AP&EA P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101 Address Service Requested
May / June 2016 – Vol. 11 No. 3
Board of Directors
Officers Tim Esslinger, President,Huntsville* Harold Hunt, Vice President, Gadsden* Kenneth Sanders, Treasurer, Brundidge* Mitchell Pate, Secretary, Auburn* Dale Gambrill, Immediate Past President, Snead*
Directors Johnny Adcock, Woodland Lou Ayers, Jasper Sam Black, Cullman Richard Curvin, Ashland Cory Early, Albertville Dennis Gordon, Montgomery Ben Gore, Cullman Brian Hanna,Russellville Lane Holladay, Tyler Tim Holmes, Decatur Casey Jones, Hoover 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 Jason Spann, Hanceville* Ryan Turner, Guntersville Stanley Usery, Athens Ricky Walker, Holly Pond Brad Williams, Troy Len Windham, Ariton
Advisors Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery Ben Malone, Auburn *Executive Committee Members
AP&EA StAff
CEO’s Message
If you didn’t attend this year”s “Evening of Fun” you really missed a great event. The up-and-coming group Parmalee and rising country music star Jana Kramer had many in the crowd on their feet throughout the concert. Later hundreds of event-goers danced late into the night to the music of the Tip Tops in the Sheraton Ballroom. The fund-raising golf and fishing tournaments were well-attended and a success. Senator Clay Scofield from Senate District 9 (Sand Mountain area) was our featured speaker for the annual Grower seminar prior to the concert. Clay did an outstanding job speaking to grower members about the legislative process and how he and others have worked to bring improvement to the agricultural industry. Our 2016 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year, the Jamie Wyrosdick family attended the seminar where they were presented a plaque of recognition by Grower Committee Chairman Kenneth Sanders. Later in the evening Jamie, his wife, Lougener, and their children, Blair and William Wyrosdick were brought on the concert stage and were recognized as the 2016 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year. We appreciate everyone who buys and sells the concert tickets, the proceeds from this event go to sponsor the many association activities. Cuba has bought Alabama poultry since 2000 through a congressional exemption to the embargo that allows American agricultural goods and medicine to be sold to the island nation. The process of trading with Cuba has many hurdles and is a complicated process. In recent years there have been more and more elected officials calling for the embargo of trade with Cuba to be lifted. The embargo has been in place for more than 50 years and it may be time to reconsider this policy. Alabama is in a unique and strategic location for trade with Cuba. With Alabama and the Port of Mobile being located in the center of the poultry producing states stretching from Texas all the way up to Delaware we are a natural state to expand the poultry industry when the embargo is eventually lifted. There will be a critical congressional vote taking place on this issue this summer. We will keep you posted on this important economic issue.
Johnny Adams – Chief Executive Officer 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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Featuring This Issue Government Affairs Association News “Big Bass” Fishing Tournament EOF Golf Tournament Evening of Fun Coverage Meet the Wyrosdicks: Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year Auburn Happenings Graduation Breakfast and Birds & Brew Update on Poultry Research and Education Center Practical Applications Calendar of Events
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Governmental Affairs
Opening the Door to Cuba
In March 2016, a delegation from Alabama, lead by Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries Commissioner John McMillan went to Cuba. This was a response to Cuban First Secretary Miguel Fraga’s recent visit to Alabama, as reported in the January/February issue of this magazine. Several weeks ago, I was able to interview Daniel Autrey, Commissioner John McMillan’s chief of staff, about the trip.
1. What was the purpose of the trip? It was a follow-up on the July trip. In July 2015, Cuba had ceased importing poultry from Alabama through the Port of Mobile. This decision by the Cuban government was based on their concern of the recent highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in parts of the United States. The delegation that visited Cuba last July (Alabama Port Authority, Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, Auburn University departmentl of poultry science) assured Cuban officials that Alabama poultry is safe. The March visit to Cuba (Commissioner John McMillan; Daniel Autrey, chief of staff; Dr. Tony Frazier, state veterinarian; Johnny Adams, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association; and Maria Mendez, Alabama Port Authority) was intended as a follow-up on the poultry issue (Cuba had begun importing poultry in October.) In addition, the visit’s mission was also about seeking opportunities in Cuba for additional opportunities both for Alabama agriculture and Alabama consumers. Finally, the Alabama delegation was the only state in the country to attend the Cuban Agriculture and Livestock Fair in Havana, which included an exhibit by Alabama tractor manufacturers and the Alabama Port Authority.
