Free video of 'Poultry & The Hormone Myth' available

As a follow-up to the National Chicken Council’s new national survey regarding consumers’ perceptions about chicken production that revealed nearly 80 percent of Americans mistakenly believe that chicken contains added hormones or steroids, USPOULTRY is reminding members, producers, allied industry and industry stakeholders that its “Poultry & The Hormone Myth” video is available, free of charge on its YouTube page. The video explains the scientific, economic and legal reasons hormones are not needed or used by the U.S. poultry industry.

“USPOULTRY has both a short and long version of the video. The short version is precise and gets to the gist of the video’s message in about two minutes. We wanted to make sure that when a consumer does a web search on this topic, we have a concise video that dispels this false presumption. The long version provides more detail for those who are interested,” commented John Starkey, president of USPOULTRY.

The long version of the video can be viewed on YouTube by clicking here. The short version can be viewed by clicking here. To order a DVD of the video, click here.

The National Chicken Council has new chairman and vice chairman

Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods in Siloam Springs, AR, was installed as 2015-2016 chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC) during its 61st Annual Conference held on Oct. 29 in Washington, DC.
He began working at Simmons in 1990 and joined the management team in 1994, after graduating from Georgetown University. A third generation leader of the company, Simmons was promoted to CEO and vice chairman in 2012 and served as COO of the Poultry and Pet Food divisions for the previous six years. Simmons is also on the executive committee and board of the Pet Food Institute. Hewas named "Industry Leader of the Year" by The Poultry Federation in 2015.
Vice chairman for 2015-2016 is Mike Popowycz, vice chairman and CFO at Case Foods, headquartered in Troutman, NC.
Popowycz joined the Ohio Division of Case Foods in 1987 as corporate controller. He has served as CFO, vice chairman and corporate treasurer. Popowycz was elected to the Case Foods board of directors in 2005 and to the NCC board in June 2012. Previously, Popowycz spent two years with Bell Atlantic Corporation and seven years with Perdue Farms Incorporated. He received a B.A. in Accounting from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA.

2016 National Chicken Council Marketing Seminar planned

Plans for the National Chicken Council’s 2016 Marketing Seminar are in the works, with the event scheduled to be held July 10-12 at the Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, Hilton Head, South Carolina.
All chicken integrators or processors, foodservice or retail sellers of chicken, or poultry supply chain member allied to the field providers are encouraged to mark their calendars for the 2016 Marketing Seminar.
The National Chicken Council's 2015 Marketing Seminar was held in July. Speakers from Wendy’s Supply Chain, Daymon Worldwide, Charlie Arnot, IRI Worldwide and other leaders addressed topics including: consumer demand for chicken ten years from now, expanding chicken into the snack category, millennials and their role as the new consumers of chickens, consumer concerns with ingredient complexity, growth opportunities with fresh chicken and packaging innovation needs from overseas.
The Omni Hilton Head is approximately 40 miles from the Savannah/Hilton Head International airport in Georgia. The 2016 conference dialogue will continue to focus on the brands of tomorrow, trends, communicating the value of chicken, and the changing consumer needs.

NCC backs EPA on Renewable Fuel Standard

The National Chicken Council (NCC) supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed actions to adjust the biofuels targets for 2014, 2015, and 2016 to reflect the practical limits imposed by the blendwall, the group said in comments submitted to the EPA regarding the agency's proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume targets.
"NCC would, however, support further reductions in the target level for conventional biofuels for 2015 and 2016 to account for the distorting effects the RFS has on the market for corn, substitute feed products, chicken prices, and food prices in general," said NCC President Mike Brown in the comments.
Brown wrote to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy that the use of corn for ethanol has created an uneven playing field for chicken producers. Since the RFS was enacted in 2007, chicken producers have faced more than $50 billion higher in feed costs due to the RFS.
"With both increased required volume obligations in 2015 and 2016, as well as increased ethanol exports, the U.S. chicken industry is again only one supply shock, flood or drought, away from high volatile corn prices as in 2009 and 2012. Where chicken producers have to adjust production and limit flocks due to corn prices, the RFS protects ethanol producers from having to make the same type of adjustments."
Additionally, Brown pointed out that ethanol exports are supported by the RFS and diverting more corn from the feed market, which was not foreseen in 2007. Through the first five months of 2015, ethanol exports are on pace to exceed 900 million gallons, which would represent more than 320 million bushels of corn diverted from the feed market in addition to that diverted by the domestic supply of ethanol.
When Congress set the 15 billion gallon cap on corn ethanol under the RFS, it did so to prevent ethanol production from diverting too great a volume of corn from the feed, food, seed, and industrial market for energy. With the increased required volume obligation for 2016 proposed at 14 billion gallons, and the projected trend in ethanol exports, conventional corn ethanol production will likely exceed 15 billion gallons in 2016.
"EPA's implementation of the RFS to date has resulted in a program that has departed from the underpinning statutory purposes," Brown continued. "It is now all the more critical that EPA adopt appropriate standards in the present proposed rulemaking.
"NCC recommends a significant reduction in the 2016 required volume obligations sufficient to bring the conventional corn ethanol volume below the 10 percent blend wall.
"These are clear and continued signs that the RFS, and its implementation, are broken beyond repair," Brown said. "Fortunately, legislation has been introduced in both the House and the Senate this year to repeal the RFS corn-ethanol mandate, with broad bipartisan support. I urge Congress to immediately take up this legislation and fix this RFS mess."

