Latest posts

Poultry operation and management

• Video: Food Safety Issues for Salmonella in Eggs and Egg Products - Dr. Patricia Curtis, Auburn University, from NIAA's One Health: Implications for Animal Agriculture, presents information on how contamination can occur.
• Audio: Estate Tax Issue Needs Higher Profile - Estate tax concerns focus on 2011 roll-back, if action isn't taken. American Farm Bureau Federation Tax Policy Specialist Pat Wolff explains we may still see action but if not, the tax clock roles back ten years come January 1.

There is not much time left this year for the US Congress to pass estate tax legislation. 2010 had the estate tax completely repealed - But that repeal is temporary. If Congress fails to act before January 1, 2011, then estate taxes will be reinstated and at a level we have not seen for 10 years.

Pat Wolff, American Farm Bureau Federation Tax Policy Specialist, advocates everyone to connect with their Representatives and Senators. Inaction will result in serious tax implications in 2011.

This week is our local county fair. It is always a highlight of the year for me personally to see so many young people proudly displaying their months of hard work in an agriculture project. But it is also an excellent opportunity for all of us in agriculture to share our story with the public.

What more could we ask for than for hundreds, if not thousands, of local consumers actively seeking to learn more about what we do? So regardless of whether you have a young person involved in your local fair, take the time to go anyway just to visit with individuals and families about where their food come from.

Comments from Truffle Media's Trent Fredenburg: After a recent trip to Chicago, I am reminded once again how great the distance is between consumers and the farm. While the mileage from downtown Chicago to the nearest farm may not be long, the distance in understanding of consumers and food production is continually growing.

We need to establish education as one of our top priorities and work diligently to close this education gap that exists today. So I challenge each of us to do a little more to help consumers better understand our story of producing their food. Take a couple of minutes and share with me some of the steps that you have taken to help educate our consumers. Or just share some of your thoughts on how we, as an agriculture community, can do a better job of educating.

The recent Multi-State Poultry Feeding and Nutrition Conference looked at two major industry issues; feeding for environmental efficiency and issues with feed source mycotoxins. Dr. Todd Applegate discusses his presentation on Dietary Impacts on Air Emissions from Poultry.

Also, Dr. Bret Rings, Cobb-Vantress, provides an outlook on Broiler Industry Issues and Trends, from the Midwest Poultry Convention. Dr. Rings also mentioned he was especially interested in Man Made Climate Change: Hoax or Myth series captured by Truffle Media’s Beef Specialist, Trent Fredenburg.