Under a portrait of the Castro brothers, Commissioner McMillan and Maria Mendez of the Port of Mobile meet with Cuban Agricultural officials.
ment of Agriculture & Industries: Daniel Autrey, chief of staff, Department of Agriculture & Industries, Johnny Adams, chief executive officer, Alabama Poultry & Egg Association; Maria Conchita Mendez, Alabama Port Authority; and Marcela Jimenez, Gulf South Forest Products. 3. Who did you meet with? Cuban government officials (including port, trade, commerce, and agricultural officials) and several farmer cooperatives.
2. Who went? Commissioner John McMillan, Dr. Tony Frazier, state veterinarian, Depart-
Dr. Tony Frazier and the group’s 1955 Chevy transportation
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4. What was the outcome of the meetings? It was an opportunity to forge stronger relationships of trust with Cuban officials. Hopefully, Cuba will continue buying Alabama poultry. There is also potential for manufacturing agricultural machinery and importing desired Cuban products such as honey, charcoal, and tropical fruits. Further, there are other exporting opportunities such as Alabama timber products. Finally, there are opportunities for Alabama land grant institutions to work together with Cuban governmental and educational officials in a number of areas, including aquaculture.
5. What were your general impressions of Cuba and their desire to buy Alabama poultry? It was the Commissioner’s first visit to Cuba. We were able to eat some Alabama poultry in Cuban restaurants. Cubans love poultry. It is a staple. Havana is a picturesque and historic capital city. With its architecture and 1940-50s automobiles, it must be one of the most unique cities in the world. Moreover, we were able to travel outside of Havana and into the beautiful rural countryside. We were able to visit with Cuban tobacco and produce farmers. We received a very polite welcome by Cuban officials. The Cuban citizens we met in Havana restaurants and in the
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Cuban countryside were warm and welcoming and very willing to talk about their country and about opportunities to create a stronger relationship with the United States.
6. Any salient events/memorable moments? (1) Traveled the entire week in a sleek, red 1955 Chevy and the numbers of 1940-50s autos is astounding; (2) Travel to Cuba is a process and requires patience; (3) We attended a rodeo in Cuba and Cuban cowboys (and cowgirls) are competitive and talented; (4) Cuban travel appears safe; (5) If you do not speak Spanish, communication can be challenging; (6) Cubans (especially teens and young adults) own cell phones.
7. Any projections for the future? Over time I believe the opportunities for Alabama and Cuba to mutually benefit each other will soar. As Cuba gains entry into the US market, it represents a new export market for American products, indeed Alabama products. Our proximity to Cuba and easy access to the Port of Mobile, makes Alabama a natural trading partner with Cuba. Cuba has the largest population in the Caribbean with a population of over 11.5 million people and it imports most of its food products from outside its borders.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Harold Hunt shows Commissioner McMillan how the high-speed processing line works at Koch Foods, Gadsden.
Dr. Paul Patterson, Dr. Gary Lemme, Commissioner John McMillan and Tim Esslinger at Keystone Foods, Gadsden
Alabama Agricultural Board Tours Poultry Processing Plants On May 9 and 10, Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan lead his Board of Agriculture, many of whom were unfamiliar with the number one agricultural industry in the state, on a tour of two poultry processing plants in the Gadsden area. The tour began with a Monday afternoon tour of the Koch Foods’ plant in Gadsden. The tour, led by Koch, Gadsden complex manager Harold Hunt, showed the board what actually goes on in a modern poultry processing plant, from live birds to processed and packaged for shipment. The plant processes 2,016,000 chickens a week, or 420 a minute. They employ approximately 800 workers and chickens are supplied by 200 growers, including pullet and
breeder growers. The next day the group visited the nearby Keystone plant. They were joined by Auburn College of Agriculture Dean Paul Patterson and Dr. Gary Lemme, head of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The Keystone plant, built in 2009, is a 65,624 sq. ft. plant is constructed mostly of stainless steel. They employ 492 people. They do not process live chickens, getting raw meat from three other Keystone plants. They run three production lines: sheet meat, formed patties and fully-cooked. The plant tour was lead by Head of Operations Don Wisdom and AP&EA President Tim Esslinger. It was a great learning experience for all who attended.
