May / June 2017 Vol. 12 No. 3
î ˘e Horne Family of Louisville 2017 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year
Address Service Requested AP&EA P.O. Box 240 Montgomery, AL 36101
Board of Directors
Officers Harold Hunt, President, Gadsden* Kenneth Sanders, Vice President, Brundidge* Mitchell Pate, Treasurer, Auburn* Jason Spann, Secretary, Hanceville* Tim Esslinger, Immediate Past President, Huntsville* Directors Johnny Adcock, Woodland Lou Ayers, Jasper Sam Black, Cullman Richard Curvin, Ashland Cory Early, Albertville Dale Gambrill, Snead Ben Gore, Cullman Lane Holladay, Tyler Tim Holmes, Decatur Casey Jones, Hoover* Clint Lauderdale, Hanceville David Massey, Enterprise Kevin McDaniel, Huntsville Todd McMahen, Dothan Dr. Shannon Morgan, Huntsville Mike Pigg, Montgomery John Pittard, Guntersville John Roberts, Cullman Keith Rhodarmer, Collinsville Eric Rotermund, Russellville Roddy Sanders, Gordo Jason Shell, Huntsville* Steve Smith, Hanceville Rod Thomas, Montgomery Ryan Turner, Guntersville Stanley Usery, Athens Brad Williams, Troy Len Windham, Ariton
Advisors Vernon Abney, Auburn Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University James Donald, Auburn University Dr. Joe Hess, Auburn University Jacob Davis, Montgomery Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery *Executive Committee Members
AP&EA STAFF
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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CEO’s Message
Summer is now in full swing and the avian influenza problem of the spring is behind us for the time being. Many thanks to Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier and to Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries John McMillan for their outstanding leadership in getting Alabama prepared for a potential outbreak. Those tabletop simulations initiated by Dr. Frazier contributed to keeping the potentially devastating high path strain from spreading into Alabama. Biosecurity protocols must still be maintained because, as Dr. Frazier has pointed out, the Blue-winged Teal, and other dabbling ducks, in Alaska and Canada will be heading south in early September. We had an incredible experience at this year’s “Evening of Fun.” The entertainment line-up was one of the best that we have ever had. Brothers Osborne was just coming off dual Academy of Country Music award wins and Smithfield, an up-and-coming young group, had just released a hit single. The Meek High School FFA String Band was terrific as well. Start making plans for next year now for the AP&EA “Evening of Fun.” Congratulations to Trip and Mendy Horne of Louisville on being named our new Alabama Farm Family of the Year for 2017. This young farm family builds success on success, and not just in poultry production, but as active members of their community. Congratulations also to their kids, Laura Beth, 14, and Brody, 10. As an industry we are blessed to have such inspirational leaders. I also want to thank Alabama Poultry & Egg Association President Harold Hunt for doing an outstanding job in leading the association through the year. As busy as he is as complex manager of Koch Foods, Gadsden, he has always been accessible and supportive. It has been a distinct pleasure to work with him on behalf of the Alabama poultry industry.
Featuring This Issue
Government Affairs Association News Evening of Fun Concert Dance Alabama Poultry Farm Family of 2017 Trip and Mendy Horne of Louisville Recipes Practical Applications Calendar of Events
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pg. 4 pg. 8 pg. 14 pg. 16 pg. 18
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Governmental Affairs Trump Task Force to Produce Serious Plan to Help Rural America, Perdue Says
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2017 – Members of President Trump’s Cabinet and senior officials from the White House and throughout the federal government today pledged to forge agreement on ways to boost the farm economy and address economic and social challenges across rural America. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, hosting the first meeting of the cross-government Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity, promised that the interagency effort would produce a “serious plan” for changing policies, regulations and laws that inhibit economic growth. “If you know anything about our president, it was not an executive suggestion” to produce the plan, “it was an executive order,” Perdue said, flanked by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Housing Secretary Ben Carson and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, among others. “The president has moved swiftly to make sure that he lets everyone know that agriculture is important and rural prosperity is important,” Perdue said. The task force’s assignment will be carried out by working groups focusing on four issue areas: quality of life; rural workforce needs; innovation, technology and data; and economic development, Perdue said. The plan that the working groups will produce will include ways to measure whether the recommendations are successful in producing improvements, Perdue told reporters after the meeting. He did not say when the final report is due. During the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, the Cabinet officials and agency representatives made no mention of Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget, which proposed to slash USDA Rural Development programs, including water infrastructure and housing assistance.
