‘Last Week Tonight’ takes critical aim at poultry industry

The U.S. poultry industry was the target of a segment of “Last Week Tonight,” hosted by political satirist and comedian John Oliver. The segment, aired on May 17, took a critical and satirical look at the relationship between broiler companies and their contract growers.
The segment included video clips of testimonies from chicken farmers and from congressional hearings, with many of those clips followed by critical commentary from Oliver about the companies' and industry’s treatment of farmers. Oliver specifically named the four largest poultry companies in the United States: Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's, Sanderson Farms and Perdue Farms.
The show concluded with Oliver calling on viewers to contact their legislators and encourage them to support potential legislation that aims to protect farmers that speak out about the industry’s tournament system.


Poultry industry responds to criticism
Oliver’s segment included jabs at comments made by staff members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), which called the Oliver’s show “a completely one-sided view of U.S. poultry production” and an inaccurate “reflection of the overwhelming majority of the 25,000 farm families who partner with chicken companies.”
Chicken companies work closely with their farmers to build relationships based on a shared goal of success, NCC stated, adding that these relationships have helped family farms thrive in an otherwise shrinking industry.  Citing a University of Delaware survey, NCC said 75 percent of farmers were satisfied in their relationship with the chicken company, and 73 percent were satisfied with business overall.
“This system has allowed us to insulate farmers from the risk of changing market prices for chicken and feed ingredients such as corn and soybean meal, which represent the vast majority of the cost of growing a chicken,” NCC stated. “In other words, farmers are guaranteed a consistent price for their efforts, no matter what the markets are doing.  The system has worked well for decades and kept tens of thousands of families on farms who otherwise would have had to get out of agriculture altogether.  It makes no economic sense for a company to do anything to jeopardize farmers from growing the healthiest chickens possible. Raising top quality birds produces wholesome chicken, and paychecks, for both farmers and the companies.”

Biosecurity important to poultry operations worldwide

David Shapiro, DVM, director of veterinary services at Perdue Farms, speaks at the Biosecurity: Revisiting the Basics and Implementing New Strategies program held during the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo.
"If you have a set of biosecurity rules and procedures so exhaustive that the document would do serious damage if dropped on your foot, you don't have a plan, you have a problem. Biosecurity rules are intended to reduce risk, but if they are incomprehensible, overwhelming, ignored, outdated or essentially useless, it's time for an overhaul," suggested David Shapiro, DVM, director of veterinary services at Perdue Farms, during his presentation, "Biosecurity: Real World Biosecurity Strategies to Minimize Animal Health and Food Safety Risks." He reviewed essential biosecurity procedures pertaining to poultry production at the "Biosecurity: Revisiting the Basics and Implementing New Strategies" program held during the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The program was sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association.
"Set priorities," Dr. Shapiro said. "If you are considering a new rule, do not think about the rule; think about how much it reduces the risk of disease transmission."
"There is no such thing as spontaneous generation of disease. So if there's an outbreak at your facility, it's a reality check, a reminder that your biosecurity failed," according to Carl Heeder, DVM, of Zoetis, during his presentation on biosecurity implementation management.


Carl Heeder, DVM, of Zoetis, speaks at the Biosecurity: Revisiting the Basics and Implementing New Strategies program held during the 2014 International Production & Processing Expo.
The theory of biosecurity is that it is a set of preventative measures to reduce the risk of transmission, but in reality it has to be a culture dedicated to reducing disease, he explained. Failure has several causes. It can result from the unknown: what didn't you know about conditions on your farm, employee movement and risk, maintenance, equipment sharing, the status of neighboring farms, or who's visiting your site and how they behave once they are on the premises. Without current information, you could be overlooking significant risk factors.
In his presentation "Biosecurity Perspective from Different Regions of the World," Nick Dorko, DVM, global head of veterinary services for Aviagen, observed that outbreaks can teach some difficult lessons that ultimately improve biosecurity, at least from a veterinary perspective. The H5N1 epidemic of about a decade ago "greatly improved biosecurity procedures, led to better cleaning and disinfection, and eliminated some live bird markets. Open houses are also less common now," he said. But in some areas, prevention strategies need to be stronger. The three most important steps to take are to eliminate multi-age farms, improve showers and ban outside vehicles from farms.
Ian Rubinoff, DVM, Hy-Line International, also spoke during the presentation describing a four-step process for analyzing biosecurity.