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Association News
AP&EA “Big Bass” Fishing Tournament
1st Place: Brian Hinton and Joe Russell
2nd Place: Morris Dyer and Freddy Kent
3rd Place: Leigh Patrick and Allen Horton
4th Place: Tony Butts and Bobby Woodall
5th Place: Joel Wilemon and Drew Hilburn
6th Place: Mark Searels and Steve Adams
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Allen Horton and his 6-pound monster took the “Big Bass” prize.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful setting in which to fish than Lake Guntersville. As the sun rose on May 13, that was certainly the case. With all boats pulling away at 5:30 a.m., the sky was just showing color on another glorious day. About 11:00, official weigh master Steve Smith, began getting his scales set, as James Sanford, official tally-recorder, got his tally sheets in order. While this was going on, official door-prize-layer-outer and presenter, Ray Hilburn, was busy laying out all of the door prizes, generously donated by sponsors, and getting his tickets ready for distribution. As the first boats started coming in, all was in readiness. The fisherman came to the weigh-in tent with carry bags bulging with fresh caught bass, each two man fishing team having selected their five biggest fish. The weigh-in was a splashy affair, with each bass trying to continue their fight for freedom. After the totals were recorded, the largest fish was selected for individual weigh-in. Then the fish were released. The top team was that of Brian Hinton and Joe Russell, while Allen Horton took home the “Big Bass” prize for a 6pound monster. After the awards were presented, Ray Hilburn excelled in passing out the door prizes. Every fisherman won something. Chick-fil-A sandwiches were provided to all contestants, courtesy of AmerSteve Smith was ready at the scales. ican Proteins.
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The Battle of Limestone Springs
On June 3, (The 49th anniversary of Billy Joe McAllister jumping to his death off the Tallahatchie Bridge – how many of you remember that?),* golf clubs were swinging and the poultry pros were perspiring heavily, with no sign of the refreshment cart. Still, spirits were high, as were the high jinx. Mugging for the camera seemed as important as making that long putt. As the golfers toiled away on the long but scenic course, back at the clubhouse Benny Sims and Alan Dunn of K Supply were busy over a hot smoker preparing lunch for the golfers.
Limestone Springs Golf Club is, without a doubt, one of the premier golf venues in Alabama, with it rolling meadows in a picturesque mountain setting, and the more than 130 tournament participants enjoyed it to the fullest. There is a rumor going around that several of the water hazards rose several inches due to the number of all the lost balls splashing into them. That rumor is yet to be verified, so don’t quote me. It was a hard fought battle, but in the end, a winning team emerged. That was the team of Mark Gaines, Drew Wood, Cypress Hathorn and Skip Reeves.
2016 HOLE SPONSORS Alabama Farm Credit • Alabama Power Company • American Proteins Aviagen • ChemStation • Clear View Enterprises • Cobb-Vantress Cumberland • D & F Equipment • Davis Lee Companies – AlaTrade Foods/Lee Energy Solutions • First South Farm Credit Fitco • GSM Steel & Mechanical Contractors • Guardian-IPCO Hubbard LLC • Industrial Repair Service • www.industrialrepair.net Interstate Container • J & R / Farm Systems • K Supply L. B. White – Casey Jones • Live Oak Bank Marel Stork Poultry Processing • Merial • Randy Jones & Associates Reeves Supply Co. • Southwestern Sales • Sunbelt Rentals • Zoetis
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Drew Woods
C
M ar k G a
ines
hor n Hat s s ypre
Skip R eeves
1st Place 2nd Place
Ryan Turner, Brien Phillips, Sidney Prince and Dustin Holland
3rd Place
2016 VIP SPONSORS Platinum American Proteins, Inc. • ChemStation • Costco Wholesale D & F Equipment Sales, Inc. • Elanco Animal Health First South Farm Credit • GSM Steel & Mechanical Contractors International Paper Company • J & R / Farm Systems K Supply Company, Inc.
Jason Shell, Jason Spann, Heath Loyd and Richard Stewart
Gold AlaTrade Foods • Aviagen Inc. • C & E Supply LLC • CEVA Cobb-Vantress, Inc. • Hubbard LLC • Interstate Container Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation • Marel Stork Poultry Processing Merck Animal Health • Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative The Vincit Group • Zoetis Silver Advanced Poultry Equipment and Supply • Alabama Ag Credit • Alabama Farm Credit Alabama Power Company • Animal Health International • Cintas Corporation Cumberland • Evonik Corporation • Huvepharma • Jones-Hamilton Company Live Oak Bank • Merial Select • MWI Animal Health • PeroxyChem Randy Jones & Associates • Sunbelt Rentals
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Closest to the Pin: Mitchell Pate and Mike Williams – also winning (not pictured) Skip Reeves and Jonathan Teague Southwestern Sales $500 gift certificate to the team of: Hoyle Hard, Lynn Shaddix, Taylor Sims and Donald Collins.
