Zoetis/British Poultry Council presents Trainee Award

Annabelle Heath, who swapped life in the horse racing world for a career in poultry, is the winner of the 2015 Zoetis/British Poultry Council Trainee Award.
Junior Environment Minister Mark Spencer presented the award at the annual British Poultry Council ceremony at the House of Commons on Dec. 8. The honor includes a £2,000 (US$2,999) training grant from Zoetis and £500 (US$757) cash prize from the magazine Poultry World.
Before joining Cargill Meats at Hereford 18 months ago, she spent six years working in racing stables and competing in flat races around the UK. “Had I ridden a few winners, life might have been rather different,” said Heath. “But after I’d spent three months on an YFC scholarship in New Zealand, I was looking for a career in agriculture and the opportunity came up with Cargill.”
Her nomination came from Nicholas Ham, Cargill Meats breeder rearing area manager, who himself won the Zoetis/BPC Training Award in 2013.
“Annabelle is a very enthusiastic young lady with a real passion for poultry and a thirst for knowledge,” he said. “She started her career with Cargill as an assistant farm manager at our breeder rearing site Ermine Street and has shown real potential for progression within the company. She often comes up with new ideas and better ways of doing things on the farm, and is always asking questions and trying to improve the performance of the birds.”
Heath, who was brought up near Telford on a mixed farm with a 120,000 broiler unit, is working with Poultec Training towards a National Vocational Diploma Level 3 in poultry production. She was recently accepted into Tesco’s Future Farmers Foundation, a 12-month training program that includes business planning, supply chain experience and networking opportunities.
She plans to use the Zoetis training grant to study poultry behaviour under different regimes – free range, barn or less intensive barn — to achieve “a much greater understanding of why production differs the way it does and why poultry behavior has such a huge impact.” She plans to enroll for a distance learning course with Scotland’s Rural College — an approach that her manager took when he won the award.
The runners-up for the award are Laura Addison of Thirskm, who works in the P D Hook hatchery at Dalton in North Yorkshire; Andrew Bumfrey, manager of a turkey farm for Bernard Matthews in Norfolk; and Daniel Roberts, a trainee area manager for Faccenda Foods in Oxfordshire.
The award is chosen by a judging panel comprising Philip Clarke, editor of Poultry World; James Porritt, Zoetis poultry manager for UK and Ireland; Richard Griffiths, BPC food policy director; and Jason Gittins, ADAS senior consultant. In addition, Heath received an engraved trophy for herself and another for Cargill Meats.

Antje Eckel named Agricultural Entrepreneur of the Year

Antje Eckel, the owner of Dr Eckel GmbH, has been awarded "Agricultural Entrepreneur of the Year.” The "agrarzeitung" annually honors individuals who have shaped their companies and the agricultural sector with their innovative, forward-thinking actions.
The award was presented on Nov. 8, at the start of the Agritechnica in Hanover. The jury honored the Eckel for her creativity, entrepreneurial skills, vision and commitment to agriculture. She is considered by experts to be a pioneer of innovative feed additives.
The jury commended Dr Eckel GmbH for being a company that is constantly developing innovations for the international animal nutrition market. The founder and CEO of Dr Eckel GmbH replaced antibiotic growth promoters early on, and its innovative approach is the industry standard today. Despite fierce competition, the company has been able to maintain its market position and continue strong growth.

OK Foods wins high honor

OK Farms, a subsidiary of OK Foods, received the Top Hatch and Top Chicks award during the 2014 Flock Awards hosted by Aviagen North America. OK Farms produces the Aviagen exclusive Ross 308 and 708 chicks. The award recognized OK Farms as having the highest percentage of total eggs hatched, as well as first place for the highest number of Ross 308 chicks hatched per hen housed.
Gary Hogue, vice president of live production, credited the award to exemplary farmers in the OK Farms family. “Our farmers are the backbone of our company,” said Hogue. “Their efforts to create the highest quality farms with an emphasis on the health of our chickens allows us to provide our high-quality product in a safe and effective manner.”
The award was given by Randall Vickery, Aviagen’s regional technical manager, who said, “We at Aviagen applaud the outstanding results achieved by our North American customers in 2014. Through their diligence, top-notch proficiency and hard work, they’ve skillfully demonstrated the performance potential of the Ross 708 and 308 breeders.”

