Vilsack names meat and poultry inspection committee members

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of members to the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) for the 2014-2016 term.
Established in 1971, the 17-member NACMPI meets on food safety concerns and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities. It also contributes to USDA's regulatory policy development.
"The diverse perspectives on food safety that the advisory members bring are invaluable to our success in ensuring the safety of the foods we eat," said Vilsack. "I am firmly committed to aggressively decreasing the incidence of foodborne illnesses and these outstanding individuals will be instrumental in our work to protect the American people's food supply."
The new NACMPI members are: Dr. Michael Crupain, Consumer Product Safety and Sustainability; George Wilson, Wilson & Associates, LLC; Dr. Tanya Roberts, Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention; Kurt Brandt, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union; Dr. Dustin Oedekoven, South Dakota Animal Industry Board; Dr. Krzysztof Mazurczak, Illinois Department of Agriculture; Michael Frances Link Jr., Ohio Department of Agriculture; Dr. Manpreet Singh, Purdue University; Dr. Randall K. Phebus, Kansas State University; Dr. Patricia Curtis, Auburn University; Brian Sapp, White Oak Pastures, Inc.; Sherri Jenkins, JBS, USA, LLC; Dr. Betsy Booren, American Meat Institute; Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball, LLC.
Returning members are: Sherika Harvey, Mississippi Department of Agriculture; Dr. Carol L. Lorenzen, University of Missouri; Dr. Michael L. Rybolt, Hillshire Brands Company; Dr. John A. Marcy, University of Arkansas;and Christopher A. Waldrop, Consumer Federation of America.
NACMPI will host its next public meetings January 13-14, 2015.  Additional details and the meeting agenda are accessible at the NACMPI website.

Canadian government pledges funds to battle pig, bovine diseases

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  Andrea Gantz

  The Canadian government is pledging funds to battle Brachyspira hampsonii, which affects feeding and growth rates in pigs.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The Canadian government has pledged an investment of $260,000 to the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board (Sask Pork) to help control two diseases that are threatening swine and beef herds in Canada.
  The allocation will help fund research that will target Brachyspira hampsonii, a recently discovered bacterium that causes diarrhea and colitis in pigs. Scientists will also seek to gain a better understanding of bovine genital campylobacteriosis (BCG) or “vibriosis” that can significantly reduce pregnancy rates among breeding cattle. Both studies will include diagnostics, surveillance and trials involving live animals.
  Brachyspira hampsonii was recently discovered in Western Canada and is known to affect feeding and growth rates in pigs.
  A recent outbreak of BCG in a Saskatchewan beef herd reduced pregnancy rates by 16 to 62 per cent. Sask Pork will have input from the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association and the research will be conducted by a team of scientists at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine.
  This investment is made through the Industry-led Research and Development stream of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriInnovation Program, a five-year, up to $698-million program.
  “Our government recognizes the importance of the swine and beef sectors to the Canadian economy. This investment will help enhance the competitiveness of both these industries by expanding diagnostic and control tools available to producers,” said Brad Trost, member of parliament.
  “Brachyspira hampsonii is an emerging swine disease in western Canada which needs to be better understood and controlled because it is very hard to eliminate from a herd when infected. BCG also has the potential to seriously reduce the calf crop in the important western cattle herd, so we welcome the AgriInnovation Program funding to develop products to control these serious threats,” said Florian Possberg, Sask Pork chairman.

BRF, Indofood forming joint venture company in Indonesia

BRF has signed a memorandum of understanding with PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk (Indofood), for the incorporation of a joint venture company that will explore the poultry and processed foods businesses in Indonesia.
The joint venture company will represent BRF’s entry into Indonesia, a market with more than 250 million people that is experiencing a significant growth in protein consumption.
Indofood is one of Indonesia’s largest companies with operations in all stages of food manufacturing, from production of raw materials and their processing, to consumer products. Its business operations includes consumer branded products, flour milling, agribusiness, distribution, cultivation and processed vegetables. In the context of such a joint venture company, BRF will contribute with its knowledge in the protein-based food processing industry and Indofood will contribute with its market access in Indonesia, granting access to its extensive distribution network.
BRF and Indofood will each hold a 50 percent ownership in the joint venture company and, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent to be set forth in the definitive agreements, jointly plan to invest approximately US$200 million in the next three years.
This transaction is in line with BRF’s strategic plan for globalizing the company by means of accessing local markets, strengthening BRF’s brands, distributing and expanding its product portfolio around the globe.

Hendrix-ISA acquiring Midwest Farms LLC, Pennovo

ISA, the layer business unit of Hendrix Genetics, plans to purchase Midwest Farms LLC, part of Midwest Food Association, and will acquire the Pennsylvania-based hatchery Pennovo (formerly Penn Embryo) and the Virginia based hatchery, Brickland (MFA). ISA will create a new company, Hendrix-ISA, to serve the U.S. market with premium quality layers.
With the capacity to produce close to one million commercial layers a week, Hendrix-ISA will expand its leadership in the U.S. layer market.
U.S. egg producers will have direct access to the breeding company through Hendrix-ISA. That direct access will provide the opportunity for the team to review field results and breed expectations, the company stated, thereby giving the layer industry a voice on future breeding programs that will benefit US egg producers.
Hendrix-ISA offers the opportunity to purchase premium quality, day-old chicks directly from the global leader in layer genetics. The fully modernized, state-of-the-art facility, Pennovo, will produce up to 500,000 high quality, commercial layers per week, while the existing Brickland Hatchery has a production capacity of up to 400,000 high quality, commercial layers per week.
Hendrix-ISA will focus on the leading products - Shaver White and Isa Brown. In addition, Bovans, Dekalb, Hisex and Babcock brands will be distributed throughout Hendrix-ISA as parent stock and as commercial layers. Bovans White and Brown and Dekalb White products will remain available in the U.S. via Centurion Poultry Inc. Distribution of ISA products in the U.S. from Merrill, Westwind, Pitman and other Hendrix affiliated hatcheries will remain the same.
“For a long time, the U.S. market has had limited choices in egg layer genetics,” said Peter Mumm, the new managing director of Hendrix-ISA LLC. “Now the layer industry has another choice. The excellence of Hendrix-ISA’s genetics, our team of poultry specialists, and our world-class breeding- and hatchery facilities will provide the US market with the highest quality in genetics and service.”
Thijs Hendrix, founder of Hendrix Genetics, commented about the Hendrix-ISA initiative in the U.S.: “It fits perfectly in our strategy to selectively integrate further into the supply chain, to grow in the US and to work closely with our strategic partners.”
Bruce Lackey, general manager of Midwest Foods Association (MFA) stated: “The MFA purchasing cooperative has worked very hard over the past twelve years to develop our Midwest Farms hatchery and breeder farm complex into something very special. It is now time for us to spin off that division to a company that is equally special - Hendrix-ISA. With this divestiture, MFA can now get back to its roots and focus strictly on serving member needs and developing new buying programs.”