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Evening of Fun
(Left to right) AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn, Jamie Wyrosdick, William Wyrosdick, Blair Wyrosdick, Lougener Wyrosdick and AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams.
Taking Care of Business Before the Fun
BIRMINGHAM – With the 2016 “Evening of Fun” just hours away, growers gathered in the Sheraton Ballroom for the annual Grower Seminar. Kenneth Sanders, chairman of the AP&EA Grower Committee, served as emcee for the event. The first thing on the agenda was the election of two new grower directors to the board. The nominating committee nominated Stan Usery of Athens and Lane Holladay of Tyler for second terms. Both were approved. Then came one of the most pleasant moments of the evening. The 2016 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year was introduced. They are Jamie and Lougener Wyrosdick of Straight Row Farms in Elba. They were accompanied by their children, Blair and William. The speaker for the evening was Alabama State Sen. Clay Scofield, a third generation poultry grower himself from Guntersville. He talked about his experiences in the Alabama Senate in representing his constituency and poultry growers around the state, especially since so few of his fellow senators have any farming experience. Finally it was time for the drawing of five crisp $100 bills. With each number called tickets the smiling winners collected their prizes. Five new AP&EA car tags were also given away in a drawing. Then it was on to dinner and the concert.
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Kenneth Sanders
Sen. Clay Scofield
EO EA C AP& Adams ny John
AP&EA Pre Tim Es sident slinger
As folks were eagerly entering the BJCC arena, the entertainment started fast and furious with the awardwinning Red Bay High School FFA String Band. Playing selections from Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” the Eagles “Take It Easy,” to “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum, this group is talented and ambitious. One of their talented young ladies also beautifully performed the “National Anthem.” In the opening ceremonies, AP&EA President Tim Esslinger introduced the AP&EA Executive Committee,
AP&EA Executive Committee and AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams introduced the 2016 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year, Jamie and Lougener Wyrosdick of Elba, with their children, Blair and William. Then folks went scrambling for their tickets in hopes of having the winning numbers for the drawing for two large screen smart televisions. As the stage was being set up for Jana Kramer, there were smiles everywhere. Folks were having fun, and things were just getting started. Poultry folks and their friends were in a mood to hear some great music.
Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year 2016 Jamie and Lougener Wyrosdick of Elba
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Jana Kramer
Red Bay FFA String Band
When Jana took to the stage, there was reason to smile. With her “rockabilly” style and television actress good looks, she was a treat. Rocking through songs like “Boomerang” and “Don’t Touch My Radio,” she finished with her hit signature song about lost love “I Got the Boy.” Next on stage were the boys from Parmale, North Carolina – and they were rarin’ to go. The crowd was primed when PARMALEE took to the stage with their high energy country sound. “I’ll Bring the Music” and many of the other songs off their debut album Feels Like Carolina followed. They even saluted Alabama with their song “My Montgomery” and offered a tribute to Hank Williams, Jr with “Hank Jr.” They ended their set with the signature song from their album “Carolina.” After it was all over, everyone was a little breathless. It was such a great show, but it was over too fast. If you were there, I know you would agree. We had some very special guests visiting with us. AP&EA Immediate Past President Dale Gambrill brought a group of wounded veterans from the Foundation for Exceptional Warriors, an organization for wounded veterans of special operations.
PARMALEE
You can see all the photos from the concert and dance at www.alabamapoultry.org – you can dowload your favorites. You can also see the full version of the Wyrosdick video there as well. Members of the Foundation For Exceptional Warriors, with their host, Dale Gambrill
TV een r c S s Big ne r Win
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After the Concert – Rockin’ with the Tip Tops
From 9:30 p.m. till 12:30 a.m. the joint was jumping to the sounds of the Tip Top. Soul, Rock, Funk – whatever your thing in dance music, they played it. The dance floor in the Sheraton Ballroom was always crowded, and the faces seen around the room were all smiling. It sure looked like everyone was having a good time. To see the pictures and download some, go to: www.alabamapoultry.org and click on the “Evening of Fun” icon.
