CPF welcomes new member Ruben Villalobos
Modesto lawyer Ruben Villalobos is the newest member of the California Poultry Federation. Villalobos owns a small flock of layer chickens and some emus on a ranch named after his […]
California farmworkers may win fast track to legal residency
As many as 400,000 California undocumented farmworkers may get a fast track to legal status under a potential landmark accord between the agricultural industry and the United Farm Workers Union. […]
California bill to thwart animal investigations killed
After weeks of opposition from animal welfare advocates, labor groups and First Amendment experts, a California assembly member withdrew a bill that would limit undercover abuse investigations before it could advance past its first step.
California now joins Arkansas and Wyoming in declining in recent weeks to advance bills that seek to punish the documenter of farm animal abuse rather than the abuse itself. In Tennessee, however, lawmakers on Wednesday were close to approving a bill similar to the one in California.
Bird flu poses risk to US processors: Fitch
The impact of the bird-flu virus could spread to companies from other countries with a significant business presence in China, according to Fitch Ratings. The ratings firm said companies such as McDonald’s Corp., Tyson Foods, Inc., JBS S.A. and Yum! Brands could be affected if poultry consumption in China continues to decline. "We believe rising consumer fears around avian influenza in China [or elsewhere if human-to-human cases develop], could cause a meaningful pullback in chicken consumption with fewer restaurant visits, lower retail chicken sales and reduced export activity.
Deadly bird flu spreading in China, unclear how
Health officials in China are scrambling to uncover how multiple members of three families in Shanghai and a young boy and girl from neighboring homes in Beijing became infected with a new strain of bird flu. The H7N9 virus, which has killed 17 and sickened at least 82 people since March, is thought to pass from birds to humans. But its spread within families and neighborhoods has flamed fears about possible human-to-human transmission.
NCC’s Peterson encourages increased resources for federal-state-industry partnership
National Chicken Council Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., on Thursday told the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) about the importance of the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) in preventing and controlling possible diseases in poultry.
China says bird flu death toll rises to 13
Two people in the central Chinese province of Henan have been infected by a new strain of avian influenza, the first cases found in the region, while the death toll […]
USDA trims broiler forecast for 2013
USDA’s broiler production forecast for 2013 was trimmed this month and is now expected to be 37.504 billion pounds, 15 million pounds less than the department’s estimate last month, but […]
China bird flu now affecting health of poultry industry
As the number of deaths and illnesses from the avian influenza outbreak in China expands, the toll on China’s poultry industry is starting to mount. Live poultry markets in Beijing […]
CPF goes to Washington D.C.
The California Poultry Federation Executive Committee (EC), Chairman Richie King, Vice Chairman Mike Leventini and Secretary Treasurer David Pitman, joined CPF President Bill Mattos and Washington, D.C. lobbyist Charles Hansen on their annual lobby trip to Washington D.C. this week. On Monday and Tuesday they visited with USDA executives including Dr. Daniel Engeljohn, Asst. Administrator, Office of Field Operations; Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Ed Avalos; APHIS Associate Administrator Kevin Shea; FSIS Administrator Al Almanza; Veterinary Services Dr. Lee Ann Thomas who works with the NPIP program; AMS executives Rex Barnes and Craig Morris. The EC also met with members of Congress Jared Huffman, Doug LaMalfa, Republican Whip Kevin McCarthy, Gloria Negrete-McLeon, Jim Costa, David Valadao, John Garamendi, Jeff Denham and Devin Nunes, along with the agricultural legislative assistants with Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. They discussed issues dealing with the Renewable Fuels Standards and the industry work to eliminate corn from the ethanol mandates, immigration reform and opening export markets.