Ed Fryar of Ozark Mountain Poultry earns Distinguished Alumnus Award

Ed Fryar of Ozark Mountain Poultry has been named winner of the Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2015-16 by the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas (U of A).
Fryar, who earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and his master’s degree in agricultural economics from the U of A, is president of Ozark Mountain Poultry (OMP). He earned his doctorate in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Minnesota and was a professor of agricultural economics in the Bumpers College for 13 years. His areas of research were grain and poultry marketing, and price risk management.
In 2000, Fryar co-founded Ozark Mountain Poultry in Rogers, AR. OMP is a vertically integrated poultry company specializing in producing chickens raised without antibiotics or animal by-products. The company, which has more than 1,500 employees at facilities in Rogers, Batesville, Warren, Bay and Newport, also raises Heritage chickens fed non-GMO grains.
Fryar has more than 40 years of professional experience in agriculture and has served on the Council of Economic Advisors for the governors of Arkansas since 1983. In 2010, he served as treasurer during Steve Womack’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. A member of the Fayetteville School Board in the 1980s and 1990s, he is currently a member of the Agribusiness Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

Marel New Zealand wins Excellence Award

Marel has earned the prestigious Frost and Sullivan "2015 New Zealand Industrial Food Processing Equipment Product Line Strategy Leadership Award." Marel was represented for the all-day event by Oceania Management Team members, Damien McIntyre and Raj Singh.
Regional General Manager Jonathan Rankin said it was a "very prestigious award to win. We were among some big names in receiving the award, Microsoft, Spark NZ, ABB and Orion Health to name a few. It shows that hard work and innovation by the team can be achieved in all regions of the Marel Global organization."
Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

USPOULTRY presents PSA Distinguished Career Award

Dr. Igal Pevzner, broiler geneticist with Cobb-Vantress, has been recognized with the 2015 Poultry Science Association Distinguished Poultry Industry Career Award, sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The award was presented during the annual Poultry Science Association meeting in Louisville, Ky, by Larry Brown, retired USPOULTRY vice president of education.
The Distinguished Career Award recognizes distinctive, outstanding contributions by an industry leader. In addition to sponsoring the award, USPOULTRY also makes an annual contribution to the Poultry Science Association Foundation on behalf of the award recipient.
“U.S. Poultry & Egg Association is proud to honor industry leaders exemplified by Dr. Pevzner,” said John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY. “He is widely recognized for his many years of work and contributions in poultry genetics. It is this kind of service that has helped make the poultry industry the most efficient and productive segment of modern animal agriculture.”
Pevzner received a BS and MS degree in Agriculture from Hebrew University and a PhD in Animal Breeding from Iowa State University under the direction of A.W. Nordskog. Pevzner credits his scientific accomplishments in the area of poultry genetics to Nordskog’s great scientific leadership and brilliant mind. Pevzner’s research at Iowa State University centered on breeding of layer chickens, and his major accomplishment was the identification of IR-GAT, an immune response gene with a powerful effect on general livability. Pevzner joined Cobb-Vantress in 1990, where he is still serving as broiler geneticist. He has been responsible for breeding commercial and experimental meat lines designed to meet the ever-changing needs of the poultry industry.

Egg, chicken retailers recognized in welfare awards

Poultry products dominated the recent Compassion in World Farming’s Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards ceremony, held recently in Milan, Italy.
In total, 41 awards were presented to across a range of categories. Twenty of them were Good Egg Awards spanning retailers, manufacturers and food service companies from across the world, with a further four Good Chicken Awards being presented to some of the same businesses.
Companies including McDonald’s, Ferrero, Pret A Manger, Whole Foods Market and KLM were among the recipients of a Good Egg Award for their commitment to using cage-free eggs either as whole eggs or as product ingredients, or both. Whole Foods Market was also presented with a Good Chicken Award, as was Quizini, the Dutch convenience product manufacturer.
Dr. Tracy Jones, director of food business at Compassion in World Farming, said: “The Good Egg Award was launched in 2007 and it’s great to see that after eight years there is real momentum behind it with 20 businesses this year committing to using only cage-free eggs, or cage-free egg products.”


Widening participation
This year’s award presentations saw a number of firsts.
Whole Foods Market is the first U.S.-based retailer to receive a Good Egg Award for sourcing only cage-free eggs for both its whole eggs and ingredients eggs. Its policy extends to its Canadian and U.K. stores. Whole Foods Market U.K. was also given a Good Chicken Award this year for its decision to sell only free range chicken from birds that are slower growing, can roam outside and have more space inside the sheds.
Coop Sweden, the second market leader in the retail sector in Sweden, was the first Swedish retailer to receive a Good Egg Award.