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But Mulvaney, who oversaw development of the budget, sought to emphasize that rural America needs special attention in such areas as housing, energy and telecommunications. ‘The president understands that rural America is just different, and if you’re not there, like I am, just go,” Mulvaney said. He added, “If you’re going to address the need of rural America, you can’t do it one agency at a time.” Other officials outlined their priorities or highlighted programs their departments or agencies are responsible for that are important to rural America. Lighthizer said that removing barriers to biotech products would be a major focus of USTR. The inability to sell genetically engineered commodities overseas can slow the commercialization of those products domestically, he said. “We’re going to bring cases at the WTO and other venues and insist that any barriers be science based,” Lighthizer said. The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Ajit Pai, gave one of the most impassioned presentations, emphasizing the need for rural broadband and cellular service to improve farm productivity and to reverse the “brain drain” in rural communities by making them more attractive places to live. “This is an issue that’s not just a professional obligation for me, it’s a personal passion,” said Pai, who grew up in rural Kansas. He recounted a recent tour of small towns in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. Such communities “are off the beaten path, but they are critical to the fabric of American life,”
Alabama Poultry Magazine
he said. He also described seeing a GPS-controlled combine in Maryland. Other infrastructure issues also received mention. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s chief of staff, Geoff Burr, who represented her at the meeting, said Chao understood that private investment would be difficult to find for roads and other projects. “Tolling won’t work,” he said. But he said that there were different approaches to public-private partnerships that could. Agricultural labor needs received relatively short shrift. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta’s chief of staff, Wayne Palmer, didn’t mention the H-2A visa program, which farm groups say is too restrictive. Instead, he focused on the struggle among some manufacturers to find workers with the skills that those companies need in rural as well as urban areas. Energy Secretary Rick Perry was among several officials who emphasized the importance of addressing rural concerns about federal regulations. “One of the places that you can affect people either positively or negatively is on the regulatory side,” he said. Tate Bennett, a representative of the Environmental Protection Agency, noted that rewriting the “Waters of the United States” rule that defines the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act is a top priority for Administrator Scott Pruitt. “He wants to hear from the people who are directly impacted by WOTUS, and that’s rural America,” she said. Article by Philip Brasher – Agri-Pulse.Com
Association News
Alabama FFA Holds Award Ceremony
The winning poultry judging team from Thorsby
MONTGOMERY – On Thursday, June 8, as a part of the 89th Annual FFA Convention, an award ceremony was held in the Montgomery Performing Arts Center to recognize the winners of the various competitions taking place in Auburn earlier in the week. Alabama Poultry & Egg Association sponsored two of the events: Poultry Evaluation and Poultry Proficiency. Poultry Evaluation is a team event, covering evaluation of live birds, carcasses, chicken parts and eggs. The winning team: Thorsby, with advisor Brian Lucas. The top scorer in the event was Gracie Sims of Foley. The poultry proficiency award requires students to have their own chicken houses, either commercial or backyard chickens. They are required to submit photographs of them working in their houses, a record of the hours that they
Ray Hilburn presents the poultry proficiency award to Trent Thomas, while second place finisher Maggie Edwards looks on.
worked and the results of their work. Winning the top award was Trent Thomas of Goshen. He is the son of Chris Thomas who grows for Wayne Farms, Union Springs. Second place went to Maggie Edwards of Woodland. Her father is Greg Edwards, he is live production manager for Pilgrim’s, Carrollton, Ga., and a broiler producer. It is with a great deal of pride AP&EA sponsors the Alabama FFA. Many of these young people will go on to be leaders in agriculture in Alabama and in the South. Most all of the current leadership in the AP&EA came out of the ranks of “Blue Jackets.” In a nation of creeping urbanization, we are blessed to have so many dedicated young people who are putting their futures in agriculture. One day, these kids will feed the world. We are glad to be a part of that!
Gracie Sims of Foley was the top scorer in the poultry judging competition.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
Auburn Ag Holds 109th Student Recognition & Graduation Luncheon
On Sunday, May 7, at the Ham Wilson Livestock Arena the Auburn University College of Agriculture held its 109th Graduation Luncheon, and the place was packed as graduates and their families crowded in to fellowship and eat lunch. Alabama Poultry & Egg Association sponsors this event to honor the contributions that Auburn ag graduates, especially in poultry science, have made and continue to make to the Alabama poultry industry. In the graduating class were eight poultry science graduates: Connor Lynne Dixon, Jessica Nicole Haverkampf, Victoria Nicole Holland, Brendon Lee Kirby, Austin Lee Lock, Madison R. Poland, Andrew Horton Wear and Tyler Gregory Wilson. Two others were awarded advanced degrees: Elle Victoria Chadwick, master’s in
AP&EA Associate Director Ray Hilburn and Auburn department of poultry science head Dr. Don Conner flank a group of smiling graduates: Victoria Holland, Madison Poland, Austin Lock, Kate Meloche and Victoria Chadwick.
poultry science; and Kathryn Jean Meloche, doctorate in poultry science. Congratulations to all on an out-
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standing college career, and best wishes for your real careers.
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Dr. Tony Frazier Takes His Show on the Road
Peggy Vardaro filled ably in for Dr. Frazier at the CAP&EA meeting in Greenville
With warmer weather and the threat of avian influenza greatly diminished, State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier took to the poultry association meeting circuit to let everyone know what had happened, and how a potential catastrophe had been averted. The first meeting was of the Clay County Poultry & Egg Association on May 25, in Lineville. On June 1, he spoke at the Southeast Alabama Poultry & Egg Association in Ariton. On June 15, he spoke to the Wiregrass Poultry & Egg Association in New Brockton. On June 20, Department of Ag and Industries poultry specialist Peggy Vardaro spoke to the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association in Greenville. In his home-spun way, and with his
In Ariton at the SEAP&EA meeting, Dr. Frazier got a chance to talk with Dr. Perry Mobley, DVM, and his daughter, Paige Watson.
own unique brand of humor, he got the point across that what we didn’t think could happen here in Alabama almost happened. He showed how even a tightly controlled breeder flock in Tennessee, just across the state line from Alabama, could suddenly become infected with high path avian influenza. He also explained how the sale of infected guinea fowl at a large flea market could have spread the infection into Alabama with catastrophic results. This time however, what could have been an outbreak was contained. One of the reasons it was contained is because of the emergency plan that he and agriculture and industries Commissioner John McMillan had put in place.