Koch Foods plant returns to production after ammonia leak

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  freeimages.com/je1196

  Emergency crews responded to an ammonia leak on December 19 at a Koch Foods plant in Gainesville, Georgia.

  From WATTAgNet:
  A Koch Foods poultry plant in Gainesville, Georgia, was evacuated during the afternoon of December 19 because of an ammonia leak at the plant.
  Three people were directly exposed to the ammonia, but nobody was injured. The three workers that were exposed were treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization.
  The plant had been undergoing renovations, according to Gainesville Fire Department Division Chief Kevin Smith, and a worker had apparently accidentally cut an ammonia line at the plant. The accident occurred around 1:30 p.m.
  "Our personnel along with the hazmat team - that we work together with Hall County - entered the building and did find initially high readings of ammonia in the building," said Smith.
  According to Smith, it took about an hour before the air in the plant was clear enough for people to return to work. Plant operations resumed at that point.
  The December 19 leak marked the second time in just a little more than six months that Koch Foods had to deal with an ammonia leak in Gainesville. On June 9, the company experienced another leak, when the plant was evacuated and 14 workers had reported exposure to the ammonia. Four were treated at an area hospital.

Avian influenza spreads into Oregon

H5N8 avian influenza has been found in backyard chickens and guinea fowl in Winston, Oregon. The latest avian influenza case was reported December 19 by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and makes Oregon the second state to have a confirmed case of avian influenza.
The affected property is home to about 100 chickens and guinea fowl, which have access to a pond and marsh that is frequented by migratory birds.
The finding in Oregon was quickly reported and identified due to increased awareness of avian influenza in light of the avian influenza findings in wild birds in the neighboring state of Washington State earlier this week. This H5N8 virus is the same virus that was found in gyrfalcons in Washington.
At least ten cases of avian influenza have been reported in British Columbia, Canada, just north of where the Washington cases were confirmed.
Oregon State officials and USDA are working jointly to respond to this detection, following existing avian influenza response plans. The State of Oregon quarantined the affected premises, and APHIS will assist the state in depopulating the remaining birds to prevent the spread of the disease.  Additional surveillance of poultry around the infected premises will be conducted as outlined in the response plans.
Avian influenza has not yet been detected in any commercial poultry flocks. Surveillance for avian influenza is ongoing in commercial poultry operations, live bird markets, and in migratory wild bird populations. Additionally, commercial poultry producers follow strict biosecurity practices and raise their birds in very controlled environments.
USDA notified the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) of this detection as required by the OIE.  USDA expects trading partners to respond to this reported detection according to OIE’s science-based standards. USDA is working with trading partners to minimize trade impacts on poultry and poultry products as much as possible.

VIV Asia Road Shows spreading the word about the event

VIV Asia, which will be held March 11-13, 2015, in Bangkok, will feature the animal production and meat processing industry’s developments.
The feed-to-meat concept brings together supply and demand within the complete animal protein chain, with the idea that animal feed and animal health are vital for meat quality and safety.
The conference will feature sessions on health issues; extended shelf life of food products; meat safety; ways to improve yield, quality, hygiene, traceability, portioning, performance, profitability, efficiency and transparency; and the trend toward systems that cover the entire food chain from primary production to finished products.
Road Shows
Road Shows have started to visit several Asian countries to carry the message that VIV Asia will be bigger than ever in 2015. Special events, features and themes added to the exhibition will serve the needs of dedicated target groups. The Road Shows have traveled to Indonesia, South Korea, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Bangladesh. In February, Road Shows will visit countries from the North Africa/Middle East region.
Pork production
The VIV Asia experience will be very strong in its connections to the production and processing of poultry meat and eggs. However, an extra feature in March will be the introduction of a special theme of pork production, in support of invitations sent especially to the top pig producers in the Asian region. Several of the leading international suppliers of pig equipment have signed up to exhibit for the first time.
“In total, our forecast for visitor numbers is that there will over 35,000 animal protein professionals and associated buyers from Asia, Africa and the Middle East,” says VIV Asia exhibition manager Ruwan Berculo. “In fact we think we will have people from every continent because the show has grown into such a big international event. Today, it can claim to serve almost all of the world’s most promising markets for animal proteins, at a time when Thailand is ready to play a major part in driving the food supplies of the new ASEAN trade zone.
Chinese language program
To cater for Chinese-speaking visitors, Mandarin has been added to the list of official languages for the show alongside a special program of activities in this language. The addition in 2015 of a special Chinese-language program recognizes the growth expected in the number of visitors from China. More visitors also are expected to come from Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh.

FEFANA released booklet on carotenoids

FEFANA has published a new booklet on carotenoids and their use in animal nutrition.
Colors play important biological functions in nature that relies on a variety of natural compounds (e.g. carotenoids, chlorophylls, etc.) for the coloration of living animal and plant matter. In animal nutrition, colors come from the animal diet and are mostly linked with the presence of carotenoids, which form the largest group of naturally occurring pigments, widely responsible for the variety of yellow to red colors in fruits, vegetables, fungi, feathers of birds, fish flesh, cuticles of crustaceans or insects, as well as aquatic plants and algae.
They are synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms, some aphids, some bacteria and fungi alike. More than 750 carotenoids have been identified and approximately 60 of them are precursors of vitamin A, β-carotene being the most important. Animals are generally unable to synthesize carotenoids and require a dietary intake of plant products to meet daily demands. Carotenoid derivatives promote health, improve sexual behavior (color signaling) and are essential for reproduction. Some dietary carotenoids can be cleaved to provide vitamin A and are valuable for many physiological functions (e.g. antioxidant activity, immunostimulants, yolk nourishment to embryos, photoprotection).
Carotenoids have always been part of the daily diet of animals and humans. With the ongoing optimization of animal nutrition, they are included in the feed as part of the nutrients which support animal health and product quality.
The new FEFANA booklet aims at presenting an overview on carotenoids, with a focus on oxycarotenoids or xanthophylls, their use in animal nutrition and the benefit for the consumers. This publication describes the natural occurrence, the classification and the role of the carotenoids as well as their use as feed additives. More technical details are also provided in specific monographs.