Top US Cobb700 flock award goes to Arkansas family farm

The Pablo Cardenas Farm of the Tyson Foods Nashville Complex in Arkansas has gained the top Cobb700 flock award from the 2014 Cobb Sold Flock Survey. The survey, begun in 1994, has developed into one of the most viable measures of Cobb breeder performance worldwide.
Flock data is collected annually measuring key performance metrics including hatching and total egg production, hen livability, feed consumed, hatchability and chicks/hen housed. In addition to the award for the overall top performing U.S. company, the top six regional performances are also recognized.
The Pablo Cardenas Farm had a total of 170.14 eggs and 140.60 chicks (adjusted to 65 weeks). Pablo purchased the farm 10 years ago after managing it for the previous owner. He also works on the second shift in the maintenance department at a local company.
He used conventional nests for many years and had just installed double belted nests before his latest flock placement. His upgrade on the houses also included sealing the environment and installing improved ventilation. Pablo commented: “We really like the new nests and the performance we’ve achieved with the upgrade.”
Steven Stapp, breeder manager of the Tyson complex, stated: “With uniform pullets produced from the rearing house and with improved egg gathering practices, we should expect this kind of result each time. Pablo is great to work with—always willing to do whatever we ask of him.”
Cobb North America technical service director Ken Semon commented: “The leadership at Tyson Nashville Complex has proved that it takes team effort and attention to detail to yield outstanding performance. They strive for excellence and it’s reflected in the performance ranking of this flock.”

Charles Beard Research Excellence Award nominees sought

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations for the Charles Beard Research Excellence Award through July 1. The goal of this award is to recognize outstanding completed research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, which have made a significant positive impact on the poultry industry. The nominee may be recognized for multiple completed USPOULTRY research projects, all focused on the same subject area.
Nominations can be accepted from the universities and research institutions that conduct poultry research, as well as from anyone in the research community or any USPOULTRY member, staff and sponsored committee. Self-nominations are also allowed. Nominations should focus on research projects completed within the past five years, but may include projects completed at an earlier time if a project’s impact has only recently become recognized.
To submit a nomination, send a letter to Dr. John Glisson (jglisson@uspoultry.org), vice president of research, which includes the nominee's name, a brief description of the nominee's research accomplishments and the impact of the research.
The recipient of the Charles Beard Research Excellence Award will be the primary researcher who conducted the recognized research project(s) and will receive round-trip transportation to, and two nights lodging at, the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia. A cash prize of $1,500 will also be awarded. The award will be presented at IPPE during the International Poultry Scientific Forum by Dr. Beard and the chairman of the Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC). The 2015 Charles Beard Research Excellence Award went to Dr. Sarge Bilgili, professor and extension specialist in the Auburn University Department of Poultry Science.

Poultry processor Simmons Foods awarded as 'Distinguished Supplier'

Photo from left to right: Jim Nuetzi, executive chef, Olive Garden; Chip Miller, vice president, sales, Simmons; Jim Barron, director, sales, Simmons;  Jim Lawrence, chief supply chain officer, Darden Restaurants; and Gene Lee, chief executive officer, Darden Restaurants. 
Darden Restaurants announced that poultry processing company Simmons Foods, based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, was named one of six “William B. Darden Distinguished Supplier Award” honorees for 2015. The award, named for the company's late founder, recognizes suppliers who continuously exceed expectations by providing innovative products and services that contribute to the success of the company.
“Partners like Simmons Foods make it possible for us to support our more than 1,500 restaurants nationwide on a daily basis,” said Jim Lawrence, chief supply chain officer for Darden Restaurants. “We are thankful for their teamwork and collaboration, and pleased to recognize them in this way.”
Darden Restaurants honored the chicken processor's dedication to quality and consistency, as well as for Simmons Foods' partnership in helping develop the new chicken breast product being used by Olive Garden restaurants.
The awards were presented at a dinner in Orlando on March 4.

Poultry company applications being accepted for safety recognition awards

Poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs are invited to apply for recognition under the Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program. The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and U.S. Poultry& Egg Association members with poultry or egg processing plants, further processing facilities, hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities that through the implementation of innovative and effective programs have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years. 
The application deadline for the 2015 awards is April 20. The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, August 24-26, at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

96 poultry facilities honored for outstanding safety performance

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council recognized 96 chicken and turkey facilities for outstanding safety performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. The annual safety awards were presented during the 2014 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry held in Destin, Florida.
The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council consist of members from the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Collectively, the three organizations represent companies that produce 95 percent of the nation's poultry products and directly employ more than 350,000 workers.
"The 2014 awards program resulted in a record number of award recipients despite more stringent requirements to qualify, further highlighting the industry’s commitment to workplace safety. Congratulations to these facilities and their management teams. The awards recognize their excellent safety performance achievement as a result of effective and innovative programs. The notable and constant decrease in illness and injury rates among poultry’s workforce over the last two decades is a direct consequence of their dedication to worker safety,” the council stated.
The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2012 was 4.9 cases per 100 full-time workers (per year), down from 5.8 in 2011. This represents a 78 percent decrease from 1994, when the recorded rate was 22.7, demonstrating the enormous progress poultry processors have made in improving safety for our workforce.  Award consideration was based on injury statistics over three years and an evaluation of written applications by three judges: Gary Pohlmann, Marsh Risk Consulting; Doug Britton, program manager for Agricultural Technology Research at Georgia Tech Research Institute; and George Nassif , Aon Global Risk Consulting. Twenty-nine facilities received the highest level of recognition, "Award of Distinction." The other categories included "Award of Honor" and "Award of Merit."
Award of Distinction
Butterball