NCC applauds senate passage of TPA

The U.S. Senate this week, following the House, voted to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation by a vote of 60-38, sending TPA to the president's desk for his signature.
"NCC applauds the Senate for action and we look forward to the president signing TPA into law. Our negotiators now have better tools to speak as a unified voice and to make sure the interests of U.S. chicken producers are on the table and considered in any trade package moving forward," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown.
TPA is essential to ensuring a more successful outcome for the ongoing negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership and other trade deals. "It is necessary to have TPA enacted because it will be essentially impossible to gain Congressional trade pact approval otherwise," Brown noted.
TPA legislation provides for an up or down vote in the House and Senate without the opportunity to provide amendments or make changes in the agreements. The previous authority expired in 2007 and this vacuum has given negotiators on the other side of the table an unnecessary excuse to drag their feet toward reaching a final, beneficial deal.
U.S. poultry producers have long been advocates of free and fair trade. "TPA will ensure foreign access for U.S. chicken, generate more farm income, jobs in rural districts, and improve the U.S. trade balance," Brown concluded.

Chicken Council supports responsible antibiotic use, veterinary oversight

National Chicken Council Senior Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., joined more than 150 animal and human health stakeholders at a "White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship" in Washington, DC on June 2.
Peterson delivered the following remarks at the forum:
"Our members, consisting of chicken processors and producers, and allied industry leaders, work together to provide approximately 95 percent of the chicken on America's tables. Chicken producers share the concern and desire to preserve antibiotic effectiveness in both human and animal medicine.
"The top priority of farmers and chicken companies is to raise healthy chickens because healthy chickens are directly related to a safe and wholesome food supply. Responsible, FDA-approved veterinary treatment and prevention benefits animal welfare and health by reducing the need for increased doses of shared-class antibiotics in the event of widespread disease.
"The vast majority of the antibiotics that we use are never used in human medicine. The majority are from a class called ionophores which are used in animals only and are critically important to chicken producers to maintain the gut health of our birds.
"Our industry supports FDA Guidance 209 and 213, and we recognize the responsibility of the industry to implement the recommendations to phase out the use of medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion. All of our member companies are already eliminating their use for growth promotion and most are moving far in advance of regulatory deadlines for compliance. We also support FDA's Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), finalized today, as veterinary oversight is important to continued success. Today, all chicken farms are under a health program designed by a licensed veterinarian.
"We are in the business of providing choice in the marketplace, without compromising the health and welfare of our birds or the safety of our products. The chicken industry has been a leader in proactively and voluntarily taking steps toward finding alternative ways to control disease while reducing antibiotic use. Approximately one-third of broiler chicken companies currently produce chicken raised without antibiotics and/or organic chicken products. Many of our members have already made or are making stewardship commitments. We believe this trend will continue. Finding ways to raise chickens without antibiotics is the latest example of an industry committed to innovation. But we can't do that alone; we will continue to partner with animal health companies, veterinarians, our farmers, the FDA and the White House to achieve our shared goals.
"A primary focus of our industry is the welfare of our flocks and we need effective tools to keep them healthy – including, and in addition to, antibiotics to make this happen. True success is determined by a decrease in resistance and ensuring the effectiveness of antibiotics in both human and animal medicine.
"The National Chicken Council looks forward to working with the USDA and FDA to define metrics for success related to antibiotic data collection, and to pursue further research in the area of antibiotic resistance and antibiotic alternatives." 

