructure upgrades. The state’s Economic and Community Affairs Department provided the grant from Community Development Block Grant funds made available to the state by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The hatchery has also been outfitted with the new equipment and technology to optimize incubation conditions for better hatch. The new incubator continually monitors egg shell and ambient temperatures and adjusts
Alabama Poultry Magazine
the air temperature to the most optimal level. Windows also allow operators to see into the machine without opening the door and losing heat. In addition to the hatchery expansion and improvements, Aviagen will add some 30 new contract farms to support internal breeding stock production in the Tennessee Valley. The overall expansion in production facilities and hatchery capacity could mean up to 25 additional fulltime positions in the area. “As demand for Aviagen breeding stock continues to grow, we will continue to look for ways to efficiently meet that demand while also contributing to the local economies where we have facilities,” added McCay.
Practical Applications
NPTC Holds Hot Weather Housing Seminar
representatives from all bordering states in attendance. Others came from as far away as Kentucky. The seminar began at 9:30, with Jim Donald talking on testing tunnel wind speed and the importance of fan evaluation. Jess Campbell followed with cooling system management and electrical system check points. Dennis Brothers spoke on alarm systems and backups. Gene Simpson finished the meeting with an update on poultry house energy efficient lighting systems.
Jim Donald takes on an evangelical fervor as he preaches the gospel of poultry efficiency.
AUBURN – The National Poultry
Technology Center (NPTC) at Auburn University, in cooperation with the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association and the Auburn University poultry science department, conducted a one-day practical training seminar to address hot weather housing, ventilation and equipment issues that affect the modern poul-
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try house. The seminar was held in the conference room of the new Auburn University feed mill on March 10. Approximately 90 live production managers and service technicians attended the meeting. The majority of the attendees were from Alabama but included at least two
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Jess Campbell has inherited the same fervor.
Proper Preparation for Spray Foam Application in a Poultry House Retrofit Dennis Brothers, Jesse Campbell, Jeremiah Davis, Gene Simpson, Jim Donald, NPTC
The benefits of closed cell polyurethane foam applied to the sidewalls of a curtain-sided poultry house are many. Gaining thermal efficiency by adding insulation to an otherwise uninsulated wall is one benefit, but not the most impactful. Sealing air leaks, both hot and cold air, is by far the most important benefit you gain with a spray foam application. The fact remains that nothing else that you can do in an older poultry house will seal air leaks like a properly applied spray foam job. This greatly improves ventilation capabilities as well as adding insulation to the walls. All these factors reduce supplemental heating fuel usage. With proper application and maintenance, current spray foam technology should have no problem lasting 10 years or more. The primary maintenance issue is protecting the foam from darkling beetle damage and bird damage, and physical equipment damage. Bird damage is easily avoided by the installation of what many call “peck-boards” or “scrape boards.” These are simply 2x lumber installed lengthwise along the bottom of the poultry house. These are installed after foam is applied and on the inside of the house. When installed properly, they not only give protection from the birds damaging the foam, but also give protection of the sidewall from clean-out equipment and make the job of post-flock litter management a little easier. Protection from beetles is not as simple, but still can be accomplished. If beetles are not controlled, even perfectly applied foam will be decimated in a fraction of the time it would normally be expected to last. There are many beetle control regimens that vary with integrators and location. Beetles have a tremendous ability to adapt and form resistance to most any control program, therefore all programs should be dynamic and constantly updated to combat resistance. Please refer to www.poultryhouse.com, for more information on spray foam maintenance. Newsletter #50, specifically addresses beetle control. While post-application management is very important, if you don’t get the foam applied properly to begin with, you are already behind the curve of longevity. Proper application is something many growers know little about and this article will lay out some basic rules for application that a grower can monitor in his own house to make sure he is getting the best job possible.
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Moisture and temperature have a great bearing on proper foam curing, expansion and adhesion. Here foam was applied to a moist wall and that negatively affected foam expansion and long-term adhesion.