• Ozark, Arkansas – Processing
• Huntsville, Arkansas – Processing
• Carthage, Missouri – Processing
Cargill Turkey Production


• Springdale, Arkansas – Feed Mill
• Temple, Texas – Feed Mill
Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats


• Waco, Texas – Processing
GNP Company


• Arcadia, Wisconsin – Feed Mill
House of Raeford


• Arcadia, Louisiana – Processing
Keystone Foods


• Gadsden, Alabama – Hatchery
• Camilla, Georgia – Hatchery
• Camilla, Georgia – Processing
• Albany, Kentucky – Processing
• Franklin, Kentucky – Processing
Peco Foods Inc.


• Sebastopol, Mississippi - Processing
Perdue Farms


• Georgetown, Delaware – Processing
• Perry, Georgia – Cook Plant
• Perry, Georgia – Fresh Processing
• Cromwell, Kentucky – Processing
• Salisbury, Maryland – Processing
• Concord, North Carolina – Further Processing
• Rockingham, North Carolina – Processing
• Dillon, South Carolina – Hatchery
• Dillon, South Carolina – Processing
• Monterey, Tennessee – Further Processing
Wayne Farms


• Decatur, Alabama – Hatchery
• Enterprise, Alabama – Processing
• Pendergrass, Georgia – Processing
• Elkin, North Carolina – Feed Mill
• Elkin, North Carolina – Hatchery
Award of Honor
Butterball


• Jonesboro, Arkansas – Processing
Cargill Turkey Production


• Gentry, Arkansas – Hatchery
Case Farms


• Goldsboro, North Carolina – Further Processing
• Goldsboro, North Carolina – Hatchery
Cobb-Vantress, Inc.


• Siloam Springs, Arkansas – Feed Mill
Jennie-O Turkey Store


• Montevideo, Minnesota - Processing
• Willmar, Minnesota – Benson Ave Plant
• Willmar, Minnesota – Willmar Ave Plant
• Barron, Wisconsin – Processing
Keystone Foods


• Eufaula, Alabama – Processing
• Reidsville, North Carolina – Processing
Mountaire Farms


• Frankford, Delaware – Feed Mill
• Millsboro, Delaware – Feed Mill
• Selbyville, Delaware – Processing
• Lumber Bridge, North Carolina – Processing
• Statesville, North Carolina – Breeder Operation
Peco Farms


• Batesville, Arkansas – Hatchery
• Batesville, Arkansas – Processing
Perdue Farms


• Samson, Alabama – Hatchery
• Milford, Delaware – Processing
• Washington, Indiana – Turkey Processing
• Beaver Dam, Kentucky – Hatchery
• Hurlock, Maryland – Hatchery
• Hurlock, Maryland – Feed Mill
• Lewiston, North Carolina – Processing
• Murfreesboro, North Carolina – Hatchery
• Accomac, Virginia – Processing
• Bridgewater, Virginia – Further Processing
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation


• Commerce, Georgia – Hatchery
• Waco, Georgia – Feed Mill
• Moorefield, West Virginia – Prepared Foods
Sanderson Farms  – Foods Division


• Flowood, Mississippi  – Processing
Simmons Foods


• Decatur, Arkansas – Processing
• Van Buren, Arkansas – Processing
• Southwest City, Missouri – Processing
Tyson River Valley Animal Foods


• Robards, Kentucky – Rendering
Tyson Foods


• Hope, Arkansas – Processing
• Monroe, North Carolina – Processing
Wayne Farms


• Danville, Arkansas – Hatchery
• Decatur, Alabama – East Further Processing
• Decatur, Alabama – West Further Processing
• Decatur, Alabama – Fresh Plant
• Dobson, North Carolina – Processing
• Dothan, Alabama – Processing
• Troy, Alabama – Hatchery
• Union Springs, Alabama – Processing
Award of Merit
Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats


• Springdale, Arkansas – Processing
Case Farms


• Massillon, Ohio – Feed Mill
Cobb-Vantress


• Timpson, Texas – Hatchery
Gerber Poultry


• Kidron, Ohio – Processing
GNP Company


• Cold Springs, Minnesota – Processing
House of Raeford Farms


• West Columbia, South Carolina – Processing
Jennie-O Turkey Store


• Dawson, Minnesota – Feed Mill
• Perham, Minnesota – Feed Mill
Peco Farms


• Gordo, Alabama – Hatchery
• Bay Springs, Mississippi – Processing
• Canton, Mississippi – Processing
Perdue Farms


• Thorntown, Indiana – Hatchery
• Washington, Indiana – Feed Mill
Pilgrim’s Corp.