NCC praises proposed trade promotion authority bill

The National Chicken Council (NCC) hailed the introduction of bipartisan, bicameral Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation that establishes concrete rules for international trade negotiations to help the United States deliver strong, high-standard trade agreements.
The bill was introduced on April 16 by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, and House Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin.
The bill’s sponsors not only expect the proposed legislation to boost American exports and create new economic opportunities and better jobs for American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs.
"Senators Hatch, Wyden and Representative Ryan, and the administration, are to be commended for their leadership on this important issue," said NCC President Mike Brown. "Prompt passage of this legislation would strengthen the position of U.S. international trade negotiators as they continue to move forward with new agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership."
At one time, Russia and China were the United States' two largest poultry export markets, but these two markets have been severely disrupted with trade curtailed from previous levels. "It is now more important than ever to expand poultry sales to other world markets," Brown continued.
"Passage of TPA would help ensure foreign access for U.S. chicken, generate more farm income, jobs in rural districts, and improve the U.S. trade balance," Brown concluded.
The Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (TPA-2015) outlines 21st century congressional negotiating objectives that any administration – Republican or Democratic – must follow when entering into and conducting trade talks with foreign countries while also increasing transparency by requiring that Congress have access to important information surrounding pending trade deals and that the public receive detailed updates and see the full details of trade agreements well before they are signed. When the trade agreement meets the United States' objectives and Congress is sufficiently consulted, the legislation allows for trade deals to be submitted to Congress for an up-or-down vote, an incentive for negotiating nations to put their best offer forward for any deal.  At the same time, the bill creates a new mechanism to withdraw TPA procedures and hold the administration accountable should it fail to meet the requirements of TPA.

NCC: Congress must pass Trade Promotion Authority

Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) legislation must receive prompt passage so that the position of U.S. international trade negotiators is strengthened as they continue to move forward with new agreements, the National Chicken Council (NCC) has urged Congress.
"NCC supports the move toward improved free and fair international trade," said NCC President Mike Brown, on the heels of the next round of Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations and congressional testimony delivered by Ambassador Michael Froman. "With 20 percent of our production being exported to more than 100 countries, outside-the-border customers are becoming more and more important, especially for our dark meat parts."
Chicken meat and paw exports accounted for approximately $5 billion in 2014.
Congressional approval of TPA is necessary to ensure a more successful outcome for the ongoing negotiations for TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP). "It is necessary to have TPA enacted because it will be essentially impossible to gain Congressional trade pact approval otherwise," Brown noted.
TPA legislation provides for an up or down vote in the House and Senate without the opportunity to provide amendments or make changes in the agreements. The previous authority expired in 2007 and this vacuum has given negotiators on the other side of the table an unnecessary excuse to drag their feet toward reaching a final, beneficial deal.
As Ambassador Froman told the U.S. Conference of Mayors the day after the State of the Union address, "America has always been strongest when it speaks with one voice, and that's exactly what Trade Promotion Authority helps us do."
At one time, Russia and China were the United States' two largest poultry export markets, but these two markets have been severely disrupted with trade curtailed from previous levels. "It is now more important than ever to expand poultry sales to other world markets," Brown continued.
In regards to TPP, Brown said the chicken industry hopes to see that the long-protected Canadian market is finally opened to trade.  "In our view, the Canadian market should have been opened to free trade as a result of NAFTA.  If TPP is truly a free trade agreement, then there should be free trade in poultry between the United States and Canada, not just one-way market access for Canada.
"We are frankly, less optimistic about the prospects for chicken under T-TIP," Brown said. "The ban currently imposed by EU regulations on importation of our chicken is not based on sound science and is inconsistent with WTO rules.  T-TIP would only be of use to our industry if the negotiations resulted in the removal of these SPS barriers that Europe has had in place for nearly 18 years.
"Our support is limited to TPA at this point so that our government can resolve these issues with Canada and Europe prior to our being able to support the two individual deals."
TPP, if successfully concluded for U.S. poultry, will expand U.S. chicken exports by at least $500 million annually and possibly more, if restrictive market access measures and sanitary/veterinary issues and other non-tariff trade barriers can be addressed.  If the EU drops its unscientific trade barriers on our chicken, T-TIP could benefit U.S. poultry exports by more than $600 million annually.
"Passage of TPA would help ensure these increases, generate more farm income, jobs in rural districts, and improve the U.S. trade balance," Brown concluded.