HEADLAND – On June 21, Ecodrum held an openhouse/demonstration on Phil Kirkland’s Philco Farms to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost savings of the Ecodrum system in composting animal mortality. It was also an opportunity for the Wiregrass RC&D to showcase its services in providing grants to fund energy saving projects taking place in one or more of the 10 counties
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He also told the audiences at the four meeting locations of how each flock in those containment zones, including backyard flocks, had been tested. These important meetings gave growers a look at how the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, through the State Veterinarian’s office is ensuring the safety of the Alabama poultry industry. Dr. Frazier and his staff deserve a great deal of thanks for the hard work that went into protecting the state from a full AI outbreak. Many thanks to the sponsors of these events and to those providing the meals.
Ecodrum Holds Demonstration
Ecodrum’s Byron Irwin describes the process
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Dr. Frazier was hitting his stride at Miss Anita’s Cafe in Lineville.
served by the organization. Ronnie Davis opened the program by talking about the function of the Wiregrass RC&D. Rep. Donnie Chasteen spoke briefly of how the legislature would do all that it could to encourage agriculture, saying that Alabama agriculture was the engine that drove the state’s economy. There was a check presentation ceremony with Wiregrass RC&D presenting a grant check to the Henry County Soil and Water District for $10,000 to help defray the cost of the installation. Byron Irwin and Larry Raughton of Ecodrum talked about the efficiencies and cost effectiveness of the ecodrum system. Even though it was raining, the audience visited the installation to see the mechanics of the operation, and to see the quality of the 21-day composting cycle.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Veteran Peco Manager Henry Welch To Retire
Veteran poultry executive Henry Welch will retire July 1 from Peco Foods after 27 years of service. Welch, who joined the company in 1989, is live production manager for Peco’s Gordo/Tuscaloosa complex. In announcing Welch’s retirement, Peco CEO Mark Hickman said, “Henry
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Welch has been an extremely valuable member of our management team during a time of tremendous growth for our company. His contributions have been a key component of our success.” Hickman said Mike Glass, current broiler manager at Peco since 2008, will assume the live operations manager position upon Henry’s retirement and he anticipates a smooth and seamless transition. One of the top poultry companies in the U.S., Peco supplies a broad range of products and services to national restaurant chains, regional food service distributors and retail grocers as well as international accounts. Headquartered in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the company has more than 6,000 employees in Alabama, Mississippi and Arkansas. A native of Magee, Miss., and a 1972 graduate of Mississippi State University, Henry Welch previously worked for Marshall Durbin Farms, Perdue Farms and other industry leaders
Alabama Poultry Magazine
before coming on board with Peco at their Bay Springs, Mississippi, complex. He took over responsibility for live production at the Gordo/Tuscaloosa complex in 2005. Henry Welch has held numerous leadership roles in the poultry industry. He is a long-time director and past chairman of the board of the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the Mississippi Poultry Association. He received the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Pegasus Award in 1997, the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Alumni Achievement Award in 2008, and the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association Lamplighter Award for service to the industry in 2013. In 2016 he was inducted into the Mississippi Poultry Hall of Fame. Welch and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters, Melissa Fortinberry and Kristy Parkerson, and two grandchildren.
The “Big Bass” was brought in by Andy Buchanan. It weighed 5.84 lbs. 1st Place: Barry Johnson and Dale Greer
2nd Place: Tommy Hamilton and Will Hamilton
3rd Place: Randy Fason and Mike Taylor
4th Place: Tony Butts and Dwight Farmer
LAKE GUNTERSVILLE – As pirate Captain Barbosa said in Pirates of the Caribbean, “Aye, there be monsters out there.” Yeah, well, we’ve seen some monsters come out of the waters of Lake Guntersville, but on Friday, May 12, they must have been on vacation. Andy Buchanan’s “Big Bass” was a respectable 5.84 lbs., but compared to other years ... well. And it just wasn’t the big bass that weren’t biting, overall total catch was down as well. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was politics, whatever ... they just weren’t biting. Still, as they say, “a bad day fishing beats a good day in the office.” So, even though the live wells were less than full, it was a great opportunity to enjoy the open water and the companionship of a good friend. The 5:30 a.m. start gave the anglers plenty of time, and by 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 doorprize-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 top team was that of Barry Johnson and Dale Greer, while Andy Buchanan took home the “Big Bass” prize. 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 American Proteins, and ... maybe they’ll be biting next year!