Agrifirm, ForFarmers to combine purchase, knowledge of products

Agrifirm Plant and ForFarmers have entered into an agreement that will combine the companies‘ purchase and knowlege of artificial fertilizers, corp protection products and sowing seeds. The companies say the agreement will provide them with better opportunities in a supplier’s market that involves very large international players.
The agreement, which was signed on December 17, pertains to the purchase of fertilizers, effective July 1, 2015, and sowing seeds (grass, corn, cereals and green manure crops) and crop protection products effective January 1, 2016.
For ForFarmers, this move fits into its strategy of selecting a number of strategic partners for its total feed business concept. For Agrifirm, it is a key component in its strategy of growing its core activities. The purchase and delivery of products to the plant sector is one of the four strategic pillars, aside from animal feeds, co-products and specialties.
The partnership is exclusively limited to purchasing and the exchange of knowledge. Agrifirm and ForFarmers will continue to completely independently operate and compete in the market. This will not change in relation to the current situation. ForFarmers, as well as Agrifirm, will continue to carry individual products.

US federal budget includes $45 million for poultry lab

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  freeimages.com/123dan321

  The newest federal budget includes $45 million for the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The latest federal budget includes $45 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory (SEPRL) in Athens, Georgia.
  The money is part of the $155 million plan that will eventually be needed to modernize the facility, which includes the addition of 100,000 square feet of space.
  According to the USDA, a review was done of the Agricultural Research Service facilities in 2012 that highlighted facilities with aging infrastructure and identified the SEPRL as the highest priority recommended for modernization. The laboratory has facilities that were built in 1964 and 1976, and those facility's limitations now prevent critical, cutting-edge research from being conducted.
  Construction of a new facility would allow USDA scientists to more adequately address emerging or exotic poultry diseases that threaten not only the nation's poultry industry, but the health of American consumers, the agency said at the time.
  The poultry laboratory has conducted research over the past 20 years on exotic poultry diseases and has the only USDA program that provides research support to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration on diseases like avian influenza, Newcastle disease and West Nile Virus, according to the USDA.

Fournier Foods New Hampshire poultry plant approved by board

• 

  Martin Walls

  A proposed Fournier Foods poultry processing plant in Concord, New Hampshire, has been approved by the city's planning board.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The Concord Planning Board approved a poultry processing plant in East Concord, New Hampshire. The vote clears the way for Fournier Foods to build a 5,500-square-foot plant for slaughtering and packaging chickens.
  The company will now finalize a purchase-and-sales agreement for the 20 acres where the plant will be located. Construction is expected to begin next year.
  More than 30 people attended the planning board’s meeting, but no public comments were heard. The plant has had its share of opponents, with some neighbors concerned about potential odors and other environmental issues.
  Fournier Foods agreed to several conditions upon approval – among them, waste from the slaughtering process cannot be deposited in on-site dumpsters, and a plant employee will be present during pickups to clean up any spills immediately. The company has also agreed to keep a current operations and maintenance plan on file with the city, and the plant will be the sole user of its sewer, water and storm drain lines, reported the Concord Monitor.
  Owned by Craig Fournier and Omar Khudari, the company presently operates a mobile unit that travels to process poultry at farms across New Hampshire. However, because that mobile unit is not required to be inspected by the USDA, poultry producers are not allowed to send Fournier Foods more than 1,000 birds per year or sell those processed birds to commercial buyers.
  The plant in East Concord, however, would be certified organic and USDA inspected. In its new location, the Fournier Foods will be able to process 2,000 birds per eight-hour shift, or 6,000 birds in up to three shifts. The company, which currently has seven part-time and seasonal employees, said it will staff 23 people for each shift.

HKScan sells Estonian egg business

HKScan has announced a number of changes to egg businesses.
The company is selling its Estonian egg business OU Koks Munatootmine to Dava Food Holdings of Denmark. The divestment of OU Koks Munatootmine, which has annual net sales of EUR6.7 million (US$8.2 million), is subject to approval by the competition authorities. Employees of the business will continue to work fo OU Koks Munatootmine.
HKScan has also announced an agreement between HKScan Finland Oy and Denmark’s DanHatch involving the sale of its Finnish hatchery business to DanHatch Finland Oy, which will become a joint venture between the two companies.
HKScan employees working at the hatcheries in Myamakia and Kokemaki will transfer to DanHatch Finland Oy. On completion, HKScan Finland Oy will have a 20 percent share in the company, with DanHatch owning the remainder.
“DanHatch has a solid track record in the hatchery business in Noerthern Europe and we are pleased to have a business partner that is highly dedicated to the business,” said Hannu Kottonen, president and CEO of HKScan.

China approval gives Syngenta incentive to settle lawsuits

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  freeimages.com/kstiffler

  China’s approval for imports of Syngenta Viptera corn increases the likelihood that the company will settle lawsuits.

  From WATTAgNet:
  China’s approval for imports of Syngenta Viptera corn increases the likelihood that the company will pay settlements to more than 100 farmers and exporters, including Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, who are suing Syngenta for damages resulting from China’s rejections of shipments of U.S. corn, according to a Reuters report.
  Lawyers for Syngenta told Reuters that the decision by China’s Ministry of Agriculture to approve the corn ends uncertainty about the MIR 162 strain’s status and gives the company new price references to calculate potential losses from the rejections.
  China’s approval of MIR 162 gives Syngenta an incentive to settle the lawsuits because the end of the unapproved status makes it easier to calculate potential damages, Syngenta’s lawyers say. However, Syngenta has previously said the lawsuits are without merit and that it has not put aside funds to cover any potential claims.
  During the past year, U.S. corn exports to China have been halted, as more than 1.2 million metric tons of U.S. crop shipments have been rejected due to the co-mingling of the unapproved corn strain.
  Cargill, ADM and dozens of farmers have sued Syngenta, claiming hundreds of millions of dollars in 