NCC: Trade deals should provide access, enforcement

With the Obama administration actively negotiating new free trade agreements with Asia and Europe, National Chicken Council adviser Kevin Brosch testified before the Senate Committee on Finance June 25 about the effectiveness of the enforcement of any new agreements and the trade agreements the United States already has on the books.
"We are generally supportive of all major initiatives to promote free trade, but we must make sure both our existing agreements and new agreements provide not only strong market access but also adequate means to enforce that access," Brosch said in testimony before the Senate Committee on Finance at the hearing: Trade Enforcement: Using Trade Rules to Level the Playing Field for U.S. Companies and Workers.
"In our view, the prosecution of the Chinese antidumping case before the World Trade Organization (WTO) represents U.S. trade policy at its best; enforcing those trade rights for which we already have negotiated," Brosch said.
In 2009, China imposed antidumping duties on U.S. chicken using the so-called "weight-based cost of production" theory.  Under this approach all parts of an animal are given the same value per unit of weight; and so, hamburger has the same value as filet mignon; chicken paws have the same value as chicken breast meat. Clearly, the NCC states, this theory is economically unsound and, for several reasons, is legally impermissible under WTO rules.
Immediately after China announced its decision to impose antidumping duties, the Obama administration aggressively litigated the case before the WTO. In 2013 a WTO panel ruled in favor of the United States. China elected not to appeal that decision and China's announcement of how it will change its antidumping decision to come into compliance with WTO rules is expected in July.
"China represented a 700,000 metric ton market for U.S. poultry at the time the antidumping duties were imposed, and is potentially an even larger market for our products in the future," Brosch said. "We are grateful to this administration for pursuing our rights in this case."
But there have been some very significant disappointments and we have learned some difficult lessons over the past 20 years. Using examples of cases in Mexico, the European Union and South Africa, Brosch said the first lesson is "that enforcement of trade agreements must become more automatic and timely."
For example:


• The United States' case against Mexico was instituted nearly two years ago, after an antidumping case which was also brought on the very dubious "weight-based cost of production" theory. At present, the NCC does not have a panel to hear the case. NCC believes there is a significant problem here of enforcement that needs to be addressed.
• The U.S. poultry industry asked that the EU be taken to dispute settlement as there was no scientific basis for the EU's trade barriers on U.S. poultry imports which began in 1996. For reasons that have never been explained, the United States and the EU have taken no actions to form a panel over the past four years, and there is no indication that the U.S. government is pursuing enforcement of the case at present.
• Another longstanding problem has been with enforcement of our right against the unfair and protectionist practices of the Republic of South Africa (RSA). Because the United States has not challenged the RSA at the WTO and enforced the U.S. poultry industry's rights, the U.S. poultry industry has been entirely shut out of the South African market for 15 years.The U.S. poultry industry believes this must be addressed before Congress would be justified in extending the African Growth Opportunity Act programs.


"With respect to the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP)," Brosch continued, "Our major goals are to get a strong commitment on enforcement, in particular in the area of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures.  Our second major ambition is to see that the long-protected Canadian market is finally opened to trade, which should have been opened to free trade as a result of NAFTA.  If TPP is truly a free trade agreement, then there should be free trade in poultry between the United States and Canada, not just one-way market access for Canada.
"We are frankly less sanguine about the prospects for poultry under the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement with Europe.  The ban currently imposed by EU regulations on importation of U.S. chicken because of our safe and proven use of chlorinated water as an antimicrobial is not based on sound science and is inconsistent with WTO rules.  TTIP would only be of use to our industry if the negotiations resulted in the removal of these SPS barriers that Europe has had in place for nearly 18 years."

New National Chicken Council website opens the door on poultry production

The National Chicken Council (NCC) has launched a new "Chicken Roost" website, which features information on issues such as animal welfare, food safety, environmental stewardship, antibiotic use and the modern partnership between farmers and chicken companies.
The site was developed as a follow-up to last year's inaugural Chicken Media Summit hosted by NCC and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, where 30 members of mainstream, social and trade media toured every aspect of how chicken is produced and processed today, from the hatchery to the feed mill, farm and processing plant.
"We heard from folks at the summit about what their readers and listeners were interested in hearing and learning about - the health of the chickens, the family farm, what labels mean, where their chicken comes from and how it is raised," said NCC President Mike Brown. "We had overwhelmingly positive response by not only explaining, but showing, what it is we do and why we do it.  We want to build off of that by continuing to tell our story online, being more transparent and addressing consumer concerns that go beyond the product."
The website features a "Day in the Life" video on a chicken farm.
The new site also allows consumers to share and access content via social media including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube. The goal is to form a better dialogue with consumers, get them more involved in food production and answer their questions about chicken production and chicken products.
"More than ever, consumers want to know exactly what they're eating, where it came from and how it was made. We're thrilled that Americans are taking an interest in agriculture and are excited to show them how the industry has evolved," Brown said.
In addition to featuring farm-to-fork details about chicken production, food safety and animal welfare, the site also focuses on nutrition, citing chicken as the cornerstone of a healthy and balanced diet, as well as a Kids Zone section with quizzes, trivia and other information.
According to Brown, the site will also feature information for members of the press covering issues related to food and agriculture. He said that NCC hears frequently from reporters with questions about farming practices and hopes this site will provide them with the information they need.
"We hope that in time, consumers will come to think of this site in much the same way they think about chicken-reliable, accessible and a good addition to their day."