5th Place: Jim Smith and Tim Miller
6th Place: Nick Mitchell and Luke Morgan
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SILVER LAKES GOLF COURSE – For the first time the annual Evening of Fun Golf Tournament was held on a Robert Trent Jones Alabama Golf Trail golf course. The magnificent Silver Lakes Golf Course in Glencoe was the sight on Friday, May 19, as poultry pros gathered at the fantastic clubhouse for registration. By tee time, 33 four-man teams had signed in, along with one with a lady golfer, to make 34 teams. The spectacular views of the Appalachian foothills and changes in elevations added to the challenges of a golf course with course names of “Heartbreaker,” “Backbreaker,” and “Mindbreaker.” That, combined with some well-placed water hazards, ensured that the complimentary box of golf balls that each competitor received went to good use. Most all of our golfers agreed that it was a memorable experience. After golfing, it was a treat to settle in to the club house for a great meal and a chance to swop stories about the putt that came so close, or the turkey hen just off hole #2 that seemed to have no fear of golf carts or golfers.
2017 HOLE SPONSORS Alabama Farm Credit • Alabama Power Company • AlaTrade Foods • American Proteins • Aviagen • Boehringer Ingelheim • Ceva ChemStation • Clear View Enterprises • Cobb-Vantress Cumberland • D & F Equipment • First South Farm Credit Fitco • GSM Steel & Mechanical Contractors Hubbard LLC • International Paper • Interstate Container J & R / Farm Systems • K Supply • L. B. White – Casey Jones Live Oak Bank • Marel • PSSI • Randy Jones & Associates Reeves Supply Co. • Southwestern Sales Sunbelt Rentals • Zoetis
1st Place: Daily Thomas, Clay Borden, Brett Pepper and Taylor Norris
2nd Place: Wendy Tysinger, Lindsey Goodwin, Andrew Pinyan and Eli Howard
3rd Place: John Pemberton and Clay Allen. Not shown – Frank Loftis and Adam Langley
Closest to the Hole: John Smith, Ryan Turner, Lindsey Goodwin, Josh Pickett, Keith Whaley and GC Covey.
2017 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. Gold AlaTrade Foods • Aviagen Inc. • C & E Supply LLC • CEVA • Cobb-Vantress, Inc. Hubbard LLC • Interstate Container • Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation • Marel Poultry Merck Animal Health • NIPCAM Services • 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 • Boehringer Ingelheim • Cintas Corporation • Cumberland • Evonik Corporation • Huvepharma Jones-Hamilton Company • Live Oak Bank • MWI Animal Health • PeroxyChem Randy Jones & Associates • Sunbelt Rentals
Evening of Fun
Before the Concert – There Was Some Business to Take Care Of
BIRMINGHAM – Saturday, May 27, 4:00 p.m. – Even as the bands were undergoing their final sound checks at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, across the street at the Birmingham Sheraton Ballroom, growers from around the state were meeting to elect a new grower to the AP&EA board of directors. Greg Abercrombie of Valhermoso Springs, in Morgan County was elected to a two-year term and Johnny Adcock of Woodland and Len Windham of Ariton were reelected to serve another two-year term. AP&EA Vice President Kenneth Sanders chaired the meeting and introduced the new 2017 Alabama Farm Family of the Year: Trip and Mendy Horne of Louisville, along with their children, Laura Beth, 14, and Brody, 10. They grow for Equity in Eufaula. Next on the agenda, Alabama State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier spoke on the recent avian influenza problem in north Alabama. Frazier is probably the only state veterinarian who can make an entertaining presentation from a potentially devastating problem, and still get the point across. Case in point – on discussing the lethality of AI, he said, “it (AI) can go through a house of healthy birds, like a dose of croton oil through a widow woman.” I think that means
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it’s pretty darn fast and thorough. “For years we believed that AI would not happen in Alabama because of our high temperatures. I thought we could depend on that.” Then he added, “I was wrong.” He went on to detail the development of the disease in Tennessee, just across the border from Alabama and the steps that were taken to quarantine those areas, and how testing was done to all flocks, even backyard flocks, in the effected areas. He urged all growers to work with their integrators to follow biosecurity protocols and keep up-to-date records in case of an outbreak and the need for documentation for indemnification. After Dr. Frazier’s presentation five $100 door prizes were awarded to lucky growers – or in some cases their wives or children. It made that trip to Birmingham a lot more fun. Then, after a picnic supper of hamburgers and hotdogs in a nearby ballroom, it was time to get the party started at the BJCC. You just knew it was going to be a fun evening!
Alabama Poultry Magazine
The Meek High School FFA String Band got things started and performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
AP&EA President Harold Hunt introduced the Executive Committee
BIRMINGHAM – On Saturday May 27, the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex was jumping with the sounds of the AP&EA annual Evening of Fun. The fun got started early, even as the audience was coming in, with the Meek High School FFA String Bank and their incredible bluegrass sound. The talented youngsters put on quite as show and did a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem. They left the stage with a lot of folks wanting to hear more. Before the real show began, AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams welcomed AP&EA President Harold Hunt to the stage. He, in turn, brought up the AP&EA Executive Committee for introduction. Next on the agenda was the introduction of the 2017 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year. The honor went to Trip and Mendy Horne, and their children, Laura Beth and Brody, of Louisville. The Hornes grow for Keystone Foods. This was followed by a drawing for two large screen smart televisions, donated by American Proteins. Then it was time to have some fun! Our first group was the outstanding young group Smithfield. They performed a number of their hit songs including: Nothing But the Night, If I Were You, Good Ol’ Days, and You Don’t Know. They ended with their signature hit Hey Whiskey. Double Academy of Country Music Award winners, Brothers Osborne, took to the stage next. They sang many of the songs from their debut album Pawn Shop, including their hit songs Stay a Little Longer and Rum. It was a fantastic night of country music – if you were there, you know what I mean. If you weren’t, hey, we’ll do it again next year. AP&EA CEO Johnny Adams introduced the Horne family of Louisville as Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year.