Poultry, livestock growers learn to interact with 'online moms'

"We don't need them to understand us, we need to understand them," said Joe Miller, General Counsel for Rose Acre Farms at the Animal Agriculture Alliance 12^th annual Stakeholders Summit which kicked off May 1 in Arlington, Va.
The theme of improving communications throughout the food chain was reinforced frequently throughout the morning panels, which is perhaps ironic, given that one of the first speakers was discussing farm protection legislation, or as it is more commonly known, "ag gag."
Miller began his presentation by overviewing the controversy surrounding farm protection legislation, but ended by discussing how the industry must better understand consumers, rather than the other way around.
"The public needs to know they can trust us," said Miller. "We need to close the gap between a producer and a consumer."
Miller's presentation was closely followed by the panel entitled, "Demystifying the Blogosphere: How to Engage Online Moms," where two influential bloggers, Joanne Bamberger and Sarah Braesch actively engaged with the audience and answered questions about how to effectively work with online moms.
The panel was moderated in part by David Wescott, Director of Digital Strategy at APCO Worldwide.
"I'm here to give you a bit of a reality check," began Wescott who told the industry that they must do better at connecting with the "middle ground," their consumers. "Social media has been isolating communities more and more and those communities tend to take very extreme positions and it becomes harder and harder for those communities to interact."
When asked by an audience member if there is a verifiable "middle ground," Wescott, Bamberger and Braesch all agreed that there is, and it's online moms.
"Women, your consumers, are getting their information from bloggers that they know and trust," said Bamberger. "There are really good conversational ways to get your message out to that audience, you just need to put in the effort and develop the relationships.
Explained Wescott, social media isn't complicated: "It's about people talking. Keep it simple: know who your stakeholders really are, ask them what they want, and then give it to them."
The 12th annual Stakeholders Summit, themed "Activists at the Door: Protecting Animals, Farms, Food and Consumer Confidence," began May 1, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. The audience included approximately 200 leaders from across the food chain.
The 12th annual Stakeholders Summit, themed "Activists at the Door: Protecting Animals, Farms, Food and Consumer Confidence," began May 1, 2013 in Arlington, Virginia. The audience included approximately 200 leaders from across the food chain.
Event sponsors currently include Alltech, U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, Murphy-Brown LLC, Farm Credit, Provimi North America, Merck Animal Health, Zoetis,  Hy-Line,  American Feed Industry Association, Bayer Animal Health, United Soybean Board,  Alltech, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork Board, National Pork Producers Council, Diamond V, Aviagen, Genus/PIC/ABS, United Egg Producers, WATT Publishing Co., Cactus Feeders, Brakke Consulting,  Kemin,  AgriBeef Co., Seaboard Foods, National Association of Farm Broadcasting, Protect the Harvest, Elanco Animal Health, Vance Publishing and the Potash Corp.