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Meet the Wyrosdicks
Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year 2016
When I asked Jamie Wyrosdick why he had named his farm Straight Row Farms, halfway through the explanation, he started to choke-up. The farm, you see, is named in honor of his father, Billy “Straight Row” Wyrosdick, who died 14 years ago. Straight Row was a nickname given to him by longtime family friend, Ronnie Nicholson, from Elba. Jamie reported that Nicholson had said that his father could plow a row so straight ,” that you could shoot a rifle right down the row. Jamie was just 8 year old when his father built the first of three chicken houses. He grew chickens for ConAgra, which would later become Pilgrim’s. He also had row crops: peanuts, cotton, corn and small grains. Jamie grew up wanting to be a farmer like his father, so did Steve, his older brother. Straight Row Wyrosdick gave it to his boys straight; he wanted them to go to college and get a degree. And, as many a wise father has said to his sons, “Get that degree, son, they can’t ever take that away from you.” Both heeded his advice. Steve got a degree in business management and Jamie got his degree in poultry science from Auburn. Upon graduation, Steve started work with First South Farm Credit and Jamie, who graduated in 1997, started work with Wayne Farms as a field rep. Farming was still in their blood, however. In May of 1999, Jamie married a girl who had been his sweetheart in the kindergarten, Lougener Patterson (pronounced Lougina, but called Lou by her friends). They had broken up that year, and to get back together Jamie had to sing her a song. She still remembers the song, it was “Coal
Loadin’ Johnny.” Actually, Jamie says that he knew that Lou was right for him when he was 3 year old. Ironically, they did not date in high school, although they saw each other every day in school. They were in college before they had their first date. She was at Huntingdon College in Montgomery and he was at Auburn. She then went on to get a master’s degree from Troy University in Montgomery. Even though Lou was now a high school social studies teacher and counselor, she was no stranger to farm life. Her father, Cecil Patterson, had run a successful cotton picking service around Coffee County, and she and her sister had shown calves as members of the Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association through 4-H. In 2004, Jamie and Lou welcomed their first child, a
Steve and Jamie Wyrosdick and their green machines. They have a real fondness for John Deere equipment.
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Tending to the herd of breeder cows can be a fun family outing.
daughter named, Blair. In 2007, Jamie built four 55’ x 500’ houses for Wayne Farms, they went into operation in March of 2008, just one week after their second child, William, was born. In 2012 he built two more houses, and left Wayne Farms employment after 15 years, but continued his grower relationship. The next year, he added two more houses to bring his total to eight houses. Jamie also took over the responsibility of overseeing the 10 houses that his brother had built. Jamie grows a 4.5 to 4.75 pound bird for Wayne Farms, Enterprise, going primarily to Chick-fil-A. He has just begun growing the antibiotic free chickens, and, so far, has had no problems. He believes that his houses are new enough and well maintained enough to handle the situation. He and his brother are both firmly committed to high standards in biosecurity. Both farms are equipped with security cameras to monitor traffic coming and going from the farms, and every gate has a logbook for registering visitors. Visitors are required to wear protective clothing, including head covering and shoe covers. Footbaths are at every entrance to houses and control rooms. Biosecurity is the number one priority. Several years ago, the brothers started Wyrosdick Farm Services, LLC, to offer litter clean out and removal services. The business that started with one truck and trailer for transporting equipment has grown to six trucks with belt trailers for hauling litter and two trucks with low-boy trailers for hauling equipment. Including Jamie and Steve, there are 16 employees. Those employees are thoroughly trained in biosecurity and the trucks washed and disinfected after each trip to a farm. The trucks also haul peanuts, corn, wheat and soybeans. Last summer, with work slowed around Coffee County, they were faced with the possibility of laying off some of their employees. Fortunately, the were able to find work in Chiefland, Fla., hauling corn silage for a dairy operation. That project lasted for four weeks and, because of their good work, led to a similar project in Johnson City, Kansas, lasting five weeks. Steve, no longer working for First South Farm Credit, oversaw the operation, while Jamie stayed in Elba to take care of the chicken houses. Like his father, Jamie also row crops. At the time of the interview, he and Steve were busy cutting oats to put in bins for cattle feed and to sell to other farmers for grazing or cover crops. He has soybeans planted and 50 acres of corn. He also has 175 head of breeder cows on one of the most beautiful and orderly farms you can
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According to Lou, William has a problem with naming his favorite cows. Here he gets some sugar from “Nutter-Butter.” He will be going into the third grade this fall. He plays soccer and baseball. He was named to the all-star baseball team this summer. He also plays basketball. Under his grandfather Cecil’s tutelage, he is developing into quite a domino player, in fact, as of this writing, he is set to play in a domino tournament in Andalusia. He’s already helping his dad in the chicken houses.