Farm groups eyeing increased commodity trade with Cuba

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  freeimages.com/xdodo

  Farm groups say the recent move by Obama could could advance export opportunities for corn, wheat and soy.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Farm groups, including the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USWA) applaud President Barack Obama’s announcement that the U.S. will begin discussions to renew diplomatic relations with Cuba.
  The groups say the move by the U.S government could advance export opportunities for agricultural commodities like soy, wheat and corn.
  Cuba is the largest wheat market in the Caribbean, with the potential to import at least 500,000 metric tons of wheat from the U.S. each year.
  "U.S. wheat farmers are excited about the prospect of exporting more wheat to Cuba," says NAWG President Paul Penner. "NAWG has long supported strengthened trade relations with Cuba and see this as a historic step in that direction."
  USWA President Alan Tracy noted that the U.S. market share in Cuba could grow from its current level of zero to around 80-90 percent, as it is in other Caribbean nations.
  The U.S. has allowed ag exports to Cuba since 2001, but financing restrictions have limited the competition of U.S. products.
  American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman said Obama’s latest move could ease those restrictions.
  "The president's opening to Cuba promises to improve trade conditions by making it easier for Cuba to buy U.S. agricultural and food products," he said. 

Walmart to adopt enhanced food safety measures for poultry

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  Photo courtesy of Walmart

  Walmart and Sam's Club will implement enhanced food safety measures for its suppliers in an effort to curb foodborne illnesses.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Walmart will begin implementing enhanced poultry safety measures for suppliers designed to further protect customers against foodborne illnesses. The new guidelines are in addition to Walmart's food safety program that requires poultry suppliers to achieve prevention-based certification against one of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) internationally recognized standards.
  “At Walmart and Sam's Club, we are committed to providing our customers with safe, quality foods,” said vice president for food safety, Frank Yiannas. “As part of our continuous improvement process, we determined it was important to require additional layers of protection for our customers.”
  The new program requires Walmart and Sam's Club U.S. poultry suppliers to implement holistic controls from farm to fork designed to significantly reduce potential contamination levels, including chicken parts. It also requires suppliers to undergo specialized testing to validate that the measures they have implemented are effective. All poultry suppliers must be in compliance with the new requirements by June 2016.
  The enhanced protocol has been reviewed with numerous stakeholders including consumer groups, regulators, academicians, poultry suppliers and industry associations.
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has partnered with Walmart on this initiative to advance food safety and decrease foodborne illnesses among consumers.
  Dr. Chris Braden, director of CDC's Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases said, “CDC, along with Walmart, recognizes that reducing Salmonella and other pathogen contamination in poultry products is a crucial step towards decreasing the burden of foodborne illnesses. Walmart and CDC working together to protect public health and advance food safety is a great example of a public-private partnership that benefits everyone.”
  Dr. Gary R. Acuff, director of the Texas A&M Center for Food Safety applauded the company's work: “Walmart's implementation of enhanced safety measures for poultry products provides leadership for the food industry and continues a progressive approach to providing the safest possible food. This is a smart, science-supported move that will greatly benefit consumers.”

H5N1 avian influenza outbreak occurs in India

An outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been reported in Chandigarh, India. The outbreak occurred in a flock of ducks.
A total of 100 ducks were susceptible to the virus, with 22 deaths, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Tests were conducted by scientists at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases on December 16, with all three tests proving positive.
Control measures applied include stamping out, quarantine, movement control inside the country, screening, dipping and spraying, and disinfection of the infected premises.
The latest outbreak in India follows an earlier outbreak of H5 avian influenza that occurred at two locations in Kerala, India. In that outbreak, 15,000 ducks out of a susceptible 228,807 birds died. At the other location, 500 of a susceptible 13,000 ducks died, according to the OIE.
Concerns about avian influenza have been widespread in the global poultry industry in recent months. Outbreaks of avian influenza have also been in The Netherlands, Germany, U.K., Japan, Italy, Canada and the United States. Several other countries have subsequently implemented trade bans involving countries affected by avian influenza.
OIE will submit follow-up reports on the most recent case of avian influenza in India until the matter is resolved.

Sanderson Farms net income more than doubles during Q4

Sanderson Farms more than doubled its net income during the fourth quarter while nearly doubling its net income during fiscal year 2014. The company on December 18 announced the financial results for both periods ending October 31.
For the fourth quarter, Sanderson Farms reported net income of $93.1 million, or $4.04 per share, compared with net income of $45.3 million, or $1.97 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.  Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal were $760.9 million compared with $727.1 million for the same period a year ago.
Net income for the year totaled $249.0 million, or $10.80 per share, compared with net income of $130.6 million, or $5.68 per share, for last year. Net sales for fiscal 2014 were $2.775 billion compared with $2.683 billion for fiscal 2013.
"The fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 marked a strong finish to a successful year for Sanderson Farms," said Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms.  "We reported record annual sales of $2.775 billion, a 3.4 percent increase over fiscal 2013. While poultry markets improved only slightly compared to fiscal 2013, grain prices, especially corn prices, were significantly lower during the year when compared to fiscal 2013. For the year, we sold 3.045 billion pounds of dressed poultry, another record, compared with 3.031 billion pounds in fiscal 2013."
According to Sanderson, overall market prices for poultry products were higher in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 compared with prices a year ago. As measured by an average of the Georgia dock price for whole chickens, prices were higher by approximately 7.1 percent in the company's fourth fiscal quarter compared with the same period in fiscal 2013, and were higher by 5.7 percent for the fiscal year compared with the prior year. The Georgia Dock whole bird price remained in record territory during fiscal 2014 and reflected strong demand for the Company's retail chill pack product during this fiscal year. Boneless breast meat prices averaged 15.8 percent higher in the fourth quarter than the prior-year period. For fiscal 2014, boneless prices were 3.7 percent higher when compared with fiscal 2013. Jumbo wing prices averaged $1.50 per pound during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, up 5.2 percent from the average of $1.43 per pound during the prior-year period. Jumbo wing prices averaged $1.20 per pound during the fiscal year, down 19.9 percent from the average of $1.50 per pound for fiscal 2013. The average market price for bulk leg quarters decreased approximately 6.5 percent for the quarter, and decreased approximately 9.6 percent for fiscal 2014. Cash prices for corn and soybean meal, the company's primary feed ingredients, were down 23.2 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively, during the fourth fiscal quarter when compared with the fourth quarter a year ago. For the year, total feed costs in broiler flocks processed were 18.0 percent lower than fiscal 2013.
"We are pleased that our profitability during fiscal 2014 allowed us to fund our planned expansion in Palestine, Texas, further reduce outstanding debt, strengthen our balance sheet, reward our shareholders with a special dividend and increase our regular quarterly dividend rate," Sanderson continued. "We are well positioned to continue our growth strategy as we begin operations at our new poultry complex in Palestine, Texas, in February 2015. The pounds produced in Palestine, at full production, will represent a 16 percent increase in our capacity,” said Sanderson.
"As of October 31, 2014, our balance sheet reflected $1.111 billion in assets, stockholders' equity of $897.9 million and net working capital of $363.1 million. Our total long-term debt at year-end was $10 million. A strong balance sheet is an important advantage in our industry and provides us with the financial strength to not only support our growth strategy, but also to manage our operations through cycles that characterize our industry. We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication to excellence of our employees, growers and everyone associated with our company," Sanderson concluded. 