Samuel Love, Jacksonville, and Danny Hudgins, Altoona, both won big screen smart televisions donated by American Proteins.
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After the concert, it was time to busta’ move with the Momentum Party Band in the Sheraton Ballroom. The party picked up steam and was non-stop until well after midnight. I’ll bet that’s why they call it momentum.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
LOUISVILLE – Trip Horne really didn’t want to go to Auburn for Iron Bowl weekend in 1997. He had just graduated in December of 1996 with a degree in animal and dairy science and had a good job selling feed with Morman Manufacturing. Still, his buddy was insistent, so they went. It was that weekend that he was introduced to a young lady from Montgomery, named Mendy. He told his buddy on the way home, “I knew I shouldn’t have come. I think I just met my wife.” On Christmas morning, he drove to Montgomery and brought her down to Barbour County to meet his family. During the visit, he left her alone to fend for herself, first at his Uncle Braxton’s and then at his grandparents. It was there that Mendy remembers that Mr. Tommy, Trip’s father, grilled her a couple of times. “Looking back on it,” she says, looking slyly at Trip, “that was just wrong.” Still, she maintains, “I figured if I could survive that, I could survive anything.” By June, they were engaged. They
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wanted to get married in October, but Trip’s father, Dr. Tommy Horne, DVM, was running for the Alabama Legislature, so they both got involved in the campaign. Trip and Mendy were married on Nov. 14, 1998 – during the AuburnGeorgia football game. Trip maintains that he had no part in the scheduling of the event. Mendy admits, at least one prominent groomsman sneaked out of the reception to watch the game. This November, they will celebrate their 19th anniversary. I learned early on in my interview with Trip and Mendy Horne, when you ask Trip a question – just settle back and enjoy the story that is to follow. I asked him about his major in animal and dairy science. He first told me about his grandfathers and then about his father, and how as a teenager his father had worked as a pulp wooder, skidding logs out with a team of horses. How when he graduated from high school in 1967 he only weighed 130 pounds and realized that there was no future in pulp wooding for
Alabama Poultry Magazine
him. Instead, he went to Auburn and then to vet school, graduating in 1974, the year Trip was born. When Trip was 2-months-old, his dad was doing a veterinary internship in Dothan. Trip was a very fussy baby, so, one rainy day when his dad came home for lunch, according to Trip, his mother told his father, “When you come home this evening, there might only be one of us here.” With that, his father loaded him into his pickup truck, Soon Trip stopped crying. He stayed there untill he entered pre-school (Trip says his daddy cried at losing his truck buddy). From that experience he learned to love working with people and animals. He also loved farming and working with his father’s cattle. He entered Auburn, majoring in animal and dairy science as preparation for vet school, but in his junior year he decided, even though his grades were excellent, that he really wanted to be a farmer. He was worried about telling his father about his change of plans. Dr.
Both Laura Beth, 14, and Brody, 10, attend Lakeside Academy in Eufaula. Laura Beth is a competitor on the pageant circuit, having won numerous titles. She plays volleyball, basketball and softball, and she has just been elected junior varsity cheer captain. She and Brody both like to ride horses. Brody has taken it a step farther, dressing up as an Indian chief and riding his horse on to the football field at home games, spear in hand. Brody is all boy. He plays football, basketball and was just named to the allstar team in baseball. He likes to help Trip around the farm, but he really loves to ride his four wheeler with his best friend, Missy, a chocolate and white English cocker spaniel.