The winsome Miss Blair Wyrosdick is a very accomplished beauty queen. Among her titles, she is the reigning Petite Miss United States Agriculture. Not just a pretty face, Blair, who is entering the seventh grade, likes to judge livestock. Trained by her grandfather, who was on the Auburn livestock judging team, Blair prefers to judge sheep or even hogs. Cattle, she says, are just a little too hard. One day soon she might get into poultry. She says that she wants to be a pediatric dentist.
laugh when they see my big hair and seeing Jamie, when he had hair.” Jamie just chuckles. Jamie is often asked what his father would think about his operation. Jamie answers, “He’d think we were crazy for taking on everything we are doing.” He continues, “What we had was three houses and row crop farming – 25 years ago a farmer on small acreage could make it. Now with commodity prices being what they are, it takes more to make a living.” “I left a job with a security net,” he says, “I got a paycheck every two weeks and a pickup truck to drive around – but I wanted to be a farmer.” Asked about the role that the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association plays, Jamie says, “It’s a company and grower relationship organization. AP&EA has done a great deal in building relationships between the growers and companies and between growers and other growers. Lou says, “The association gives the farmers a collective voice, and a unified voice always speaks louder. With government regulations and other things being put on farmers, having a louder voice helps achieve those common goals. The association helps farmers build relationships with other farmers.” The Wyrodick’s are very active with their church, Kinston First Baptist. Jamie and Lou work with the children and both Blair and William sing in the children’s choir.
Like everything else on the farm, Jamie’s control rooms are neat and uncluttered.
imagine. Lou works as a counselor at Kinston Elementary School where both Blair and William attend. She doesn’t get into the chicken houses much, prefering to be the designated “gopher.” If something is needed, she is glad to go into town to get it. She says that both Blair and William like to hear their parents stories about growing up. She laughs and says, “They really enjoy looking at our old high school yearbooks. They
Footbaths and biosecurity reminders are everywhere.
Straight Row Farms is one of the prettiest and best kept farms you’d ever want to see.
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See the Wyrosdicks tell their own story at www.alabamapoultry.org
Jamie has served as president of the Coffee County Cattlemans Association and is currently a director of the Coffe County Farmers Federation. They have hosted several Farm-City tours on their farm and work with 4-H, Jamie, with all he has accomplished, is still planning for the future. He has just purchased some adjoining property and is planning to build three of the 60’ x 600’ mega houses. Then a few years later he will add three more, effectively doubling his current capacity. The goal is to provide a nest egg for Blair and William, should they want to come back to the farm after college. Congratulations, Jamie and Lou, I think old Straight Row would be mighty proud.
Congratulations FFA Poultry
The Thorsby High School FFA Poultry Judging Team
MONTGOMERY – On June 8-9 Alabama FFA held its 88th annual convention at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. On Thursday, June 9, the Poultry Evaluation CDE Awards and Poultry Production Proficiency Awards were Mitchell East is congratpresented. ulated by Ray Hilburn The winning poultry judging team was from Thorsby and the winner of the Poultry Production Proficiency Award went to Mitchell East of Clay Central High School. His father, David East, is a breeder producer for Koch, Ashland. Congratulations to all of these fine young farmers. With them coming along, it is a sure thing that Alabama agriculture will be in good hands.
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Auburn Happenings
College of Ag Graduation Breakfast
AUBURN – Ham Wilson Arena was packed with nearly 500 spring grads, parents, friends, faculty and staff for the Spring Graduation Breakfast, sponsored by AP&EA. The event was held on Sunday, May 8 – Mother’s Day, and there were a lot of proud mothers and fathers in the audience and in the breakfast lines, along with their ag graduates. The omelet makers, many of them poultry science faculty and students, had a steady flow of hungry folks from
the time the doors opened at 10:30 a.m. until it was time to hustle off to graduation ceremonies. AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn spoke briefly, wishing the graduates well. Dean Paul Patterson got a chance to speak to his first graduating class. It was a great start to an exciting day for these young folks.
Dr. Don Conner and Ray Hilburn flank new poultry science graduates Kayla Fromhold, John Allen Nichols, Baily Crane and Jonathan Roberts.