NCC announces support for trade promotion authority bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., joined together January 9 to introduce legislation, the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities Act of 2014, that will establish strong rules for trade negotiations and Congressional approval of trade pacts, to deliver trade agreements that boost U.S. exports and create American jobs.
Mike Brown, president, National Chicken Council, released the following statement in support of the measure:
"U.S. poultry producers and exporters strongly support the administration's call for bipartisan approval of the Congressional Trade Priorities Act (TPA).  Prompt passage of this legislation would not only help to facilitate congressional approval of trade agreements, such as the Trans Pacific Partnership and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership when concluded, but equally important it would strengthen the hand of U.S. negotiators to take down trade barriers to U.S. chicken at the international trade bargaining table.  Passing TPA would also demonstrate more strongly to the international trade community that the United States is most serious in continuing to be the world leader to building trade, increasing economic activity and providing for more workers to benefit from the hard fought agreements."
TPA, also known as "fast-track," allows the president to negotiate free trade agreements (FTA) based on strategic goals and objectives outlined in the legislation, with ongoing congressional oversight. Deals concluded under TPA are subject to congressional approval without amendments.

Consumer study on bacteria in chicken only tells part of story, says NCC

U.S. consumer group Consumer Reports has called for stricter limits on the use of antibiotics in poultry and livestock, saying about half of the raw chicken breasts in a nationwide sampling carried antibiotic-resistant superbug bacteria. The National Chicken Council (NCC), however, points out that the results of the sampling do not mention that Americans eat about 160 million servings of chicken every day, and 99.99 percent of those servings are consumed safely.
Consumer Reports tested for six types of bacteria in 316 raw chicken breasts purchased from retailers nationwide during July. About 49.7 percent of the chicken sampled carried a bacterium resistant to three or more antibiotics, and 11 percent had two types of bacteria resistant to multiple drugs, according to Consumer Reports.
NCC President Mike Brown said the NCC and Consumer Reports agree that it is vital to ensure a safe food supply, but added that Consumer Reports only has part of the story. U.S. chicken producers rely upon the best science, microbiology and technology to reduce food-borne pathogens, and spend tens of millions of dollars every year in the name of food-safety research which can be credited with the significant decrease in foodborne pathogens present in chicken in recent years.
"The belief that affordable food means it is lower in quality or compromised in some way stands in stark contrast to the hard work and efforts of American agriculture, USDA and the hundreds of thousands of U.S. farmers and food producers who work tirelessly to produce a quality protein that is the envy of the world and enjoyed by millions of Americans," said Brown in a statement.
From 2001 to 2010-the latest 10-year period for which data are available-outbreaks related to E. coli, Salmonella and other pathogens decreased by more than 40 percent. In the past five years, Salmonella in chickens has decreased by 55 percent.
"Eliminating bacteria entirely is always the goal," Brown said.  "But in reality, it's simply not feasible.
"No legislation or regulation can keep bacteria from existing. The only way to ensure our food is safe 100 percent of the time is by following science-based procedures when raising/growing, handling and cooking it.  Right now, we're at 99.9 percent, but we're going to keep working to reach 100."

NCC president to New York Times: Chicken is safe

"Chicken producers take very seriously any illness attributed to the consumption of a poultry product," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown in a letter to the editor of the New York Times, published October 21. "But passing a law or regulation to fight bacteria will not magically make it go away," he added.
The letter was in response to an October 16 editorial by Mark Bittman, "Should You Eat Chicken?"
Brown explained that before an egg is even hatched, chicken producers rely upon the best science, microbiology and technology to reduce food-borne pathogens to meet and exceed Agriculture Department standards. These initiatives and tens of millions of dollars in food-safety research can be credited with the significant decrease in Salmonella  in chicken over the last several years.
"While zero tolerance is always the goal, such a level on any raw agricultural product is simply not feasible," he continued. "Fresh fruit, produce, meat or poultry - organic or not, bought from the grocery store or the farmers' market - could contain naturally occurring bacteria that might make someone sick if improperly handled or cooked.
"That's why we all play an important role in ensuring food safety for our families. All chicken is safe when properly cooked and handled, and chicken producers are tirelessly working to make them even safer.
"Because our families eat the same chicken as you and yours," Brown concluded.