Horne, instead congratulated him on his honesty. He told Trip that with his work ethic and good sense he knew that Trip would do well in whatever he chose to do. When he graduated, Trip took a job with Morman Manufacturing selling feed. Working on a commission, he was making good money, but it wasn’t as regular as he would like. Some months, sales would be great, but some months would be a bit lean. Even though he was augmenting his income by selling cows and working with his father, he realized that, as an about to be married man, he needed something more stable. He had always had a strong love for cattle and horses, but he put in an application with Charoen Pokphand (CP), to be a broiler service tech. (This is in spite of the fact that at Auburn he and his animal science buddies had given the poultry science students a hard time, clucking whenever they saw them in the halls.) When he was hired, Matt Jackson, now breeder manager, had just been hired. He picked Trip up for his first day of work. Even though, he was learning on the job, Trip quickly realized that servicing chickens is more about dealing with people. That was something at which he excelled. He had been working for CP for a year and a half when he got a call from Tony Wood at Wayne Farms offering him a job. He accepted the job and went to work servicing chickens for Wayne Farms. He was eventually promoted to live haul manager at Wayne Farms, Union Springs. In 2008, during the transition from servicing chickens to becoming live haul manager, he built four 55’ x 500’ houses for Wayne. Some changes at Wayne Farms prompted him to look elsewhere. Equity, which purchased CP, was also looking for new growers. Trip signed on with them. At that time Equity only had 42’ x 500’ houses, but, in their need for new growers, they were open to trying new things, so this gave them the opportunity to evaluate Trip’s larger houses. After a few flocks, in 2015, they gave him permission to build two additional 55’ x 500’ houses. Later, he also convinced them to let him build the two 60’x600’ houses on a second farm called Picket Place Poultry, placing birds in February 2016. Since then, he has rewarded Equity’s confidence by consistently finishing in the top 10 of poultry producers. His farm has averaged a 5.26 pound bird with a 1.68 feed conversion rate. Trip still loves his horses and cattle. He was an active horse trader, now he keeps them to ride with his kids. He has increased his cattle herd, buying
The Hornes also have several greenhouses where they grow Boston ferns. These are the ferns that are hanging from their new sign.
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Alabama Poultry Magazine
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thinner young cattle and grazing them over the spring and summer for fall sale. Mendy’s family is from Montgomery, where they have a wholesale floral company and greenhouses. Her father, a huge Alabama fan, wanted to send her to Auburn to study horticulture, instead she majored in health and human performance. She was working in cardiac rehab when she and Trip married. There was no opportunity to continue in that line of work in Louisville, so she took a job with Boyd Brothers Trucking Company, a large flatbed hauling operation, headquartered in Clayton. She has been there, except for a brief stint working for Alabama Power Company, since. Now, as a customer sales rep. she handles Alabama and the Florida panhandle. The Horne family is very active in their church, Louisville Baptist. Trip has served on the pulpit committee several times. Trip’s family has always been involved in local politics around Barbour County. His father was mayor of Clayton for two terms, and Trip had been working at CP for only a short time when he was first approached to run for county commission. It wasn’t until 2006 that he decided to run. In the Barbour County Commission District 7 race he was pitted against the incumbent and another challenger, both of whom were in their late sixties. Trip won with 55 percent of the vote. When his six-year term expired in 2012, he was unopposed. Trip says of his political experience, “It’s been interest-
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ing – it’s always easier to look from the outside in to say what all you can do, but when you get in there and find out that we’re just as broke as they said we are – you realize nobody has mismanaged money. It’s just that everybody would manage and spend it differently.” He expresses great admiration for those who came before him and those that will follow. The Alabama poultry industry has great admiration for Trip Horne and his family for their wide range of accomplishments, both in the industry and in the community. That’s why it is such an honor to give them the title of 2017 Alabama Poultry Farm Family of the Year.
Alabama Poultry Magazine
Recipes May Was National Egg Month – So Let’s Celebrate Now! Basic Cheese Quiche Recipe Total Tiime: 40m Prrep Tiime: 10m
Cook Tiime: 30m Yields: 6 Servings
Directions 1. HEAT oven to 375°F. SPREAD cheese evenly in bottom of piecrust. TOP with filling in an even layer. 2. BEAT eggs, milk, salt and thyme in medium bowl until blended. Carefully POUR over filling in piecrust. 3. BAKE in center of 375°F oven until center is almost set but jiggles slightly when dish is gently shaken and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes. LET STAND 5 minutes. CUT into wedges. What you need 1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheese (2 to 4 oz.) 1 Basic Egg & Lemon Juice piecrust (9-inch), baked 1/2 to 1 cup filling (see below) 6 EGGS 1 cup milk 1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves or other herb; tsp. salt Basic Egg Frittata Recipe Total Time: 15m Prep Tiime: 5m
Cook Tiime: 10m
Directions Yiields: 2 Servings 1. BEAT eggs, liquid, herb and salt and pepper in medium bowl until blended. ADD filling; mix well. 2. HEAT butter in 6 to 8-inch nonstick omelet pan or skillet over medium heat until hot. POUR IN egg mixture; cook over low to medium heat until eggs are almost set, 8 to 10 minutes. 3. REMOVE from heat. COVER and LET STAND until eggs are completely set and no visible liquid egg remains, 5 to 10 minutes. CUT into wedges. What You Need Fillings: Make fillings from your favorite foods or 4 EGGS from leftovers. Use a combination of meat, 1/4 cup liquid, such as milk, tomato juice, broth seafood or poultry, cheese, vegetables and 1/4 tsp. dried thyme leaves or herb of your choice cooked pasta or grains. Salt and pepper, as desired 1 cup filling (see right) Filling ingredients shold be cooked, not raw. 2 tsp. butter or vegetable oil Pieces should be cut fairly small and drained well.