Farmers intend to plant more feed grains in 2013

Poultry and livestock producers got a bit of welcome news as farmers are expected to plant more feed grains for the 2013 seasons. All of the major feed grains will increase in acreage in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Planting Intentions report, with the exception of soybeans, which will decrease less than 1 percent.
"If these early planting and yield projections are realized, corn and soybeans stocks will increase, which would ultimately lead to lower feed costs for livestock and poultry farmers," said American Farm Bureau Federation crops economist Todd Davis.
The combined acreage of corn and soybeans listed in the report, released on March 28, would make 2013 the highest year on record, said USDA chief economist Joe Glauber.
Corn
Growers are expected to plant 97.3 million acres of corn, which is up just slightly from the 97.16 planted in 2012. The 2013 estimate is a 6 percent increase from 2011. If the 2013 projection is realized, this will be largest acreage in the U.S. since 1936, when an estimated 102 million acres were planted.
The state with the biggest percentage increase in corn production is Georgia, where acreage is expected to jump from 345,000 acres to 495,000 acres — a 43 percent leap. It drops the most in California, but that is only an 8 percent decrease from 610,000 acres to 560,000 acres.
Iowa, the nation's leading corn-producing state, will stay steady at 14.2 million acres.
Soybeans
The projected 7.71 million acres of planted soybeans is only 72,000 acres less than planted in the U.S. in 2012, but if realized it will still be the fourth-largest year for soybeans in U.S. history.
Planting in the Great Plains is expecting to decline, with the exception of Illinois and North Dakota, which are expecting large increases, according to the report. Illinois leads all states in total anticipated acreage at 9.4 million acres.
Georgia, while not a major soybean-producing state, will have the largest increase, going from 220,000 acres in 2012 to 280,000 in 2013.
Wheat
An estimated 56.4 million acres of wheat will be planted in 2013, which would be a 1 percent climb from 2012.
Iowa is expected to have the biggest increase in acreage percent-wise, going from 18,000 acres to 40,000 acres. Kansas, the nation's top wheat-producing state, will drop about 2 percent, going from 9.5 million acres to 9.3 million acres. North Dakota, which ranks second, will also see a 2 percent drop. Oklahoma and Texas — also top producers — are expected to have near-equal acreage.
Sorghum
Sorghum acreage will grow by a larger percentage in 2013 than any other feed grain. It will jump 22 percent from 6.2 million acres in 2012 to 7.6 million acres.
Texas is expected to surpass Kansas as the nation's leading sorghum producer, going from 2.3 million acres to 3 million acres. However, Kansas is also expected to increase its production, going from 2.5 million acres to 2.9 million acres.
Arizona and Missisippi — neither large producers of sorghum — are the only two states whose acreage is expected to decrease.
Oats
Oat production in the U.S. will see a 5 percent jump from 2.76 million acres to 2.9 million acres.
The biggest mover in terms of percentage is Nebraska, which will see an 80 percent increase to reach 135,000 acres. Texas, the nation's largest producer, will jump 20 percent in acres planted, going from 500,000 acres to 600,000 acres. Oklahoma, its neighbor to the north, will decrease from 75,000 acres to 40,000 acres, the largest drop nationwide.

Poultry farmer continues suit against EPA

A West Virginia chicken producer who sued the Environmental Protection Agency over threatened water-pollution fines is continuing her fight.
The dispute began after the EPA in November 2011 ordered Lois Alt to pay $37,500 in fines each time stormwater came into contact with dust, feathers or small amounts of manure on the ground outside of her poultry houses as a result of normal poultry production operations. The agency also listed separate fines of $37,500 per day if she failed to apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination permit.
In response, Alt filed a suit against the EPA over new rules aimed at Cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The American Farm Bureau Federation and West Virginia Farm Bureau sided with Alt and joined in the suit.
Not long after the organizations joined in Alt’s suit, the EPA withdrew its order, but the plaintiffs have not withdrawn their suit against the federal agency.
U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld says the government thinks the lawsuit is moot, according to the Associated Press. Alt, however, doesn’t want to dismiss the case without further action by the EPA, contending the underlying issues still must be addressed because they could affect chicken farmers nationwide. Ihlenfeld asked U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey on January 17 to put pending motions for summary judgment on hold, while the parties discuss what actions may get Alt to dismiss her case.

