Commercial Poultry Newsletter cover picture
Updated: June 28, 2023

July 2023

More Broiler Grower Settlement Forms Arriving to Mid-Atlantic Growers: Background on the Class Action

By Paul Goeringer, Extension Legal Specialist, University of Maryland

The region’s poultry growers may have started to receive additional or new     settlement forms for broiler grower class action lawsuit settlement. Many growers might be surprised to receive this form in the mail and may have questions about the class action. If you have questions about the settlement process, please check out the website for the litigation here, which includes many important deadlines for broiler growers.  Read more here>> 

Allies of the Chicken Community Award Winners

The J. Frank Gordy Delmarva Distinguished Citizen Award:  Virgil Shockley

The DCA Medal of Achievement:  Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes

The Edward H. Ralph Medal of Achievement:  Dean Watson

See more about their accomplishments at  dcachicken.com

Congratulations to the Outstanding Chicken Growers on Delmarva!

Each Outstanding Grower is selected by the chicken company the grower is with based upon flock performance and a list of criteria including environmental stewardship, cooperation, attitude, and achievement.  Watch  video at https://youtu.be/Eq6PlZrOuqE   

Brian Altvater                                             Dan Parsons

Gerald, Carol, Adam Brown                      Bert Ramsay and Juke Marshall

Adam and Brianna Dickerson                  John and Brenda Sapp

Dennard and Elaine Hill                            Scott Strickland

Ashley and Liz Kunder                              Mary Turlington

Kenny and Connie Moore                          Daniel, Joanne, Tyler Wilkins

Chas and Maria Nau

MDA Pivots Toward a More Option-Driven Nutrient Management Plan Writing Program

Annapolis, MD (June 1, 2023) - The Maryland Department of Agriculture today announced a shift in its       Nutrient Management Plan Writing Program that will focus on a new approach to education, training, and farmer empowerment. The decision to move to this new options-rich model comes as a greater demand for plan writing has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic.  Read more here>> 

 

Nutrient Management Plan Writing Program FAQs

Q: Why are these changes taking place in the current nutrient management plan program?

A: Driven by input from industry, the department will privatize the nutrient plan writing program by expanding Maryland farmers' access to nutrient management plan writers and plan writing services. This shift will help farmers meet their environmental stewardship needs, and to grow compliance with statewide regulations. Read more here>>  

Message from UMD AGNR Leadership on Changes to the Nutrient Management Program

Craig Beyrouty and Jinhee Kim, Director and Associate Director of University of Maryland Extension

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) wishes to reaffirm its commitment to the state of Maryland and its citizens. As a trusted partner in the community, University of Maryland Extension (UME),   administered by AGNR, has been providing timely, research-driven, problem-solving assistance to the  public for over 100 years. Our dedicated faculty and staff not only serve their counties and regions, but live and thrive as your neighbors and colleagues. Read more here>>  

Significance of Biosecurity Audits in Addressing HPAI Challenges

Madhusudan Timilsina, DVM, MS, and Mostafa Ghanem, DVM, MS, Ph.D., Dept. of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maryland

What is a Biosecurity Audit?

Biosecurity refers to the set of measures and protocols aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of diseases such as HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) among poultry by using procedures like isolation, sanitation, and documentation.  A biosecurity audit is a structured and methodical assessment of a poultry farm's biosecurity measures, designed to identify gaps, vulnerabilities, and potential areas of improvement in the farm's biosecurity plan.   Read more here>>  

Travels with Jon Moyle - UMD Study Abroad in Kenya with Daystar University

If you have been following us on Facebook, you have seen some of Jon Moyle’s adventures in Nairobi, Kenya, these past couple of weeks as they take students on the Study Abroad program.  Here are a few of the things he and Dale Johnson, another Principal Agent and Extension Specialist with University of Maryland’s International Programs in Agriculture (IPAN), have been up to, along with UMD students at Daystar University there in Kenya.   

Working together to build a dam to sequester seasonal rains so they no longer have to search each day for water.

2023 Grower Lunch Breaks and More

extension.umd.edu/poultry

  •  September 6:  Taxes @ Caroline Co. 4-H Park, Denton
  •  September 25-27: 58th National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing, and Live Production
  •  October 4:  (Possible) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Class
  •  October 7:  Delmarva Chicken Festival @ Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, Salisbury 
  •  November 1:  Insurance @ Caroline Co. 4-H Park, Denton
  •  December 6:  Insurance @ MDA, Salisbury

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 Recent Programming

See all recent programming topics and videos on University of Maryland Poultry page at:  extension.umd.edu/poultry

FOLLOW us on Facebook at:  UMD-Lower Eastern Shore REC

Contact us if you have topics you would like covered, also if you want to be added to our  mailing list!  Sheila at soscar@umd.edu or call 410-742-1178.

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