• Athens, Georgia – Feed Mill
• Blaine, Georgia – Hatchery
• Marshville, North Carolina – Processing
• Natchitoches, Louisiana – Processing
• Moorefield, West Virginia – Fresh Foods
Tyson Foods


• Hope, Arkansas – Hatchery
• Dexter, Missouri – Processing
• Seguin, Texas – Further Processing

North Carolina Poultry Federation hosts governor, elects board

Howard Coble is presented with the North Carolina Poultry Federation Distinguished Service Award from National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger. 
The North Carolina Poultry Federation (NCPF) 2014 annual meeting included an awards presentation banquet, featuring a conversation with North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory. Gov. McCrory and NCPF Past President Scott Prestage engaged in a relaxed question-answer format before the 200 members and dinner guests of the NCPF.
The keynote address was given by Donnie Smith, president and CEO of Tyson Foods. Smith accompanied his speech with a slide presentation.
North Carolina Poultry Federation presents awards
The Honorable Howard Coble, whose elected tenure has spanned 30 years in the U.S. House of representatives, was presented the NCPF Distinguished Service Award. National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger presented the award to Coble. 
Outgoing NCPF President Dan Peugh presented the Grower Environmental Award to Andy and Joy Herring of Andy Herring Farms in Dunn, North Carolina. The Herrings are producers for Prestage Farms.
The First Finalist was Edward Maness of Pine Bark Farm in Candor -- a producer for Perdue Foods.  Accepting the award for Maness were his managers, Andrea and Danny VonCannon. Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture Joe Reardon helped present the Grower Environmental Awards.
North Carolina Poultry Federation elects board members
The NCPF 2014-15 board members were elected during the conference. The Executive Board is made up
of Jeff Hancock of Tyson Foods, who will serve as president; Ronnie Parker of Circle-S-Ranch, first vice president; Jeff Stalls of Perdue Farms, second vice president; Neal Walsh of Butterball, secretary/treasurer; and Past President Scott Prestage of Prestage Farms.
Board members for 2014-15 include:  Chandler Adams, representing the Carolina Feed Industry Association;David Anderson, Butterball; Jeff Beavers, Mountaire Farms; Andrew Boyles, Tyson Foods;Trey Braswell, Braswell Foods; John Brinn, Rose Acre Farms; Kendall Casey, Perdue Farms;Tommy Furlough, Cal-Maine Foods; Todd Huneycutt, Huneycutt Brothers Farm; Dr. Alice Johnson, Butterball; Bob Johnson, House of Raeford; Cowan Johnson, House of Raeford;Terry Maness, Perdue Farms; Paul Nordin, Wayne Farms; Connie Ozment, Valley Proteins;Tommy Porter, Porter Farms; Charles Rigdon, Case Farms; Tommy Robertson, Sanderson Farms; Joe Steed, representing the Breeder Hatchery Association; Mark Whitt, International Paper; and Richard Williams, Pilgrim’s.

Inghams wins environmental award in New Zealand

Inghams Enterprises New Zealand won the Ecolab Award for Excellence in Eco-Efficiency at the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology Annual Conference in July.
The institute’s awards are open to any company or employee of any sector of the New Zealand food and beverage industry, not only institute members. The Eco-Efficiency Award recognizes an exceptional individual or group contribution to achieving resource efficiencies in a New Zealand food business, particularly associated with a culture change that embeds eco-efficiency in the business.
Examples of qualifying activities are changes in processing systems, operating practices or technologies that result in favorable environmental outcomes, through reduction, recovery or re-use.  Example outcomes might be significant reductions in water usage, solid or liquid waste disposal, energy use, greenhouse gas emissions or chemical usage.
In the case of Inghams, which has the philosophy of "Doing the right things and doing things right,"  the award recognized the company’s achievements in “creating a team and environment, led from the highest level of management, where environmental sustainability is one of the company’s three driving business priorities, along with animal welfare and food safety.” 