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May / June 2017
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Practical Applications
Maintaining Feed Quality On the Farm In the U.S., more than 90 percent of broiler feeds are offered in a pelleted form. The purpose of pelleting is to convert finely ground ingredients or mixed feeds into larger “pellets” that are more attractive and palatable to poultry. Pellet quality is an important factor that improves growth rate, feed efficiency, flock uniformity, and overall profitability in growing broilers. Indeed, feed form influences how fast broilers grow and how healthy they stay during growout. Most of the burden associated with providing quality feeds to the birds rests with the integrator, but growers can help to insure that feed delivered to the farm feed bin does not degrade physically or nutritionally before it reaches the birds. Don’t underestimate the influence of feed outages in damaging broiler performance. Broilers have been selected genetically to grow at a steady pace and any slowdowns in the growth curve can negatively affect final weight and/or market age. Although feed delivery is a constant process, any changes in weather and feed mill breakdowns can occasionally cause outages. Therefore, growers should work closely with their service person to make sure feed is ordered in a timely fashion. In addition, preventive and corrective maintenance of feed system equipment between and during growouts as well as monitoring feed quality as it arrives on the farm can help to avoid substandard results when birds are shipped to be processed.
Maintaining Feed Equipment on the Farm
Although feed often moves quickly through a set of houses during the latter part of a growout, cleanliness and function of the equipment can influence bird performance. Feed bin leaks, moisture in the feed hoppers, or condensation in feed bin walls due to temperatures differences between day and night can lead
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Wilmer Pacheco and Joe Hess Poultry Science Department, Auburn University, AL, 30649
to moldy feed buildup, which can create an optimum environment for bacterial growth and mycotoxin production. If the bin boots and feed hoppers are not inspected and cleaned occasionally, these hunks of moldy and contaminated material break off and distribute concentrated mycotoxins and bacterial loads to the birds along the feed line and feeders. Much of the work to avoid these problems can be accomplished between flocks if downtime is sufficient to clean feed equipment. Check feed bin boots occasionally and clean out caked material thoroughly from each hopper in the house before the starter feed is placed for the next flock, making sure the caked material doesn’t fall into the feed line. Examine older feed bins for leaks when the bins are empty and seal appropriately. Most people suggest dry cleaning only because drying time is necessary after wet cleaning and if wet cleaning it not done correctly, the excess moisture can represent a potential source for feed contamination. In addition, short down times and/or wet weather may make it impossible to dry bins thoroughly before starter feed is delivered. During these cleaning steps, wear rubber gloves (kitchen gloves work well) and a mask to limit your contact with these materials, since some can be harmful for people as well as animals. Observing Feed and Sampling
Growers should observe feed characteristics as soon after feed delivery as possible. If differences in feed color or texture are noticed, it is not unreasonable to contact your service person and report differences to make sure that no problems have arisen. The most reasonable location to observe feed quality is the hopper. Pellet quality will continue to degrade as feed moves down the house to the pans and fines (dust) will increase if feed is taken from the pans instead of from the hopper. Addition-
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ally, if sudden differences in bird activity appear (increase or decrease in water consumption, changes in activity patterns, feed passage or necrotic enteritis episodes), contact your service person quickly to allow for assessment of the situation and evaluate bird health or feed issues. You might take feed samples at this time for the poultry company to analyze. Sampling technique can contribute to the accuracy of results when feed samples are gathered for analysis. A quick ½ lb. grab sample from one hopper or pan is not sufficient to insure usable numbers if sent to a lab for analysis. The grower or service person should sample approximately 2-4 pounds of feed from each feed hopper (preferably as the hopper is being filled from the cross auger), combining the samples in a larger container such as a plastic bucket. The bucket full of feed should be mixed to insure a representative sample is taken making sure that the handling of the sample doesn’t produce additional fines or segregation. The bucket should then be subsampled to obtain four one-pound samples for analysis and some feed for short-term storage (another pound) until the feed question is resolved. Sending more than one sample increases analysis cost, but can greatly increase your confidence in the results. Sending three samples allows for a tie breaker if analysis comes back different between samples. It is important to understand that variation in feed analysis results comes from several areas including; sampling size error (sample is not representative of batch), laboratory variation in results, methodology to analyze the chemical composition of the sample, and actual variation within or between loads of feed. If samples are to be held for some time, the sample should be refrigerated or frozen in a paper sack to avoid molding and nutritional deterioration.
Continued on pg. 30
Frozen Fan Belt Tensioners Cause Significant Loss of Fan Power! National Poultry Technology Staff
Notice the fan butterfly shutter on the left before the tensioner was repaired and then afterwards – an obvious increase of fan power. This is also seen in fan RPM as seen in fig 3 & 4.
An integral part of most modern poultry house exhaust and tunnel fans is the spring loaded belt tensioner. Belt tensioners have an important role in helping maintain proper belt tension and allowing the fan motor to transfer all of its power to the fan blades – insuring maximum air moving capabilities. However, these same belt tensioners can cause a tremendous amount of problems if not maintained. Dust and moisture cause rust, and rust in the tensioner can cause it to freeze up and no longer do the job, robbing the fan of much of its power to move air. Given the environment they have to work in, it is no wonder that one of the most common and problematic issues is tensioners freezing up. Luckily, this can be a simple problem to remedy. In the following photos, you see a typical frozen belt tensioner. One quick way to spot this problem is to notice how the louvers of a fan (in this case-butterfly shutter) may not be opening fully. Half open louvers are a visual indication that this fan is not performing to its fullest. You may also notice slack in the belt as it runs. This slack can be seen as you watch the fan operate from the inside; the belt will jump as it runs back to the motor pulley. With the fan unplugged, you can see and feel the belt slack with very little pressure being applied by hand. A tensioner that is fully functional will move with the belt and keep the belt tight as you push on it. If you remove the belt – which may not be easy with the tensioner frozen – you can see how the tensioner does not spring back into position away from the center of the fan. After applying some corrosion cutting spray (WD-40, Breakfree, PB Blaster, etc.) and gently pecking on the mounting bolt and the tensioner, you may be able to break the tensioner free. Applying more lubricant and working it gently back and forth should get the tensioner back in working When properly working, the order. After re-installing the belt tensioner should spring belt, it was obvious that this back and forth freely, and keep fan was working stronger, as can be seen by the butterfly the belt tight when engaged.
