Commercial Poultry

Delmarva Chicken Association announced the recipients of its Outstanding Grower awards, honoring 10 farm families in Delmarva's chicken community with recognition as exemplary farmers raising broiler chickens. Each grower is an independent farmer raising chickens under contract for one of Delmarva's five chicken companies.

The Supreme Court of Iowa recently found that a dispute brought by two groups against the state of Iowa lacked standing and was not an issue the courts could decide. The two groups claim that excessive nitrate levels from agricultural runoff into the Raccoon River had impaired recreational uses of the river and increased costs to purify the water for drinking. The decision is in Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement v. State of Iowa.

It is that time of year when we see the chance of tornados and heavy rains increasing and along with them the possibility of damaging winds and flooding. Additionally, hurricane season starts on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30. Hurricanes also bring the potential for high winds, tornados, torrential rains, flooding, and tidal surges in coastal areas.

Commercial Poultry information

A list of events, webinars, and workshops regarding commercial poultry production in Maryland.

The national average for ground beef is currently $5.39 lb. Prices are not looking to scale back until 2015. A good steak hasn’t cost this much in America since Ronald Reagan was president. A dwindling number of cattle and the growing export demand from countries such as China and Japan have caused the average retail cost of fresh beef to climb to $5.28 lb. in February, up almost a quarter from January and the highest price since 1987.

Selling locally grown farm meats and poultry to hospitals can be both challenging and rewarding. The hospital food service industry reached $34 billion in 2010, according to Market Research.com Trends in U.S. Hospital, Nursing Home and Residential Facility Foodservice. In May 2011, Michigan launched a ground‐breaking statewide healthy food initiative which requires hospitals to commit to purchasing at least 20 percent Michigan‐ grown, produced and processed foods.