Clemens Food Group building pork processing plant in Michigan

Clemens Food Group will be constructing a new pork processing facility in Coldwater Township, Michigan.
The plant is expected to be operational by late 2017 or early 2018, and when it opens will be the state’s only pork processing plant.
Clemens Food Group, headquartered in Pennsylvania, is a sixth-generation, family-owned integrated pork production operation including farming, processing, transportation and logistics.
The pork plant project is expected to generate $255.7 million in total capital investment and bring 810 new jobs to Michigan.
"Today's announcement marks a major milestone in the history of our company and the future of pork production in the state of Michigan," said Doug Clemens, CEO, Clemens Food Group. "On behalf of our more than 2,000 employees, our family shareholders and our family farm partners who have joined us in this venture, we thank Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders in Michigan and Coldwater and Coldwater Township for having the vision to see the opportunities to position the state to compete in the global pork market.
“Clemens is pleased to be partnering with nine family farms, who will raise hogs for our new fresh pork processing plant in Michigan. These families have deep roots in pork production; share our commitment to the production of safe, wholesome, high-quality pork; and more importantly, the values they hold and the integrity of their business practices align well with those of our family.”


Cooper Farms to partner with Clemens Food Group
Cooper Farms, a leading producer of hogs, turkeys and eggs, will be one of Clemens’ partners in the endeavor.
“We are very excited about this opportunity to be involved in a new pork processing plant with the Clemens family, who have been in the pork business for over 125 years,” said Gary Cooper, chief operating officer of Cooper Farms. “This provides an excellent opportunity for our company and our hog division.”
The plant in southern Michigan is strategically located in an area near the state’s borders with Ohio and Indiana, and is close to the partnering farms like Cooper Farms that are raising hogs. The plant also is accessible to what is anticipated to be an available strong workforce in Coldwater and the surrounding communities.


Choosing Michigan
The initiative to locate a pork processing plant in Michigan was farmer-led by a group of Michigan pork producers who joined with the state to conduct a feasibility study on the viability of the project. The study cited opportunities such as increased demand in the global pork market, the lack of similar resources currently available in the state, and accessibility and transportation benefits.
The State of Michigan -- including Snyder, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation -- was integral to bringing the project forward, as were business and economic leaders from the Coldwater community, the company stated.
The state has approved $12.5 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the City of Coldwater for infrastructure improvements, land acquisition, workforce development and on-the-job training for the new development.
"The new project in Coldwater Township is agricultural entrepreneurism at its best with producers, the state of Michigan and local government working together to bring 800 new jobs to our state," said Snyder. "The Clemens family is a recognized leader in pork production and its investment here signals to executives of all industries across the country that Michigan is the place to do business."

Senate approves Section 179 deduction on farm machinery

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  freeimages.com/sandralise

  The U.S. Senate has approved a package of tax breaks, including a deduction on farm machinery.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The U.S. Senate, on December 16, voted to approve HR 5771, a $42 billion package of tax breaks, including the Section 179 deduction on business equipment and farm machinery.
  However, the bill expires at year-end, but farmers can take advantage of the deductions on purchases made in 2014 if delivery is taken before year-end. The bill is retroactive through all of 2014 for purchases made until December 31.
  The bill now goes to the White House, where President Barack Obama is expected to sign it within days.
  “Today’s passage of the tax extenders bill is a welcome relief to farmers as we close our books on 2014," said Wade Cowan, president of the American Soybean Association. "While it's not the long-term fix we need, the legislation does include the dollar-per-gallon biodiesel tax credit, expensing for farm equipment and infrastructure under Section 179, and bonus depreciation on farm assets, all of which provide greater certainty and a more stable climate for the farmers and producers who make use of these programs.”
  The passage of Section 179 is expected to push farmers and livestock producers who were undecided about buying new equipment in 2014 to go ahead with the purchases. Farmers looking to take advantage of the deduction are urged to apply for the financing immediately to make the year-end deadline.

African swine fever found in Belarus

African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed in a wild boar in a Belarusian hunting ground near the Russian border, according to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The infection marks the first occurrence of ASF in Belarus, the OIE stated.
A test conducted December 15 at the State Science and Research Institute of Laboratory Diagnosis and Veterinary and Sanitary Expertise showed a sample proving positive for ASF.
The boar was found dead on the hunting grounds by rangers. An additional 91 boars on the ground were considered susceptible.
Veterinary officials have implemented the following control measures upon the boar testing positive: quarantine, movement control inside the country, control of wildlife reservoirs and zoning.
Many other countries in the region have had cases confirmed by the OIE. ASF outbreaks have also been reported in recent months in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Another outbreak of ASF has been reported in Chad.
Most of the ASF cases reported to the OIE, like the one in Belarus, have occurred in wild boars. However, the case that occurred in Lithuania took place at one of the country’s largest swine farms, with a total of 19,411 animals susceptible. The outbreak that occurred in Chad occurred at a farm with about 500 animals susceptible.
OIE will submit weekly reports on the ASF case in Belarus until it is resolved.