Zoetis/BPC Trainee of the Year Award nominees sought

The poultry industry offers some of the most exciting career prospects in farming  — that’s the message from organizers of the Zoetis/British Poultry Council Trainee of the Year Award, now open for entries. The award, offering a GBP2000 (US$3,424) training grant from Zoetis, highlights the many opportunities for career advancement not widely recognized outside the poultry industry.
“Winning the Trainee of the Year Award is a great feather in the cap for anyone serious about progressing in the poultry industry as it clearly shows their dedication to learning, personal development and improving on their experience. We are committed to the future of the poultry industry and see this award as an excellent opportunity to encourage talented poultry people” said Tony Grainger, Zoetis poultry product manager.
“The award can serve as a great platform to enhance an individual’s personal profile and industry knowledge, putting them in an ideal position to seize opportunities that arise and to facilitate what we hope will be a long, successful and above all enjoyable career in today’s dynamic poultry industry.”
Andrew Large, British Poultry Council (BPC) chief executive, stated: “The poultry industry depends on the quality of its workforce to deliver the excellent service to customers for which it is renowned. Our younger employees are a vital part of that team, and it is right that their hard work and perseverance is acknowledged by the industry. The Trainee of the Year Award spotlights the best in the poultry industry and the winner can be justifiably proud, as can the industry itself for rewarding young talent and encouraging new recruits.”
Nathan Raines, associate director of Poultec, major training provider to the poultry industry, added: “The award is now well recognized and gives young people something to aspire to. The industry is making progress in getting its message across to teachers and careers advisers – but there’s still much more to be done.”
In addition the Zoetis training grant, the winner receives a GBP500 (US$856) cash prize. All three finalists attend the prestigious BPC poultry awards presentations at the House of Commons on December 2 where the winner will be announced. The judging panel will chose three finalists.
Entries are open to all in the industry – with no age limit – but must be received by September 19. Entry forms are available online.

USPOULTRY environmental award nominees sought

U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is now accepting nominations for the 2015 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award. The award recognizes exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production. Those eligible for the award include any family-owned poultry grower or egg producer supplying product to a USPOULTRY member or an independent producer who is a USPOULTRY member. Nominations are due September 12. 
The award is presented to superior family farmers in six regions of the country. One award may be presented for each of the regions: Northeast, Southeast, South Central, North Central, Southwest and the remainder of the United States. Nominations must be made by a USPOULTRY member or an affiliated state poultry association by completing the application provided by USPOULTRY. Each integrator or egg processor may nominate one grower for each complex in each state supporting their operations.
Competition details are also available on the USPOULTRY website.
Six families received the Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award in 2014. The winners were Tom Lefevre, Lefevre Farms, Fort Recovery, Ohio, nominated by Ohio Poultry Association; Dale Walker, Walker Poultry Farm, Fort Seybert, West Virgina, nominated by Pilgrim’s and the West Virginia Poultry Association; Chris Holliday, Holliday Farm, Prairie Home, Missouri, nominated by Cargill Turkey Production LLC; Hilton Davis, Hilton Davis Farms LLC, Waynesboro, Mississippi, nominated by Marshall Durbin; Darrell Glaser, Bar G Ranch Poultry, Rogers, Texas, nominated by Texas Poultry Federation and Cargill Turkey Production LLC;Brad Arvance, Arvance Ranch Inc., Kerman, California, nominated by Foster Farms; and Galen Kropf, Berryville, Arkansas, nominated by Cargill Turkey Production LLC.
"Poultry growers and producers employ best management practices that enhance environmental stewardship on their family owned and operated farms. The skill, ingenuity and commitment our award winners display each year through their environmental management practices is outstanding," said Elton Maddox, Wayne Farms, chairman of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at the 2015 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta. Each award winner will receive a Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award sign to display near the entrance of the farm, $1,000 cash and an expense-paid trip to IPPE. In addition, the farm for each winner will be spotlighted on USPOULTRY’s website, and the association will provide assistance in publicizing the farm’s award in local, regional and national media.