Ghana poultry association receives US$179,000 to boost industry

The Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers will receive GH 350,000 (US$179,391) to boost the operations of its members and to vitalize the industry, according to reports.
The money will come from Liberty Commodities Limited, an international trading group and will be used to help support the association's broiler project, under which farmers will be supplied with breeding equipment and day-old chicks, and will be exposed to feeding techniques that will make their birds ready for market in six weeks. Ghana's poultry sector can play an important role in the nation's socio-economic development if given the proper aid, said Kwandwo Asante, national president. The country currently imports roughly 200,000 metric tons of poultry products per year.

Zimbabwe poultry farmers losing $42,000 per month due to power cuts

Zimbabwe's poultry farmers are losing close to 1 million broiler-hatching eggs, worth US$42,000, per month due to prolonged power cuts or disconnections, according to a report by the country's agricultural industry.
Each 24-hour power outage causes the death of 700 out of every 10,000 birds, according to the report, and the power cuts are increasing production costs by 12 percent to 25 percent due to the buying, installation, running and maintaining of generators. Poultry producers say they are also facing an increase in power tariffs, which were supposed to be accompanied by an increase in improved supplies.
"There has been a decrease in productivity on layer flocks and breeding units as a result of insufficient light hours, especially during winter," said the report. "Abattoirs are experiencing live weight losses of 0.25 percent for every hour of delay in the slaughter of chickens when not feeding or drinking while in trucks. More than 30 minutes of disruption in slaughter leads to losses." The resulting increases in production costs can't be passed on to consumers, said farmers, because then they couldn't compete with imports.
The industry is asking the Zimbabwean government to direct power company Zesa Holdings Ltd. to stop disconnecting farmers and to do a forensic audit of Zesa bills on the agriculture sector. The sector is also recommending that Zesa institute a stop-order payment system for farmers while making the necessary effort to repair power transmission, measuring instruments and any other related infrastructure in the farming areas, and that Zesa provide the correct size of transformers, meters, accounts and charge actual consumption instead of relying on estimates.

Real March Madness: performance-based compensation in the chicken industry

The following is an opinion piece by Thomas Super, vice president of communications for the National Chicken Council   A tournament as defined by Merriam-Webster is a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition, the championship playoffs of a league or conference, or an invitational event.  Exactly what the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship is.  Exactly what the current growout structure of the U.S. broiler industry is not.    Under the current performance-based incentive structure, growers typically are compensated based on the quality of feed efficiency, low condemnations and the quantity of liveweight pounds delivered to the processing plant. This is not a “tournament” — it is a performance-based structure that aligns with fundamental free market principles to encourage efficiency and improve performance. Thus, two growers that produce the same “type and kind” of poultry might receive different compensation depending on their productivity and efficiency. Growers with more advanced facilities/processes and management skills will likely produce poultry more efficiently and of a higher quality. These growers are rewarded accordingly through greater compensation.  The current system has worked well for decades since the vertically integrated structure of the broiler industry was adopted. Tens of thousands of families on small farms who otherwise would have had to get out of agriculture altogether have been able to not just survive, but thrive. Most companies have waiting lists of people who want to become growers and lists of existing farmers who want to add capacity by building more growout houses. They understand raising chickens under contract can be rewarding while risks are more manageable. If all poultry growers of the same bird type must receive the same base pay, as some argue, farmers who made greater investments in their facilities and processes might not be compensated accordingly, ensuring that the best and most innovative growers are not rewarded for being so. Progressive growers who invested more of their time and resources in their housing or growers with new construction built at a greater cost than older houses would nonetheless get the same base pay as growers with older housing and growers who chose to devote their time and effort elsewhere. Although these growers could be compensated above the base pay rate, most, if not all, poultry dealers will be unlikely to provide premium compensation due to the administrative burdens and potential for litigation. This would likely result in a disincentive for innovation, modernization and upgrading of houses. In time, payment without regard to factors such as type or age of housing could result in lower quality, more expensive chickens and decreased food safety as a result of the lack of improvements. There would be a strong trend toward company-owned housing; a trend neither grower nor companies prefer.  This brings to mind another sports analogy. Say two players are vying for a new contract in Major League Baseball. Player A has invested in more off-season workouts, a new hitting coach and increased time watching game film, which resulted in a season hitting .314, with 25 homeruns and 100 runs batted in. Player B coasts through the off-season, is happy with the status quo and bats .269, with 10 homeruns and 60 runs batted in. Which player should receive the better contract?  There is, however, one similarity between the NCAA Tournament and the broiler industry’s performance based incentive system: they both allow viewers and consumers the opportunity to enjoy a consistent, high-quality product at a very favorable value. In a tournament like the NCAA’s, though, there is only one actual winner. In the performance-based incentive system of growing chickens, there are hundreds of millions of winners: consumers, at home and abroad.