Nutriquest opens Ran Research Center for swine studies

Nutriquest has opened a new research facility in Minnesota capable of advanced swine research applications.
The Ran Research Center, located near Pipestone, Minnesota, can accommodate all aspects of wean-to-finish swine research. The facility features 2,400 animal finishing spaces, modern design and a state-of-the-art automated feeding system, making it fully capable of producing controlled and technologically advanced research. The Ran Research Center is the final piece of a breed to slaughter research system that already includes modern commercial sow and nursery research facilities.
“Nutriquest’s investment in the Ran Research Center furthers our focus on the research and development of real-world technologies that help producers optimize pig performance and profitability.  We now have the capability of doing breed to slaughter research, on large numbers of animals, within a state-of-the-art commercial research setting.” said Dr. Chad Hagen, senior vice president of Nutriquest.
The Nutriquest team has proven experience in the design and development of products and technologies, with a team of scientists with over 100 years of experience in research and product development.
The center is yet another stride in the continued growth of Nutriquest’s research, product development and take-to-market capabilities. “The Ran Research Center continues our commitment to the animal agriculture industry and will ensure we deliver on our goal of developing products and technologies that enhance animal productivity in a cost effective, safe and healthy manner while respecting the environment,” said Steve Weiss, president of Nutriquest.

2 Sisters Food Group’s supplier relationships attacked by BBC

2 Sisters Food Group, one of the largest suppliers of chicken in the U.K., has come in for criticism from the BBC following complaints from one of the company’s suppliers. 2 Sisters has responded that the BBC’s Newsnight program gave an “unfair reflection of how we manage supplier relations and payment terms.” 
The company was accused of setting “beyond unreasonable” terms in proposed agreements by one of its suppliers.
According the BBC, 2 Sisters had been seeking more than four months to pay its bills and has asked for discounts if payments were made within 90 days.
A document seen by the BBC suggested that the company should not have to pay for goods or services until the last working day of the third month after they are received -- a potential wait of up to 90 days. The document further stated that if the company paid within this period, it may be entitled to a “prompt settlement discount” of 3 percent. Alternatively, should the supplier reject this option, the default payment period would be extended to 120 days.
In response to the criticism, 2 Sisters has said: “Our terms and conditions are negotiable with suppliers Ultimately, the supplier can choose not to trade on any terms it feels is unsuitable, and we abide by standard business-to-business payment protocols where payment can exceed 60 days as long as this is expressly agreed in the contract.
“We believe the Newsnight program gave an unfair reflection of how we manage supplier relations and payment terms.”
The company continued that it used its terms and conditions as a starting point for supplier discussions, and noted that it had long standing relationships with many suppliers who knew how its negotiation processes worked.
Professor Karle Williams, of Manchester Business School, told the BBC that a 3 percent discount would  eliminate half of the net profit margin of a second tier food supplier and noted that 120 days was twice the maximum of 60 days for business-to-business payments set out in the European Union Late Payment Directive, adding that the terms offered by 2 Sisters were “pretty gross.” 

USDA: Avian influenza cases confirmed in US

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds in Whatcom County, Washington. Two separate virus strains were identified: H5N2 avian influenza was found in northern pintail ducks and H5N8 avian influenza was found in captive gyrfalcons that were fed hunter-killed wild birds.
Neither virus has been found in commercial poultry anywhere in the United States, the agency stated.
The avian influenza findings in Whatcom County were quickly reported and identified due to increased surveillance for avian influenza in light of the H5N2 avian influenza affecting commercial poultry in British Columbia, Canada, which is directly north of Washington. Whatcom County borders Canada.
The State of Washington, USDA, and other federal partners are working jointly on additional surveillance and testing of birds in the nearby area.
APHIS encourages all bird owners, whether commercial producers or backyard enthusiasts, to practice good biosecurity, prevent contact between their birds and wild birds, and to report sick birds or unusual bird deaths to state or federal officials, either through your state veterinarian or through USDA’s toll-free number at +1.866.536.7593.
Additional information on biosecurity for backyard flocks can be found on the APHIS website.

Study examines avian influenza’s path into Europe

The precise route of introduction of the H5N8 avian influenza virus into Europe still remains uncertain, says a scientific report of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that has been generated in collaboration with member states and the EU Reference Laboratory. 
It is plausible that the virus has entered poultry farms in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom indirectly, through material contaminated by infected wild birds - such as human activities, movement of vehicles or equipment, according to the study. However, since all affected farms use indoor housing facilities, experts conclude that a direct transmission from wild birds to farmed poultry is unlikely. 
Experts say that there are no known direct migration routes from East Asia to Europe. One hypothesis is that infected migratory birds from East Asia transmit the virus to other species at breeding and stopover places in Eurasia, but this hypothesis needs further investigation. 
As of the December 15 release of the study, the highly contagious avian influenza virus has been reported in Republic of Korea, Japan, China, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The first outbreak was reported in Republic of Korea in January 2014. In Europe, the first affected holding was reported on November 4 in a turkey farm in Germany. The virus was then confirmed at a duck farm in the United Kingdom, and at five poultry farms (four chicken farms and one duck farm) in the Netherlands. 
Since the study was released, another avian influenza outbreak was reported at a fattening turkey holding in Italy.
EFSA recommends assessing biosecurity procedures at farms and improving them where necessary. The agency also recommends implementing targeted surveillance of wild birds in high risk areas and further investigation of possible entry routes of H5N8 into Europe. National and European laboratories and risk assessment institutions should continue to ensure timely analyses of the situation within the EU, the agency advised.

Avian influenza outbreak occurs at Italy turkey holding

An outbreak of H5N8 avian influenza has infected birds at a fattening turkey holding in Porto Viro, Italy. The outbreak marks the first time since August 2013 that the virus has been found in Italy.
According to a report from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), high mortality rates were found at the holding, with 1,219 turkeys dying. A total of 31,985 birds were susceptible.
Culling was scheduled to begin on December 16. Other control measures implemented include movement control inside the country and zoning. The infected premises will be vaccinated.
While reverse transcription – polymerase chain reaction tests proved positive for avian influenza, the results of intravenous pathogenicity index and gene sequencing tests are pending. All tests have been performed at a national laboratory.
The exact cause of the Italian avian influenza outbreaks has not yet been determined.
With the outbreak, Italy becomes the latest in a series of European countries to be affected by avian influenza in recent months, as outbreaks have also been reported in the Netherlands, U.K. and Germany. Outside of Europe, recent avian influenza outbreaks have occurred in Canada, Japan, India and Japan.
OIE stated that it would submit weekly updates on the avian influenza situation in Italy until it is resolved.