Here are five simple steps to follow:
1. Pull all the litter away from the wall, between the posts, down to the dirt pad. 2. Thoroughly dry clean the walls/curtains – using a broom/blower, etc.
(Do not use water to clean, because any residual moisture in the wood will be drawn out by the foam and will hinder proper curing and adhesion. Therefore, no pressure washing is advised, and do not perform a spray foam job immediately following a house wash-down.) 3. For curtain sidewalls – IF the existing curtains are in good shape, they can be used as the exterior sheathing for the curtain opening, having the foam applied directly to them by spraying through the bird wire. To do so, secure top and bottom of the curtain tightly with any number of options – preferably wood strips at the edges of the curtain opening. Secure down the center of the curtains lengthwise, typically with 1x4, to hold the curtain
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Existing curtains can be retained and used as the exterior sheathing of a foam retrofit if they are in good repair and properly secured at top, bottom and center as shown here.
tight to the bird wire. If the existing curtain is close to the end of its normal usable life, then replacement with sidewall metal is recommended. Some growers simply prefer to install sidewall metal over the curtain opening. If you use metal sheathing, the removal of the bird wire and old curtain is optional as the spray foam can also be applied directly to the metal.
4. Spray a minimum of 3# /CF density, closed cell foam (2.8 – 3.4#/CF is acceptable, exact weights vary with brand) from the top plate to
“Scrape boards” not only offer protection of the foam from bird damage, but also aid in the between flock litter management of the house.
Here is an example of a properly applied spray foam job with back-filled scrape boards.
the ground. Care should be taken to be sure the foam laps the top plate and seals this area of air leakage between the ceiling and sidewall.
(Spray foam application should only be done when ambient temperature is above 50°F. This temperature should be stable inside the house, as well. If foam is sprayed onto cold surfaces, it has proven to not cure/expand properly and can lose adhesion. Lower humidity is better. Avoid spraying when it’s raining.)
5. Install 2x pressure treated scrape boards a minimum of 20” above grade, back-fill space behind boards with aggregate material (crushed rock, gravel etc.) This eliminates a convenient rodent hiding place as well as a place where birds can get caught.
If these steps are followed and proper maintenance is then carried out, NPTC testing and observation has shown that spray foam inside a retrofit poultry house can easily last 10 successful years. Maintaining the improved sidewall insulation and, most importantly, maintaining improved house tightness will make the grower’s job of ventilation much easier and more efficient. Ultimately, improved performance and reduced costs can improve bottom-line profitability in older poultry houses for many additional years.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
March / April 2015
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The Passing of Friends
Dr. Bob Brewer Dies
It is with profound sadness that we report the passing of Dr. Bob Brewer. Dr. Brewer served for many years as the head of Auburn University department of poultry science. Even after retirement, he continued to serve as a mentor and friend to his students. A giant in the Alabama poultry industry, Dr. Brewer is a member of the Alabama Poultry Hall of Fame and the Alabama Agriculture Hall of Honor. He will be greatly missed. We will have more about Dr. Brewer in our next issue, but please keep his wife, Jane, and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Poultry Tag Needs Ur HLP
At this very moment 364 Alabama Poultry License Tags have been pre-ordered. This is well below the 1,000 pre-orders that are needed. That 1,000 must be pre-ordered by August 31, if we are to have these tags issued. These tags are important to provide additional scholarship money for deserving poultry science students at Auburn and the 2+2 Program at Wallace State in Hanceville and at Gadsden State Centre Campus. Remember, of the tax-deductible $50, $41.25 comes back to the Association. The Association sends $10 to the county association where the tag was ordered for the local association’s scholarship program. The rest is used for scholarships. It’s a great program, but we need you to make it work.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS “Evening of Fun” Golf Tournament Friday, June 5, 2015 Limestone Springs Golf Course
“Evening of Fun” Concert Saturday, June 6, 2015 Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, Birmingham
County Association Meetings Marshall County Poultry & Egg Association Annual Meeting Friday, August 7, 2015, 6:00 p.m. Civitan Park – Lake Guntersville
Alabama Poultry Magazine