Delmarva Poultry Industry presents awards at banquet

At the 2014 Delmarva Poultry Industry Booster Banquet, awards were presented, from left, to Dr. G. Donald Ritter, Connie Parvis and William Vanderwende.
The Delmarva Poultry Industry (DPI) recognized 13 outstanding chicken growers and three individuals for their work on behalf of the chicken industry. Guests and hundreds of people in the Delmarva Peninsula’s chicken community gathered April 16 in Salisbury, Md., for the 58^th Delmarva Poultry Industry Booster Banquet, the 1,800-member trade association’s annual membership dinner.
The J. Frank Gordy, Sr. Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award, DPI’s highest honor, was presented to William Vanderwende of Sussex County, Del. Though not employed in the chicken industry, he has made huge contributions to its continued success in Delaware and the entire Delmarva Peninsula.  He has served as chairman of the Delaware Nutrient Management Commission since its creation in 1999. In this capacity, Vanderwende has helped steer this policy-making group of farmers and others to develop and implement the Delaware Nutrient Management Law, a farmer-friendly, common sense, and bottom-up approach to working on nutrient management issues. Under his leadership, the commission helped guide Delaware through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval of the state’s Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation regulations. Due to his dedicated work, Delaware’s program is recognized nationally and accepted by Delaware chicken growers and other farmers.
Vanderwende was a member of the Sussex Conservation District board of supervisors for 36 years, 22 of them as chairman. In this position, he and fellow board members provided tremendous support for Delaware chicken growers. He is a past member of the Delaware Governor’s Advisory Council on Agriculture, past vice chairman of the Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation Board of Trustees, a member of the Delaware State Fair Board of Directors, a manager of his local tax ditch association, and a member of his local board of education.  DPI’s recognition also was due in part to his other accomplishments, such as being named Delaware’s Outstanding Young Farmer by the Jaycees in 1968, recipient of the Sussex County Service Club Award for outstanding service to agriculture, the Delaware Farm Bureau Farm Family of the Year in 1993, the Delaware 4-H Alumnus Award in 1994, and the Delaware Secretary of Agriculture’s Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award in 2009.
The Edward H. Ralph DPI Medal of Achievement was presented to chicken industry veteran Dr. G. Donald Ritter of Salisbury, Md. Ritter began his career as a chicken health professional on the Delmarva Peninsula soon after graduation from veterinary school. He joined Showell Farms in 1985 and then worked for Perdue Farms Inc.  He has been with Mountaire Farms since 1995.  Ritter has chaired DPI’s Poultry Health Committee since 2001 and under his leadership DPI’s National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing, and Live Production remains the premier meeting of its type in America. He was a leader during the 2004 Delmarva challenge from avian influenza.
He has worked with state and federal departments of agriculture, members of Congress, and professional organizations to ensure the prosperity of the chicken industry.  He is the chairman of the National Chicken Council’s Poultry Health Committee and president of the American Association of Veterinarians in Broiler Production.  He is an at-large representative on the General Conference Committee for the National Poultry Improvement Plan. 
Connie Parvis, DPI director of education and consumer information, was recognized with a DPI Medal of Achievement for her nearly 43 years of service to the chicken industry and DPI.  Under her leadership since 1972, the Delmarva Chicken Festival and Delmarva Chicken Cooking Contest were premier industry promotion events. Parvis worked for decades on the National Chicken Cooking Contest. Her hundreds of presentations to television and in-person audiences helped promote the chicken industry and greater consumption of chicken. In recent years, she has directed DPI’s educational programs, including projects for students and teachers, the production of videos about Delmarva’s industry, coordinating DPI’s college scholarship program, developing school curriculum, assisting with outreach programs to the general public, heading the effort that produced the 1998 book about the history of Delmarva’s chicken industry, and pitching in whenever asked for thousands of other activities.  Parvis served for many years on the board of directors of the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation and the board of the Maryland Agricultural Council. She is the longest serving DPI employee in the organization’s history.
 Additionally, DPI recognized 13 outstanding poultry producers.  Selected by their companies from Delmarva’s nearly 1,600 poultry growers, this year’s recipients are:
• Scot and Johnna Beauchamp, Westover, Md. - Mountaire Farms
• Roger and Karen Davis, Felton, Del. - Perdue Farms
• Mark and Vicky Eck, Henderson, Md. - Mountaire Farms
• Jeon (Howard) Haejong and Clara Lee, Eden, Md. - Allen Harim
• Steve and Rose Hostetler, Sudlersville, Md. - Allen Harim
• Kung Yong and Mee Jo, Hebron, Md. - Mountaire Farms
• Richard and Janet Kauffman, Harrington, Del. - Amick Farms
• Jason and Kim Lambertson, Pocomoke, Md. - Tyson Foods
• Judy and Zach Loller, Chestertown, Md. - Perdue Farms
• Ronnie and Barbara Matthews, Greenbush, Va. - Tyson Foods, Inc.
• Mack and Norma Lee McCary, Frankford, Del. - Mountaire Farms
• Rantz and Donna Purcell, Princess Anne, Md. - Perdue Farms
• Ron and Janice Whaley, Laurel, Del. - Perdue Farms 