Six US poultry farms receive environmental excellence award

The six poultry farm winners of the Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award pose at the 2012 International Poultry Expo.

Six U.S. poultry farms received the annual Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award on January 24 at the 2012 International Poultry Expo. 

The award, sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, is given in acknowledgment of exemplary environmental stewardship by family farmers engaged in poultry and egg production.

Winners were chosen from six geographical regions from throughout the U.S.:

• Hack Farms (West)
• Cooley Farms (Southeast)
• Hillview Farms (Southwest)
• Pine Draft Farm (Northeast)
• Flintrock Farms (North Central)
• Hesse Farm (Central)

Applicants were rated in several categories, including dry litter or liquid manure management, nutrient management planning, community involvement, wildlife enhancement techniques, innovative nutrient management techniques, and participation in education or outreach programs. 

Kenya poultry farmers struggling with high production costs

Kenya's poultry farmers are struggling with high production costs, including a 50% increase in chicken feed and erratic electricity and fuel costs, according to the Kenya Broiler Breeders Association. The numbers are leading to a drop in profits that is pushing some farmers out of business.
A shortage in day-old chicks is further complicating issues, as farmers must place orders and wait up to six months for deliveries. “This is a crisis," said Muiruri Mbuthi, KBBA coordinator. "There is an acute shortage and when available, the chicks are going for as much as Sh90 (US$1.00) as opposed to Sh50 (US$0.56) six months ago, forcing farmers to import from Uganda."
According to the Kenyan government, inflation has hit the poultry sector, and the national cost of production is now at Sh4.3 billion (US$48 million), up from a three-year average of Sh1.9 billion (US$21.2 million). The Ministry of Livestock Development said the government is trying to come up with a poultry policy that will address subsidies, standardization mechanisms, treatment and market structures to curb losses and exploitation. In the meantime, the government is urging Kenya to increase domestic poultry consumption to create a ready local market for breeders.

UK poultry farmers facing rising costs, slimmer margins

UK poultry and other farmers are experiencing record rises in the cost of farm inputs while simultaneously dealing with downward pressure from supermarket price wars.  

The National Farmers Union has called on the government to speed up the process of creating the Groceries Code Adjudicator, following the latest Defra Agricultural Prices Index figures that show a 13% rise in the cost of fuel, feed and fertilizer in the last year with prices now above the previous 2008 peak.

It comes as farmers and food manufacturers are pressured into sharing the pain of a major grocery price war, which could see lasting damage to the competitiveness of the supply chain should the current situation continue.
“These figures illustrate that variable and fixed costs for fuel, feed and fertilizer have all been on the rise over the last two years, with this sheer combination of factors pushing the index to its record high,” said Tom Hind, NFU director of corporate affairs. “It contrasts with the fall in the cost of food to consumers and bears out comments by some producers that they are being asked to ‘share the pain’ of the well-documented supermarket price wars.
“When you add this to reports in the Financial Times and other journals about the pressure being passed back by retailers, it calls into question the reliability of the British Retail Consortium’s message that supermarkets are cutting their already-thin margins.”
He continued that there are currently two big risks to UK producers.
“The first is that excessive bargaining power exerted for short-term pressures will undermine the already feeble state of investment on farms and in food manufacturing. In the long-run, this will affect our ability to compete and to offer consumers a choice of high quality, affordable British food. The second is the very real risk that some companies may resort to the underhand tactics of the past to recover lost margins, protecting shareholder dividends whilst undermining farming families.”