Animal welfare, reduced beef demand discussed by National Chicken Conference panel

Consumers may be looking for third-party verification that livestock is being treated humanely, rather than just a statement on packaging. Donnie King, senior group vice president poultry & prepared foods, Tyson Foods, gave that opinion during the Industry Outlook Panel at the National Chicken Council Annual Conference  on October 3.
He also stated that Tyson's research has shown that while the end consumer may not care about things like gestation crates in the pork industry, some customers - food service companies - see them as a big issue.
"At Tyson we want to go out and validate what independent family farmers are doing," said King. "We care enough to go look, we care enough to learn, and when we find a better way, we'll use it."
See a video clip of King's comments.
John Keating, president of Cargill Beef, agreed the industry needs transparency. "Two years ago, Oprah Winfrey called and wanted to go through a plant, and we got a lot of good press from that," said Keating. "Millennials only believe something if it is on YouTube."
Commenting on the future of the beef industry and changing consumer preferences, Keating said he sees continued overcapacity in beef feeding and processing, at least in the short term.  You can see his comments on WATTAgNet.com.

NCC told of formation of Chicken Caucus in Senate

Sen. Chris Coons told National Chicken Council annual conference attendees about the formation of a Chicken Caucus.

Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) announced the formation of the Chicken Caucus at the 59th annual conference of the National Chicken Council in Washington, D.C. on October 3. He told the group that he and Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) have formed the caucus, which will include Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) , John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), plus other Senators from both parties.
"We are creating a bipartisan chicken caucus," said Coons. "We should have more than a dozen senators, and we will work with House Chicken Caucus. We will work across the aisle and make sure we are working together on the things that will help the industry. This caucus is a way for us to show that we are listening. We need a strong and vibrant chicken industry for today and the future."
Coons will co-chair the caucus with Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).
Speaking during day three of the government shutdown, Coons said: "I am frustrated and embarrassed, and apologize for the shutdown of the government. It's the latest manifestation with our difficulties of working things out. I think everyone needs to hear message that we have to work across the aisle."
During questioning after his remarks, Coons said there are conversations taking place that could resolve the shutdown, but they will require negotiations and concessions from both sides. He predicted that the shutdown will continue for at least another week, while the situation is resolved.
On a more positive note, Coons said the United States needs a strong chicken industry, and he and other supporters of the industry in Congress are working on multiple factors that will keep the industry strong, including, infrastructure, immigration and the renewable fuels standard.
The government can help pressure for robust international trade, especially with developing countries in Africa, plus China, India and Russia, said Coons. He said the government has to continue to support and improve infrastructure, such as good railroads and harbors, to support the trade in poultry and agriculture. In addition, the industry needs meaningful immigration reform to ensure a stable work force. "We need a broad, bipartisan immigration reform bill," Coons said. On the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), Coons said the standard needs to exist to spur development of biofuels, but it needs to be adjusted to have less emphasis on corn as the raw material. "We need to engage in a series of reforms on RFS," said Coons. "This is a long-term problem."
Coons said Congress needs to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. "I'm frustrated the Farm Bill hasn't moved forward," said Coons. "We need to go to conference on the budget and Farm Bill. In agriculture, you have uncertainty built in. Congress doesn't need to add to that uncertainty."

GNP Company’s Mike Helgeson installed as chairman of National Chicken Council

Mike Helgeson, CEO of GNP Company, was elected 2013-14 chairman of the National Chicken Council.

Mike Helgeson, CEO of GNP Company, St. Cloud, Minn., was elected to serve as 2013-2014 chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC). Helgeson and other officers were named October 1 during NCC's board of directors meeting held in Washington, D.C.
"It's a great honor to serve as the incoming chair for the National Chicken Council, and I look forward to serving the chicken industry in the upcoming year," Helgeson said. "Ours is a vibrant and dynamic industry, one with great opportunities as well as ongoing challenges.  As I take the gavel today, I'm optimistic that we'll continue to step up to not only meet but exceed the challenges and opportunities the next year will bring us."
Helgeson has served as CEO and a member of the board of directors of GNP Company (formerly Gold'n Plump Poultry) since 1993. He joined the company in 1974 and worked in various divisions, including new products manager in the sales and marketing division, project manager in the broiler division, personnel manager at the Cold Spring, Minn., processing plant, and purchasing/elevator manager in the feed and grain division. He spent his first two years in Indonesia researching and developing a broiler operation.
Helgeson holds a BS degree in business from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, Kotz Graduate School of Management. He lives near St. Cloud with his wife, Karel. They have two grown sons.
Serving as vice chairman for 2013-2014 is Jerry Lane, president of Claxton Poultry in Claxton, Ga.
Lane, a veteran of 34 years in Georgia's poultry industry, has been with Claxton Poultry since 1985, serving as general manager and vice president. He was named president of the company in 1997. Prior to joining Claxton, Lane began his poultry career at Mar Jac Poultry in 1978.
He has held a variety of leadership roles with a number of local and national poultry groups and associations, including serving as: a member of the NCC Board of Directors; a member of the Georgia Governors Agriculture Commission; president, senior vice president and board member of the Georgia Poultry Federation; past chairman, Georgia Poultry Improvement Association; and a board member of N.W. Fries, Inc. and Claxton Bank.  He is also a life member of the Poultry Leaders Roundtable.
Lane graduated in 1972 from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Industrial and Systems 