USPOULTRY seeks Charles Beard Research Excellence Award nominees

USPOULTRY and the USPOULTRY Foundation are accepting nominations for the Charles Beard Research Excellence Award through July 1. The goal of this award is to recognize outstanding completed poultry research projects, funded by USPOULTRY or the USPOULTRY Foundation, which have made a significant positive impact on the poultry industry. The nominee may be recognized for multiple completed USPOULTRY research projects, all focused on the same subject area.
Nominations can be accepted from the universities and research institutions that conduct poultry research, as well as from anyone in the research community or any USPOULTRY member, staff, and sponsored committee. Self-nominations are also allowed. Nominations should focus on research projects completed within the past five years, but may include projects completed at an earlier time if a project's impact has only recently become recognized.
USPOULTRY recently simplified the nomination process for the Charles Beard Research Excellence Award. To submit a nomination, please send a letter to Dr. John Glisson, vice president of research, which includes the nominee's name, a brief description of the nominee's research accomplishments and the impact of the research.
The recipient of the Charles Beard Research Excellence Award will be the primary researcher who conducted the recognized research project(s) and will receive round-trip transportation to and two nights lodging at the International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga. A cash prize of $1,500 will also be awarded.
The award will be presented at the IPPE during the International Poultry Scientific Forum. The award will be presented by Dr. Beard and the chairman of the Foundation Research Advisory Committee (FRAC).
USPOULTRY and its Foundation operate a comprehensive research program incorporating all phases of poultry and egg production and processing. Since the inception of the research program, USPOULTRY has reinvested over $25 million dollars into the industry in the form of research grants, with the International Poultry Expo, part of IPPE, as the primary source for the funding. More than 50 universities and federal and state facilities have received grants over the years.

Nominations open for 2014 Young Veterinarian Award

Zoetis announced that it will once again be supporting the World Veterinary Poultry Association (WVPA) Young Poultry Veterinarian Award, and nominations are now open.
As in previous years, the 2014 award is open to poultry veterinarians from anywhere in the world who are under the age of 35 on January 1, 2014. The prize is a contribution of $5,000 towards attending international scientific or continued professional development meetings.
The WVPA is asking for nominations to be made on behalf of young veterinarians who not only display a commitment to bird health and customer care, but who demonstrate a real passion for the poultry industry.
"The two previous winners have been exceptional young veterinarians who are a credit to our profession," said Dr. Trevor Bagust, president of the WVPA. "We have been very impressed by the standard of nominations in the past, and I expect 2014 to be the same or even better."
The award will be judged by a panel of global poultry experts, and the winner will receive his or her award at the WVPA Asia Meeting in Bangkok in September.
Hector Badillo, global marketing director at Zoetis, believes that encouraging young veterinarians is important for the future of the poultry industry:
"Maintaining the health and therefore the productivity of flocks is absolutely central to the success of modern poultry businesses, and veterinarians are an essential part of that success.
"Zoetis is proud to support the WVPA Young Poultry Veterinarian Award for the third consecutive year, and to encourage and recognize those veterinarians who will safeguard the future of the poultry industry globally."
Nominees/applicants are asked to demonstrate their role and achievements in the industry and explain why they believe they should win the award in 500 words or less. The closing date for nominations is May 16, 2014. Entries can only be made via the WVPA Young Veterinarian of the Year 2014 website, which also has full details of the award.

Delaware ag secretary honors poultry producers

Delaware Agriculture Secretary Ed Kee honored four poultry producers from Delaware's Sussex County. The awards were presented January 13 during Delaware Ag Week, held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds.
Poultry producer Connie Carmean was selected for the 2013 Environmental Stewardship Award because of her efforts to improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff, according to the Sussex Countian. Carmean, who grows for Mountaire Farms, has raised poultry since she and her late husband built the first two poultry houses in 1986. The farm, now with four poultry houses, now has a capacity of 99,400 birds per flock. As part of her efforts to reduce nutrient runoff and improve water quality, Carmean's farm has a large manure storage structure and channel composter, as well as heavy use pads and a large retention pond to capture and treat runoff. She is certified as a private nutrient handler by the Delaware Nutrient Management Program.
Richard McGinnis, Larry and Mary Ann McAllister, and John and Mary Reed were selected as runners-up.
McGinnis, Dagsboro, is a grower for Amick Farms. His farm has a capacity of 249,000 birds. He has built three manure structures and put heavy use pads at the poultry houses, planted a windbreak of evergreen trees and installed a retention pond to treat runoff.
The McAllisters, Laurel, are growers for Allen Harim Foods. Their farm has a capacity of 67,000 birds. They have built a manure structure and enlarged heavy use pads, and their poultry house area borders tilled cropland that serves as a vegetative buffer to prevent runoff.
The Reeds, Bridgeville, are growers for Perdue Farms. Their operation has a capacity of 67,000 birds. They have heavy use pads, a manure shed, composter and retention pond, and collect stray feathers with a lawnmower equipped with a bagger.
Carmean will receive $1,000, a plaque and a sign for their farm. The runners-up will receive $500, plaques and signs. The awards are supported by Allen Harim Foods, Amick Farms, Mountaire Farms and Perdue Farms.