US poultry industry hit hard by corn prices

Everyone from family poultry farmers to large poultry companies has been hit hard by the rising prices and short supplies of corn, said Michael Welch, National Chicken Council spokesman and chief executive of Harrison Poultry.
“The [U.S. Department of Agriculture’s] report earlier this week confirmed that it will be much more difficult this crop year to secure an adequate supply of feed ingredients that can be procured at a cost that is both manageable and predictable,” said Welch to the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture. “The more than 40 vertically integrated chicken companies that comprise the broiler industry have financially struggled for the past four calendar quarters. A number of companies have succumbed to the severe cost/price squeeze by ceasing operations or having to sell their assets at fire-sale values.”
The price of corn began to rise in the fall of 2006, and since then, the broiler chicken industry alone has had to spend an extra $22.5 billion in higher feed costs, said Welch, putting companies under severe financial stress, pushing some out of business and causing others to reduce production. Welch said Congress should allow animal agriculture producers to compete more fairly for the limited supplies of corn expected over the next few years. “Included in this effort must be a ‘safety valve’ to adjust the Renewable Fuels Standard when there is a shortfall in corn supplies,” said Welch.  “In addition, a plan should be implemented to allow a reasonable number of good, productive cropland acres to opt out of the Conservation Reserve Program on a penalty-free basis.”

India supports small-scale poultry farmers

Small-scale poultry farmers in the Indian state of Goa are receiving cash and equipment to supplement their abilities to raise birds and produce eggs under a new government plan.
A farmer rearing a minimum of 100 birds will be entitled to a cash subsidy of Rs 1,500 (US$33.83) and a cage unit worth Rs 12,000 (US$270.64). The cage will hold 100 birds and will include an egg catcher, manual feeders and waterers.
The goal, according to the government, is to enable farmers to gain supplementary income and a nutritive diet without acquiring additional labor. "In the last five years, Goa has witnessed a drastic reduction in the number of poultry farms and 90% of local small scale poultry farmers were compelled to close down," says the plan. "The government is, therefore, offering encouragement in the form of cash subsidy to boost and supplement agricultural income of the farmers."
The government hopes to help offset some of the costs small farmers might not otherwise be able to absorb. "In recent times, Goa's small-scale poultry farmers could not sustain the competition from poultry farmers of neighboring states that sell poultry products at lower rates," says the plan. "Goa's poultry farmers face high input costs of poultry feed and labor, which are major shares in production costs in comparison to neighboring states."

Ceva donates to poultry company tornado relief fund

Ceva Animal Health donated $2,500 to Alabama-based poultry partner Wayne Farms after Wayne Farms employees were affected by recent tornadoes in the area. 
The money went to Wayne Farms’ Tornado Relief Fund, and will be used to help Wayne Farms’ employees throughout northern Alabama most impacted by the storms. “We are very thankful to our parent company, our employees and key partners such as Ceva Animal Health, who have donated to our Tornado Relief Fund which has grown to $84,000,” said David Malfitano, vice president of human resources for Wayne Farms. “Through their generosity, we are able to help a number of our employees to begin rebuilding their homes and their lives.”
Ceva also presented a check for $2,500 to Wayne Farms for the Alabama Poultry and Egg Association to assist others in the poultry industry affected by the storms.