National Chicken Council vice president testifies on Renewable Fuel Standard

National Chicken Council Senior Vice President and Chief Economist Bill Roenigk told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power that the Renewable Fuel Standard, at least for conventional biofuels, is broken beyond repair, and that it is imperative at this time for Congress to take a critical look at the Renewable Fuel Standard. Roenigk appeared before the subcommittee on July 24.
Roenigk's testimony follows The National Chicken Council's white paper comments released in April to the Energy and Commerce Committee that argued the federal government's mandate for corn-based ethanol has been the single, most important, major driver impacting the corn market since the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 was implemented.
"Since 2007, all chicken producers, at times, have struggled financially," Roenigk testified. "Some have struggled longer and more severely than others. The business disruptions directly impact the over 25,000 family farmers who grow the chickens, and the more than 300,000 employees directly working for the chicken companies. Since October 2006 through this month, July 2013, poultry and egg producers have had to bear the burden of higher feed costs totaling over $50 billion."
Roenigk testified on the third of three panels the committee heard as part of their two-day hearing entitled, "Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives." Other panelists included: Pam Johnson, president of the National Corn Growers Association; Ed Anderson, CEO of Wen-Gap LLC on behalf of the National Council of Chain Restaurants; Chris Hurt, professor of agriculture economics at Perdue University; and Scott Faber, vice president of Government Affairs for the Environmental Working Group.

Ethanol mandate reform bill introduced in House

Reps. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., Jim Costa, D-Calif., Steve Womack, R-Ark., and Peter Welch, D-Vt. introduced the Renewable Fuel Standard  Reform Act on April 10 to help ease concerns created by the ethanol mandate and protect consumers, energy producers, livestock and poultry producers, food manufacturers, retailers and the U.S. economy.
"I commend Congressmen Goodlatte, Costa, Womack and Welch for their leadership in introducing this legislation that will provide much needed relief to U.S. chicken producers and family farms that raise chickens," said National Chicken Council President Mike Brown.  "After the Environmental Protection Agency's refusal last fall to grant a waiver from the Renewable Fuel Standard in the face of the worst drought since the 1950s, it is abundantly clear the Renewable Fuel Standard is broken and needs to be reformed."
The legislation eliminates the conventional biofuels mandate, beginning in 2014, and rescinds the requirements of blending up to 15 percent ethanol into the fuel supply.
Brown noted that since the Renewable Fuel Standard was enacted, chicken producers alone have incurred $35 billion in cumulative additional feed costs.
"We have witnessed a dozen poultry companies file for bankruptcy, be sold or simply close their doors, due in large part to the extreme volatility and record high cost of corn associated with ethanol's insatiable demand," he said. 
"Chicken producers are certainly not anti-corn; and we're not even anti-ethanol. What we are against is a government mandate that artificially inflates the price of corn, picks winners and punishes losers among those who depend on it.  The Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act seeks to level this playing field by embracing free market principles," Brown concluded.
Other meat and poultry groups joined the National Chicken Council in supporting the new bill.
"The Renwable Fuel Standard cost the turkey industry $1.9 billion in increased feed expenses last year," said Joel Brandenberger, president of the National Turkey Federation. "For this reason, the National Turkey Federation believes the introduction of Renewable Fuel Standard Reform Act by Reps. Goodlatte, Costa, Womack and Welch is a strong step in the right direction. We appreciate our champions for standing up against this misguided ethanol policy that has cuased severe economic harm to our industry and the country."
J. Patrick Boyle, president and CEO of the National Meat Institute also applauded the four Congressmen.
"It is clear that the Renewable Fuel Standard is a failed policy that has driven up the price of corn to record levels and put a strain on the entire meat and poultry production chain. For years, the American Meat Institute has called for a renewable fuels policy that doesn't pit energy against food production," Boyle said.
Other organizations sharing their support of the new legislation include the Poultry Federation, the American Frozen Food Institute, the National Restaurant Association, the North American Meat Association, the California Poultry Federation, the Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota, the Indiana State Poultry Association, the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, the North Carolina Poultry Federation, the Texas Poultry Federation and the Virginia Poultry Federation.
Also on April 10, Rep.Womack and Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., introduced a separate bill, the Renewable Fuel Standard Amendments Act, which would solely zero-out corn from the Renewable Fuel Standard.  The National Chicken Council also supports this legislation as another vehicle to help alleviate the economic harm caused by the federal government's misguided ethanol policy.