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louver now fully opening. This fan was tested using an RPM meter before and after this simple repair. Before, with the tensioner frozen, it ran at 491 RPM. After un-freezing the tensioner, it ran at 542 RPM – almost a 10 percent increase. Given this fan’s CFM rating, losing 10 percent was losing approximately 2270 cfm’s. If every fan in the house suffers from a frozen tensioner, which would not be unusual, and if we can assume an equal increase in fan power by unsticking them all, there is the potential of losing the equivalent of one whole fan due to frozen tensioners. The hour it would take to un-freeze all the fan belt tensioners would be time well spent. Not all stuck tensioners will un-freeze so easily. Some may even need to be replaced. This can easily be a $40 repair, but given the potential gain, it is a maintenance expense worth spending. If and when you do replace belt tensioners, we recommend using ones with a grease fitting installed, and regularly grease them, making this wind-speed robber a thing of the past. When choosing fans for replacement, a greasable belt tensioner is definitely a positive feature on any fan. Either way, there are not many quicker, more simple, maintenance repairs that a grower can do that easily yield 10 percent increase in air moving power on a single fan. The next time you are at the fan end of your houses – check your belt tensioners! And, while you are back there, here is a handy list of fan maintenance items to look for and perform:
FAN MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST
Drives (Pulleys and Belts): The drives transmit power and provide the gear ratio between the motor speed and propeller speed. Anything that goes wrong with the drive system causes lost fan performance. Check belt tension – Slipping belts and frozen tensioners – You reduce belt life & lose airflow.
Check belt wear – Worn belts ride lower in the pulleys – Changes gear ratio – You lose airflow
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Check alignment – Misaligned pulleys cause excessive belt wear and more drive loses – you lose belt life and fan efficiency Check pulley wear – Worn, cupped out pulleys allow belts (even a new belt) to ride lower in the pulley – Changes gear ratio – you lose airflow
Shutters and Guards: Anything that obstructs the airflow causes lost fan performance. Clean shutters - Once / week - Dirty shutters require more energy from the airflow to open – You lose airflow and efficiency
Clean guards – Once / week - Dirty guards present more surface area to obstruct the airflow – You lose airflow and efficiency
Motors: All electric circuits and electrical devices run more efficiently and last longer at cooler temperatures.
Clean motors – once / flock – Dirty motors run hotter – You lose efficiency and also reduce the motor life.
Bearings: Lubricate bearings twice / year where applicable (spring and fall). - Dry bearings require more power to turn – You lose fan efficiency and bearing life.
Continued from pg. 26 “Maintaining Feed Quality on the Farm” Generally speaking, the integrator will submit samples for analysis based on what is seen with the feed or birds. Analysis will vary depending on the problems noticed and requested tests are geared toward general nutrient analysis (protein, fat and fiber), minerals or feed additives. Some operations have enough test facilities at the feed mill to answer basic questions more quickly than can be accomplished through sending samples to an outside testing laboratory. Unfortunately, nutrient analysis takes some time under the best of circumstances and instant answers are never to be expected in this area.
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As a grower, it is important to understand the crucial role of feed and feed quality in birds’ health and growth. Maintaining feed equipment clean and functioning properly will help birds reach their genetic potential in terms of body weight of the birds delivered to the processing plant. Also, growers should watch feed quality and flock health regularly and coordinate with the poultry company in taking samples for analysis if feed changes visibly or the birds appear to be changing their eating and drinking patterns.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
ADVERTISING INDEX Alabama Ag / Alabama Farm Credit American Proteins Aviagen Boehringer Ingelheim Cumberland Ecoconcepts Ecodrum First South Farm Credit Jones-Hamilton PLT Klarion Mistie Wiggs Northwest Envirofan PoultrySouth Randy Jones Ins. Agency Southwest Agri-Plastics Sunbelt Rentals
Conclusions
pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg. pg.
7 31 23 2 29 24 9 5 27 21 6 24 10 32 19 15
Marshall County Poultry & Egg Association Annual Meeting Friday, July 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. Town Hall, Guntersville
Cullman County Poultry & Egg Association Annual Meeting Saturday, September 16, 2017, 6:00 p.m. Cullman Civic Center
Allied Scholarship Golf Tournament Friday, October 27 10:00 a.m. Chesley Oaks Golf Club, Cullman
Alabama Poultry Industry Workshop September 26-27 Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge
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