Tickets Now On Sale For AU Birds & Brew and a Fantasy Cruise Too Two great College of Ag fund-raising events are in the works for this year. The first is called “Birds &
Brew.” “Birds & Brew” will give you a relaxing fall evening setting to enjoy great food, drinks, music and company on the
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grounds of Ag Heritage Park. Local chefs will be serving small plate dishes complimented by drinks from local wineries, breweries and distilleries. Chefs will also be ordering poultry products with the assistance of our department of poultry science for this event. Tickets can be purchased online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/eve nt/2519169 The second event will give you the
Alabama Poultry Magazine
opportunity to sail the scenic Caribbean with fellow alumni and friends in February 2017. Enjoy the warm Caribbean sun on board the Carnival ship Fantasy, while Alabama is in the grip of winter, and, through Carnival Cruise Line’s fund-raising match program, you can benefit the College of Agriculture. The registration deadline is Sept. 8. So step lively there maties! More info at: http://agriculture.auburn.edu/alumni/al umni-cruise/
Construction Underway at Auburn’s Poultry Research and Education Center
Alabama’s largest agricultural industry is seeing construction begin this week on a comprehensive, state-of-theart research and teaching facility at Auburn University. The university’s department of poultry science and National Poultry Technology Center broke ground last week on the Charles C. Miller Jr. Poultry Research and Education Center, located about two miles north of Auburn’s main campus. The three-phase construction project is beginning with two poultry research houses and a poultry equipment testing and evaluation house. The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved the naming of the center to honor a forward-thinking poultry industry pioneer, Charles C. Miller Jr., who earned a textile engineering degree from Auburn in 1938, followed two years later by a degree in agricultural business and economics. Miller’s son, Charles C. “Buddy” Miller III, and daughter-in-law Pinney Allen have supported the construction of the new center through a $2.5 million gift in honor of Miller’s parents. “The commencement of this project is significant for Auburn University and
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for the Alabama poultry industry,” said Dr. Paul Patterson, dean of Auburn’s College of Agriculture and director of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. “We are deeply grateful to the Miller family and to the many individuals and organizations who have supported this project and helped bring it to fruition.” Jim Donald, director of the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn, echoed Patterson’s comments. “The support for this project has been overwhelming and shows that there is such a need for this center in the poultry industry,” Donald said. Completion of the first two research houses is expected this fall. The equipment testing and evaluation facility will be the only facility in the nation dedicated solely to testing and refining equipment to improve poultry farming efficiency and profitability. Alabama is one of the country’s leading poultry-producing states. Auburn poultry science department head Dr. Don Conner said the new research and education center “will position Auburn University to become the world’s premiere poultry and food sci-
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Jim Donald, center, director of the National Poultry Technology Center at Auburn, and Auburn department of poultry science Dr. Donald Conner, right, discuss construction of the Charles C. Miller Jr. Poultry Research and Education Center in north Auburn with project manager Jeff Porter of Opelikabased JLD Enterprises LLC. The site is located off North College Street, about two miles north of Auburn’s main campus. Construction of the center is supported by a $2.5 million gift that Charles C. “Buddy” Miller III and wife Pinney Allen made to Auburn to honor Miller’s late parents, Charles C. Miller Jr. and Virginia Duke Miller.
ence program.” The second and third phases of the Miller Poultry Research and Education Center will include facilities such as live bird research houses, a processing facility, a visitor center and an administrative building with classrooms, offices and a reception area. The building site for the new center already includes a $7.1 million feed mill, a project that was completed in 2012.
Practical Applications
Evaporative Cooling Dog House Inspections Pay Off Jess Campbell, Jeremiah Davis, Dennis Brothers, Gene Simpson, and Jim Donald National Poultry Technology Center – Auburn University
During hot weather we are all trying to find ways to improve evaporative cooling system efficiency. Don’t assume all of the air entering the house is coming through the pad system. During our field visits we often find problems inside the plenum room or dog house that go unnoticed. We find holes in the ceilings, cracks above and below the evaporative cooling system framing, and voids between carpenter joints and around posts – and all leak air. Some growers are surprised to find that houses that are only a few years old can have leaks that are substantial and need to be repaired immediately. Below are some thermal images taken during recent field visits that might be of interest to you if you haven’t in-
spected the dog houses recently for air leaks. Thermal cameras make it easy to spot problems; however, you can feel the heat from these leaks as you travel down the dog house, especially if the house is in full tunnel and the evaporative pads are on. Some of them you can see and some you can only feel. Many of these leaks can be repaired with a simple can of spray foam installed around the perimeter of the ceiling and around posts. If the job is too big, a professional spray foam applicator may be necessary. Some holes may be large enough that they need to be filled with lumber and then sealed.