National Chicken Council senior vice president to retire

Bill Roenigk, senior vice president of the National Chicken Council since 1974, will retire from his current role and become a consultant to the council, starting in June 2013.
"After nearly 40 years of service to the National Chicken Council and the U.S. chicken industry, Bill's contributions are countless and his encyclopedic mind on the history and issues of importance to our industry is unchallenged," NCC President Mike Brown said in a message to NCC membership. "I thank Bill for his unmatched service and congratulate him on this announcement." 
Brown noted the arrangement will allow Roenigk to "remain an important part of the team and we will all still benefit from his wisdom and wit – just not nearly as often."
Roenigk, in his own message to the National Chicken Council membership, expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to work for the council and with an outstanding industry. He also expressed his appreciation to the council’s executive leadership for accepting his request to continue with the council on a consultancy basis. He added that he looks forward to helping the council continue to achieve its mission.
Earlier this year, Roenigk was honored with the Poultry Industry Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to him by the National Poultry & Food Distributors Association during the 2013 International Production and Processing Expo in Atlanta.
Roenigk joined the National Chicken Council (then the National Broiler Council) in 1974. His responsibilities at the council have included conducting economic and market analyses and presentation of broiler industry issues and concerns – both domestic and international – to a variety of government bodies and non-government organizations.
Prior to joining the National Chicken Council,  Roenigk was an agricultural economist with the United States Department of Agriculture. He holds a bachelor’s from Penn State University and a master’s degree from the University of Delaware. Both degrees are in agricultural economics. He has also completed course work for a doctorate at the University of Maryland.

National Chicken Council outlines Food Manufacturers Immigration Coalition principles

In testimony delivered February 26 to the U.S. House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, National Chicken Council President Mike Brown testified on behalf of a broad food manufacturers coalition about the need for a stable and permanent workforce that can help sustain the rural communities where meat and poultry facilities operate.
The hearing, "From H-2A to a Workable Agricultural Guestworker Program," was the second in a series of several hearings on immigration issues in the subcommittee. In addition to Brown, also testifying were: Bob Stallman, president, American Farm Bureau Federation; Chalmers Carr, president and CEO, Titan Farms; and Giev Kashkooli, political and legislative director, third vice president, United Farm Workers.
"To date much of the discussion has focused on the need to retain highly skilled workers such as scientists and engineers, and the need for additional temporary agricultural workers," said Brown. "These are important objectives, but they do not meet the needs of our industry sector. We are manufacturers, wanting a stable and permanent workforce that can help sustain the rural communities where we do business."
Brown in his testimony highlighted five major themes for immigration reform on which the coalition is focused: border security; a very simple improvement to the E-verify system as an alternative to a national identity card; clarity in anti-discrimination laws; an occupational visa category that the meat and poultry industry can use that could be tied to local or regional employment; and options to effectively address the 11 million undocumented workers in the shadows of our economy. "Some think there is an economic incentive for manufacturing employers to hire illegal immigrants at below-market wages," said Brown. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Our industry needs a stable workforce. We seek workers who will stay on the job long enough to become skilled and efficient, helping us to keep our food products and employees safe."
In terms of strengthening employment verification, Brown said that the government does not provide employers with a reliable verification method to prevent identity fraud and confirm whether new hires are legally authorized to work in the U.S. "E-Verify is a step in the right direction but does not work adequately in its current form," he said. "If strengthened, this program will serve as an effective and efficient 'virtual border'." Brown said that the current system, however, does not account for the meat and poultry industry's most common issue, identity fraud, e.g., a valid Social Security number that does not relate to the person presenting it. In addition to documents such as a driver's license or social security card which are easily falsified, the coalition believes employers should be allowed to require an E-Verify Self Check. E-Verify Self Check is an online service that allows U.S. employees to check their employment eligibility in the U.S. before beginning a new job.
In return for participating in these and other aggressive screening programs, Brown said that the coalition supports providing a safe harbor for employers that utilize the E-Verify Self Check and follow the automatic referral process. "An employer that does everything possible to avoid hiring unauthorized aliens should not be exposed to further liability," he contended.
Continued access to the labor pool is also a key element of the coalition's framework for immigration reform. "An effective occupational visa system may be the most important barrier to illegal immigration," said Brown. "The right visa system with the right screening tools will in effect be a second 'virtual border'." The existing temporary programs for general labor skilled workers are for seasonal labor only, which does not help manufacturers, whose occupational needs are year-round and ongoing. "Congress must create a general labor skilled immigrant visa for the manufacturing industry to recognize that employer needs in industry are permanent in nature, not temporary," said Brown. "Employers should have the ability to recruit outside of the U.S. and sponsor workers for a defined period of time."
A copy of the full testimony, including the coalition's complete framework of immigration reform concepts, is available online.