Poultry groups: OSHA attacks on safety record perplexing

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and National Chicken Council (NCC) take exception to the recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) citation against Wayne Farms for alleged safety violations at its Jack, Alabama, plant involving musculoskeletal disorders and other workplace hazards.
The organizations issued a joint statement concerning OSHA’s investigation into Wayne Farms, which was rooted in a complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an activist group with a long history of animosity toward the poultry industry.
The statement reads:
“OSHA’s accusations of wrongdoing lack evidence and are simply unfounded. OSHA incorrectly portrays an undeserved negative image of the entire poultry industry despite its outstanding record of improvement in employee health and safety, particularly over the past three decades.
“The poultry industry finds it ironic that OSHA, in effect, is attacking the very same safety guidelines that it developed in cooperation with the poultry industry many years ago. In fact, this past summer OSHA and USDA issued a joint communication supporting ‘effective efforts by the poultry industry to protect the safety and health of employees.’
“The poultry industry’s record of outstanding advancements in reducing ergonomic risks is based on fact. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that poultry processing plants have reduced the rate of workplace illness, including musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, by 62 percent in the past decade. BLS data further indicate that ‘Total Recordable Injury and Illness’ in poultry plants has dropped from 22.7 percent of employees in 1994, down to just 4.5 percent in 2013!
“In its recent citation, OSHA references an ambiguous section of federal law enacted in 1970. Commonly known as the General Duty Clause, it states that employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace. The poultry industry believes that imposing the General Duty Clause should require more than simple observation of job tasks. There should also be specific evidence of hazards that are not being addressed, evidence that is lacking in OSHA’s citation against Wayne Farms.
“After reviewing five years of injury and illness records in this case, OSHA identified only a handful of recordkeeping incidents, most of which involved the employer’s provision of exercise-strengthening programs for employees experiencing minor discomfort. Because the employer did not record these proactive measures to head off potential injury, OSHA misconstrued this as proof of underreporting. Historically, as OSHA is aware, these proactive measures have not been recorded as injuries. The poultry industry believes that it properly addresses OSHA’s recordkeeping standard and that OSHA has inexplicably changed its interpretation of the rules by deciding to now classify proactive job conditioning and minor soreness as a recordable injury or illness.
“The poultry industry relies on its workforce of dedicated employees to provide a wholesome and affordable food source for the nation and the rest of the world. This reliance has prompted the industry to heavily invest in processes and procedures to further reduce workplace hazards and ergonomic risks. While the poultry industry respects the government’s oversight role in the joint effort to protect employees, the industry’s workplace advancements and future success are in danger of being hampered by unclear rules and arbitrary actions like those demonstrated by OSHA.”

North Carolina pork exports to Japan continue to climb

• 

  Andrea Gantz

  Pork has become North Carolina's most rapidly growing export product shipped to Japan.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Japanese demand for U.S. pork has helped make pork the fastest growing export product from the state of North Carolina.
  The value of pork shipped from North Carolina to Japan has grown nearly ten-fold since the beginning of the 21st century. According to a report from the Raleigh News & Observer, the value of pork shipped from North Carolina to Japan was below $30 million annually, but it now exceeds $250 million. In the process, pork has outgrown tobacco as North Carolina’s leading export product to the Japanese market.
  The increased demand for pork from the United States is a reflection of the quality of the product. In the minds of the Japanese customer, the pork that is raised in North Carolina has a specific taste, flavor and color that the people of Japan desire.
  “Japanese consumers are very finicky, very rich and they demand quality,” said Dermot J. Hayes, a pork economy expert and a professor at Iowa State University. “So the people who export to Japan—they export a very high-value product. And that returns a lot of money.”
  Japan is expected to purchase an estimated $2 billion worth of pork from the U.S. this year.

Syngenta lawsuits consolidated in Kansas court

• 

  freeimages.com

  Lawsuits over Syngenta’s Viptera corn have been consolidated as a multidistrict litigation.

  From WATTAgNet:
  Lawsuits over Syngenta’s Viptera corn have been consolidated in United States District Court in Kansas as a multidistrict litigation.
  In the lawsuits, agricultural companies claim they have sustained economic losses as a result of the presence of the genetic trait MIR162 in the U.S. corn supply.
  “Corn farmers, grain elevator operators and corn exporters have all suffered significant economic damages as a result of Syngenta’s release, promotion and commercialization of a certain genetically engineered corn trait – MIR162 – into the United States corn production system,” the lawsuits say. China has not yet approved MIR162 corn seeds including Viptera and Duracade.
  According to official court documents, agricultural entities that have filed Syngenta corn lawsuits say the company allegedly made false claims in order to convince farmers to plant the genetically modified seed known as Agrisure Viptera prior to China’s approval of the product. Specifically, the company launched a “Plant with Confidence campaign”, according to court documents. Aimed at domestic corn farmers, the marketing campaign allegedly assured farmers that China’s decision to approve the corn was imminent, and that Viptera corn seed could be safely planted side by side with other seed, according to court documents.

British Columbia scrambles to meet Christmas turkey demand

Poultry processors in British Columbia are trying to find enough turkeys in time for Christmas after avian influenza claimed thousands of birds in the Canadian province.
Suppliers in British Columbia are bringing in birds from other parts of the country to “make sure that no Christmas table will be without a turkey,” said Michel Benoit, general manager of BC Turkey Farmers.
Avian influenza has claimed 34,000 turkeys slated for Christmas consumption. Those losses account for about a significant percentage of holiday consumption in British Columbia.
“They were going to be Christmas turkeys,” Benoit told Bloomberg News. “It is a big loss.”
The disease so far has killed turkeys on three farms in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley in past weeks. Avian influenza has been confirmed at a total of seven farms in the province, also infecting broilers. A total of 155,000 birds have died of the virus or will be culled, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The outbreaks have caused numerous countries to implement trade restrictions on poultry from British Columbia. Among those countries are the United States, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea.
Avian influenza has been a big concern for the poultry industry within the past three months, with other outbreaks occurring in The Netherlands, U.K., Germany, Japan, India and Vietnam.