In the thermal image above on the left, the plywood ceiling is sealed except for a ¼” crack along the ceiling above the tunnel inlet opening. Notice the 100°F air leak along the top is traveling down the wall where it mixes with the 80°F air coming through the evaporative pads and entering the house as approximately 90°F. About 10 percent of the air entering the tunnel inlet is almost 90°F instead of 80°F. Identifying these air leaks and sealing them up is a great way to get the most cooling efficiency out of your evaporative cooling system this summer. This thermal image was taken at 9:00 a.m. so this air leaks are just going to get hotter as the day progresses. The thermal image of the dog house on the right had a tri-ply ceiling sealed tightly, but the carpentry joints adjacent to the pad system had some voids, allowing hot air to bypass the pads and diluting the cooled air with hot air.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance in Curtain Sided House Spray Foam Upgrades (Pictures Worth 1000 Words) Dennis Brothers, Jesse Campbell, Jeremiah Davis, Gene Simpson and Jim Donald
Over 10 years ago, the NPTC began testing and monitoring sprayed closed-cell polyurethane foam insulation applications for poultry houses. One of the most effective uses of spray foam for poultry is to convert a once open curtain sided house into a solid sidewall house. The benefits of increased house tightness leading to less air leakage and better ventilation capabilities, as well as the added insulation values, make this one of, if not the most, important energy upgrades to the structure of many poultry houses. These facts have been explored and evaluated many times – you may visit www.poultryhouse.com if you wish to further educate yourself on the many benefits of spray foam in commercial poultry housing. With the benefits being well documented, sometimes the practical application is overlooked. It is very important to pay close attention to preparation for the application of spray foam. This is particularly important if it is decided to spray foam onto an existing curtain, otherwise in good shape, and leave it exposed to the outside. A “good” curtain that has few holes and shows having several years of life left in it can be used as the exterior sheathing of a spray foamed curtain opening with good results – IF the curtain area is properly prepared. This can be a successful way to lower the cost of a spray foam upgrade. Such curtains have shown to last several years, protecting the foam inside once they are no longer subjected to the wearing effects of wind and raising / lowering of the curtains. If choosing this cost saving route, it is recommended by the NPTC that the curtain be firmly attached above and below the curtain opening at the top and bottom seams using any number of methods – wood strips, pipe clamps, cap nails – keeping the curtain tight between - then add stabilization to the center of the curtain, as well. Often this is most easily accomplished with a pressure treated wood strip, as shown below. Simply spraying foam to a curtain that has been rolled up and “sucked” against the bird wire using fans is not enough for long term viability of the curtain or the foam underneath. As seen in the photos below, eventually the curtain strings and straps will fail and the curtain will pull away from the foam – possibly exposing the foam to harmful outside forces of wind, rain and sunlight. The result – after only
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a few years this curtain now needs to now be removed and a more permanent covering like metal sheathing installed to protect the spray foam inside.
Figure1: A curtain opening properly prepared for spray foam application needs to have the curtain firmly attached at the top and bottom of the opening as well as have a stabilizer attaching the curtain to the post in the horizontal center of the curtain, as seen here. This prevents the spray foam from pushing the curtain out as it expands causing poor coverage. It also helps stabilize the curtain over long term exposure to wind and adds some structure to the otherwise foam only curtain opening.
Figure 2: Even though most spray foam installations cover the entire sidewall, the curtain area (center section in this photo) would have little structure and can be a weak point without proper stabilizing members installed.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Figures 3&4: This curtain has been spray foamed for less than 8 years. The curtain straps have deteriorated and the curtain was not secured at the top seam – only rolled up and then foam sprayed. Above, you can see that the curtain has come unattached from foam adhesion and the curtain now flops in the wind. As the curtain raises and strings start to deteriorate, this curtain will fall and expose the foam behind to birds, insects, wind and sunlight. If this condition is not corrected, it won’t be long before the foam job starts to fail completely. At this point the best possible option is to cover the curtain opening with metal siding.
As with many things in life, Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance! AP&EA Tags Now Available!
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Oh, did we mention that the new AP&EA car tag is now available? So, have you ordered yours yet? You can do it today! pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Allied Scholarship Golf Tournament Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016 Chesley Oaks Golf Club Cullman, AL Alabama Poultry Industry Seminar Tuesday - Wednesday, Nov. 1-2, 2016 Auburn, AL
COUNTY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS Marshall County Poultry & Egg Association Annual Meeting Friday, August 5, 2016 Civitan Park Lake Guntersville
Alabama Poultry Magazine