Long time poultry executive and California Poultry Federation (CPF) supporter, Saul Brand, died on Feb. 6 in southern California. He was 85. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Connie Brand, son Michael and his wife Paula, daughter Lisa and her husband Robert & grandchildren Matthew and Alayna. Saul joined with Henry Frederick to form Square Deal Poultry in 1946, in Los Angeles. He worked his entire career in the poultry industry, most recently with Zacky Farms (1970 – 2005) as Vice President of Sales & Marketing. "Saul was engaged in most of our issues over the years, according to Bill Mattos, CPF president, "and he was particularly supportive during the "fresh poultry" battle that California waged with various national and state associations in the mid 1990s." His funeral took place on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at Hillside Memorial Park, Culver City, California.  Saul was born September 14, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan. He will be missed by all who knew him and was most admired during his career. 

By Rita Jane Gabbett on 2/8/2012

Foster Farms has introduced a whole grain, lower-fat, lower-sodium chicken corn dog for foodservice customers.

The product contains a full serving of whole grain, 47 percent less fat, further reduced sodium, higher fiber, zero trans fat and fewer calories than the original corn dog.

"We are filling the lunchtime need with a happy medium," said Greta Janz, Foster Farms vice president of frozen and prepared foods, in a news release. "With the added nutritional value of whole grains, lower fat of chicken corn dogs and now, further reduced sodium levels, we’re able to offer a school lunch solution that satisfies kids’ taste and parents’ desire for healthier choices."

Poultry industry facilities with outstanding safety programs are invited to apply for recognition under the Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program. The program recognizes facilities that have achieved injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years through the implementation of innovative and effective programs. The program is open to National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association members with poultry or egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills or rendering facilities that have injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years. Read More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has withdrawn a plan requiring companies doing business with the agency to certify that their subcontractors are meeting labor laws, after groups including the Chamber of Commerce complained. The rule, proposed in December and set to go into effect Feb. 29, was pulled after the USDA reviewed the complaints, Matt Herrick, an agency spokesman said today in a telephone interview. The department is going through comments it received to consider how to proceed, he said. Read More

Click here to read the joint press release from the NCC, NTF and USPEA

A bill that would end future state subsidies for corn-based ethanol is in the California Senate after sailing through the Assembly.

The bill by Assemblyman David Valadao, R-Hanford, would bar any funding from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program for corn conversion after July 1, 2013, when current funding is set to expire.

"We’re thrilled that (the state bill) looks like it’s headed for passage, and we hope once it does pass that the governor signs it quickly," said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen. "It’s just another one of the legs in that stool that we’re trying to knock out to bring some relief to producers from an increase in corn prices."

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The American Farm Bureau Federation strongly criticized a bill pushed by the Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers to implement an agreement they reached to replace decades of science-based animal care practices with strict government control. The flawed legislation, H.R. 3798, introduced by Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), would set a dangerous precedent by establishing federally mandated egg production practices and banning a number of other proven science-based egg production methods, according to AFBF President Bob Stallman. Read More 

Poultry state House members announced on Jan. 26 that they are forming a new Congressional Chicken Caucus, which will take aim at informing their colleagues about the importance and concerns of the U.S. chicken industry. The new caucus will be co-chaired by Reps. Rick Crawford, (R., Ark.) and Sanford Bishop, (D., Ga.).

They noted in a statement, "U.S. chicken companies directly employ more than 300,000 workers, producing products worth a wholesale value of over $45 billion dollars annually with major operations in more than 30 states.  Further, there are more than 40 vertically integrated companies that contract with about 25,000 family farmers to produce market-ready broilers, hatching eggs and pullets."  Read More

Nominated by Foster Farms

The Hack Family Farm is a fourth generation family farm that not only has deep roots in the turkey business dating back to the early 1950’s, but also in the Central Valley Farming Community. Will and Linda not only know the importance of keeping the family on the farm but keeping it together with their three grandsons taking part in raising turkeys and learning the value of excellent stewardship of the land that they will someday own. The Hacks have made recent capital investments into their turkey houses that not only have improved their flock performance but bird comfort with the cooling systems for summer flocks. The Hack Farm is a diverse farming operation with Turkeys, Almonds and Walnuts. Will has seen many changes and innovations since he was a young boy growing up on the farm. Sustainability is a daily practice at the Hack Farm. Before retiring as a school teacher, Linda was involved in Agriculture in The Classroom. As an educator, Linda has been able to teach her students a higher level of learning about food production, sustainability, and agriculture in general. "Foster Farms and I would like to thank and congratulate the Hack Family on this National Award," states Ira Brister, Turkey Live Production Manager, Foster Farms.

Ira Brister, Foster Farms (left), congratulates Linda and Will Hack on winning the 2012 IPE Family Farm Environmental Stewardship Award

"We are very pleased with the number of exhibitors and attendees on the exhibit floor for IPE/IFE Week," said 2012 USPOULTRY chairman Mark Waller, Ingram Farms, Cullman, AL. "We have had a great turn-out this year, and the energy and excitement on the floor has been evident." The central attraction was the large exhibit floor.

In addition, the show had 895 exhibitors as compared to 900 last year. Sponsored by U.S. Poultry & Egg Association and the American Feed Industry Association, the annual Expo is the world’s largest poultry and feed industry event of its kind.The 2012 International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo drew over 20,500 poultry and feed industry leaders from all over the world. Read More

International Poultry Expo and International Feed Expo show floor

It’s the most wonderful time of the year – for chicken wings. The National Chicken Council’s (NCC) 2012 Wing Report estimates football fans will consume more than 1.25 billion wing portions during Super Bowl weekend, totaling more than 100 million pounds of wings. Bill Roenigk, NCC senior vice president and chief economist, said chicken wings will be consumed by three times the number of Americans on Super Bowl Sunday than a typical Sunday throughout the year. About half will be ordered from restaurants and the remainder from retail grocery stores, he said. Read More