Dinosaur to bird evolution study offers new research tool

How birds evolved to have characteristics including feathers, flight and song is revealed with new clarity in a major study of their family tree.
The international study charts a burst of evolution that took place after the mass extinction of dinosaurs, 66 million years ago. This change gave rise to nearly all of the bird species on the planet today – more than 10,000 varieties.
The four year project, which included researchers from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute, decoded and compared the entire genetic fingerprint of 48 bird species.
The study provides new insights into how bird genes differ from those of mammals, and the biological mechanism that give rise to the vast diversity among birds. Researchers compared the genomes of the 48 bird species with those of three other reptile species and humans. This enabled them to investigate at which point in each species’ history specialized characteristics developed.
“This is just the beginning. Ultimately, we hope the research will bring important insights to help improve the health and welfare of wild and farmed birds,” said Professor David Burt, acting director the National Avian Research Facility at the Roslin Institute.
Building on the research, scientists at the National Avian Research Facility have created 48 open access databases to share and expand on the information associated with the birds’ genomes. They hope that researchers will continue to upload their own data, offering further insights into the genetics of modern birds. Such information will be useful for helping scientists understand why infectious diseases, such as avian influenza, affect some species but not others. 

Patent issued for ‘peanut brittle’ for ruminants

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  freeimages.com/SCapture

  A patent has been issued for a “peanut brittle” developed at Kansas State University.

  From WATTAgNet:
  A patent has been issued for a “peanut brittle” developed at Kansas State University that ensures cows and other livestock get the vitamins intended for them in their feed.
  U.S. Patent No. 8,828,421, "Method for Encapsulation of Orally Ingested Materials to Alter the Site of Digestion, Site of Action, or Stability," was recently issued to the Kansas State University Research Foundation, a nonprofit corporation responsible for managing technology transfer activities at the university.
  Faculty at Kansas State University developed a candy-like coating that protects vitamins and other micronutrients given to cattle and other ruminant animals from being prematurely digested by bacteria in the animal's digestive system. The coating provides an easy, inexpensive method for delivering undiluted dosages of vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients to livestock.
  "In ruminant animals … we often feed rations to the animal with the hope of providing nutrients directly to it, but we always have to contend with the pesky microorganisms in the digestive system," said Jim Drouillard, professor of animal sciences and industry. "Those microorganisms and bacteria also feed on these nutrients as they move through the animal, potentially causing deficiencies of key nutrients for the animal itself.”
  The patent currently is licensed to Afgrifeed, a South African animal feed manufacturing company.

Virginia Tech helped hatch modern turkey industry

A.L. Dean was much more interested in birds such as warblers and robins than he was in turkeys when he was the head of the Department of Poultry Science at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the 1920s. 
But when Dean received a letter from a young Virginia Cooperative Extension agent from Rockingham County in 1922 inquiring about the possibility of artificially raising turkeys, Dean's interest in turkeys took off.
That agent was Charles Wampler. What followed in the years after Dean offered Wampler encouragement in this new farming technique not only altered the life of these two men, but also changed the turkey industry forever. Wampler is regarded as the father of the modern turkey industry. 
It all started with just 59 poults on Wampler's first attempt after Dean's advice. The U.S. turkey industry now raises more than 240 million turkeys a year in a similar manner. More than 22 million turkeys are eaten over Christmas. 
At the start of their relationship, Dean provided the research and knowledge that Wampler, the Extension agent, put into practice. That partnership helped grow a multibillion-dollar industry that provides jobs around the world. The model of putting the knowledge of researchers into the hands of Extension agents and the public continues at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Virginia Tech today. 
"Without a doubt, this early partnership is why we have the turkey industry we have today," said Paul Siegel, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Animal and Poultry Sciences who knew both men. "A.L. would throw 15 or 20 ideas out to Charles and Charles knew which ideas to run with." 
Wampler wrote to land-grant universities across the country in 1922 about the prospect of raising turkeys similar to how chickens were being raised – in houses and without the hens. Dean was the only person who wrote Wampler back. Dean encouraged him to try at least 100 eggs and before long Wampler was hatching poults in a 12-by-14 barn heated with a kerosene brooder stove. 
Though Wampler left Extension in 1927 after his new business, Wampler's Feed and Seed, was taking off, he remained a staunch supporter of using Extension to share the knowledge he was creating in his new operations. 
"He wanted to share his ideas with others and make sure that the turkey industry flourished not only in Virginia, but around the country," Siegel said. "Extension bulletins were published with the new knowledge and he was eager to share what he was learning along the way with others." 
And Wampler, a pioneer of new ideas, had a lot of information to share. 
Over the years, he was responsible for raising turkeys year-round instead of only in the spring. He accomplished this by using artificial lighting indoors. He also was a responsible for incorporating the force-draft incubator, which increased production. Wampler was the first producer to use contract growers and he pioneered vertical integration – models that are now industry standard. The list of ideas and ways that Wampler and his family moved the turkey industry into its modern state is vast. 
Wampler did more than just raise turkeys, though. He was an avid supporter of the industry and worked hard to get America to embrace the bird that Ben Franklin wanted to be our national symbol. 
Wampler started the National Turkey Federation and served as its president for five years. He was instrumental in getting the Federal School Lunch Program to start buying turkeys, which helped to make the meat more widespread throughout the country. In the 1950s, Wampler was photographed presenting then-Vice President Richard Nixon with official Thanksgiving turkey – though the birds were not given "presidential pardons" at that point. 
"We owe a great deal to the Wamplers for all they did to get the industry going," said Siegel.
Dean died in 1964 after a long career at Virginia Tech. Wampler died in 1976, leaving behind a legacy of innovation in the turkey industry that his family carried on. Charles Wampler Jr. ran the business for a number of years and when he retired in 1998, the company was the seventh largest poultry company in the nation. 
William "Bill" Wampler then took the helm of the company and continued to expand the family's legacy in the poultry industry. He was named to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame in 2004. He passed away in 2014. 
Over the years, the Wampler family has given generously to the college and Virginia Tech. A number of rooms around campus are named for the family. 
Students often gather in the Wampler Conference Room in Litton-Reaves Hall, which is adorned with black-and-white photos showing the roots of the turkey industry and images of the Wamplers as the company grew. 
Both Wampler Sr. and Wampler Jr. were on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Bill was a member of the Virginia Tech Ut Prosim Society, and his wife, Bonnie Lou, is currently a member. Wampler Jr. and his wife, Dorothy, are also members. 
"It's not only Virginia Tech that owes a great deal of gratitude to Dean and the Wampler family," said Dave Gerrard, the head of the Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences. "Anyone who enjoys a turkey this holiday season has these people to thank for it."