Canada poultry, egg farmers want focus on food security

Canada's poultry, egg and dairy farmers have joined an international coalition of farm groups endorsing a "Call for Coherence" regarding the balancing of global agricultural trade agreements and country-level food security.
The declaration, made two days before the G20 Ministers of Agriculture meeting being held in Paris, France, calls for both fair and equitable trade rules and policy space for individual countries to meet their own food security objectives. "We are questioning whether the approach of simply opening markets — giving no consideration whatsoever to non-trade issues and how these impact farmers who produce the world's food — is really the best way forward," said David Fuller, chairman of Chicken Farmers of Canada. "Better coherence is needed between any [World Trade Organization] agriculture agreement and those commitments WTO member states must observe in the international treaties they've already signed on issues such as poverty, hunger, climate change and biodiversity."
The farm groups have asked those involved in the meeting to keep in mind that all countries should have the right to produce for domestic consumption in order to improve self-sufficiency and ensure their food security. Trade rules, they said, should allow for policy measures that promote the stability of food supplies and prices, and all countries should have the right to meet the non-trade concerns of their citizens — food safety, the environment, animal welfare and needs of rural areas — to promote sustainable agriculture, help combat climate change and protect biodiversity.

Ghana poultry farmers call for government help to save business

Poultry farmers in Ghana's Brong-Ahafo region have asked the government to provide corn at lower prices to prevent their businesses from collapsing.
According to Nana Asamoah Sebreku, chairman of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association, the poultry industry is a major source of employment for the area. The situation, he said, has triggered panic buying among consumers.
In mid-May, Ghana's poultry industry called for the government to provide a buffer stock of yellow corn to help combat rising feed prices.

India poultry farmers lose birds to heat, humidity

The Indian poultry industry has lost 250,000 birds due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Poultry farmers in the north coastal districts of India have lost 250,000 birds due to heat and humidity, according to reports.
So far, the industry has lost Rs 50 million (US$1.11 million), and bird production is down 20% in the districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. According to farmers, those who bought chicks at Rs 33 (US$0.73) two months ago have been unable to recoup even feed costs, earning just Rs 55 (US$1.22) to Rs 75 (US$1.67) per bird.

Antitrust lawsuit trial against George's poultry plant acquisition set for August

A Justice Department antitrust lawsuit against George's Inc.'s acquisition of a Harrisonburg, Va., Tyson Foods Inc. poultry plant will go to trial on Aug. 22.
The Justice Department filed the suit on May 10, saying that the acquisition will "reduce growers' ability to receive competitive prices for their services." George's called for the lawsuit to be expedited on the grounds that delaying the case could harm local poultry farmers as well as the employees of the Tyson plant.

Ghana poultry farmers burdened by high yellow corn prices

Rising poultry feed prices have Ghana farmers calling for the government to provide a buffer stock of yellow corn to help the industry.

Ghana's government should provide a buffer stock of yellow corn in an attempt to help poultry farmers combat rising animal feed prices, according to the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers.
Right now, 125 kilograms of yellow corn is selling at GH¢100 (US$65.60); the same amount was selling at GH¢60.00 (US$39.36) in March. Although chicken prices have not yet started to rise in response, said Kwadwo Asante, chairman of the association, the industry expects them to if the current trend continues. A rise in Ghana's chicken prices could make the industry less profitable, if consumers begin to focus on cheaper imports, said Asante.

US Supreme Court upholds $14.5 million payout for Oklahoma poultry farmers

The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal by Arkansas-based O.K. Foods Inc., leaving in place an order that the company must pay $14.5 million to 300 Oklahoma poultry farmers, according to reports.
The poultry farmers, who had contracts to supply O.K. Foods with chickens, claimed that the contracts were anti-competitive and filed a lawsuit in 2002. According to the farmers, O.K. Foods used its power as the only poultry buyer in the area to manipulate lower chicken prices. O.K. Foods' defense said that the farmers failed to prove their claims.
In 2008, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Oklahoma ruled in favor of the farmers and awarded them $21.1 million. The amount was then lowered to $14.5 million by the judge on the case.
A three-judge panel in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Co., upheld the award in October 2010. The next step will be to consider a formula for distributing the judgment to the growers and to consider the amount of attorney fees.