The SCPF just received information on CLEANEast Grant Program, which owners and operators of poultry operations are eligible to apply to receive an environmental assessment, new NMP and/or an update of their current NMP completely free of charge.Agri-Waste Technology, Inc. (AWT) is the technical component of this grant in which, AWT would schedule and complete the site visit and then develop/update the NMP and send it directly to the grower.
Just a little overview of the process: Once the application is submitted, it takes about 3 weeks for the review committee to determine whether or not the farm is accepted into the program. At that point, they would contact AWT and AWT would contact the grower directly to schedule the site visit at a convenient time/date that fits their needs. AWT would then send them the final report. Thus far, all of the applications that AWT have submitted have been accepted into the program, but the sooner the applicants can get their information into the review committee, the better.
If you are interested in the program, please contact us the SCPF office for additional information and forms at (803)779-4700.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Bill Prestage Honored with the NTF Lifetime Achievment Award
The National Turkey Federation (NTF) honored Bill Prestage, founder of Prestage Farms, Clinton, N.C., with the NTF Lifetime Achievement Award.
Presented during the NTF Annual Convention, this turkey industry leader received the award for his long-term, unselfish dedication to creative innovation in turkey production.In presenting the award, Bill’s three sons, John, Ron and Scott, executives with Prestage Farms, spoke about how their father grew his single turkey operation into a fully integrated business.
Bill Prestage joined the turkey business in 1967 when he purchased share in Carroll’s Mill where he pioneered new and innovative production practices such as moving the birds inside to better control their environment and provide optimum growth opportunities.
Scott Prestage said, “Dad perfected this new way of growing turkeys and then carried these practices into the swine production business and within a few years the company had become a significant player in both poultry and swine production.”
In 1983 Bill Prestage sold his share in Carroll’s Foods and went right back into the turkey business with his wife Marsha and sons, John and Scott, to create Prestage Farms. With 22 employees and 18 contract growers, Prestage Farms produced 8 million pounds of turkey in its first year of operation.
Prestage’s turkey operation went to new heights in 1993 with the construction of the world’s largest single-stage hatchery and the capability of setting up to 650,000 eggs per week. The turkey division of Prestage Farms expanded into South Carolina in 1994 when Ron Prestage joined the family business.
“Dad’s turkey production efforts were brought full circle in 2000 with the purchase of the Rocco turkey processing plant in St. Pauls, N.C., and the beginning of the development of a Prestage Foods Label,” said John Prestage. Today, Prestage Farms produces 450 million pounds of turkey and 750 million pounds of pork annually. Prestage employs more than 1,800 associates and contracts with more than 700 farm families.
John went on to explain the characteristics that make Bill Prestage deserving of such an award. “His humility and commitment to the community is visibly in the many honors he has won for volunteerism and distinction,” John said. Bill Prestage has served as president of both NTF and the North Carolina Turkey Federation as well as on the Board of Directors for North Carolina Natural Gas and Smithfield Foods.
John concluded, “The Lifetime Achievement Award is for those who have given their lives to the turkey industry and who have left better off for their efforts – that sums up our father perfectly.”
NTF initiated the Lifetime Achievement Award program at its 1946 Annual Convention. Since that time, 65 recipients have been recognized with this honor. Past recipients include turkey industry leaders, executives of national and state poultry/turkey organizations, allied industry leaders, government officials, university professors, researchers and journalists.
Presented during the NTF Annual Convention, this turkey industry leader received the award for his long-term, unselfish dedication to creative innovation in turkey production.In presenting the award, Bill’s three sons, John, Ron and Scott, executives with Prestage Farms, spoke about how their father grew his single turkey operation into a fully integrated business.
Bill Prestage joined the turkey business in 1967 when he purchased share in Carroll’s Mill where he pioneered new and innovative production practices such as moving the birds inside to better control their environment and provide optimum growth opportunities.
Scott Prestage said, “Dad perfected this new way of growing turkeys and then carried these practices into the swine production business and within a few years the company had become a significant player in both poultry and swine production.”
In 1983 Bill Prestage sold his share in Carroll’s Foods and went right back into the turkey business with his wife Marsha and sons, John and Scott, to create Prestage Farms. With 22 employees and 18 contract growers, Prestage Farms produced 8 million pounds of turkey in its first year of operation.
Prestage’s turkey operation went to new heights in 1993 with the construction of the world’s largest single-stage hatchery and the capability of setting up to 650,000 eggs per week. The turkey division of Prestage Farms expanded into South Carolina in 1994 when Ron Prestage joined the family business.
“Dad’s turkey production efforts were brought full circle in 2000 with the purchase of the Rocco turkey processing plant in St. Pauls, N.C., and the beginning of the development of a Prestage Foods Label,” said John Prestage. Today, Prestage Farms produces 450 million pounds of turkey and 750 million pounds of pork annually. Prestage employs more than 1,800 associates and contracts with more than 700 farm families.
John went on to explain the characteristics that make Bill Prestage deserving of such an award. “His humility and commitment to the community is visibly in the many honors he has won for volunteerism and distinction,” John said. Bill Prestage has served as president of both NTF and the North Carolina Turkey Federation as well as on the Board of Directors for North Carolina Natural Gas and Smithfield Foods.
John concluded, “The Lifetime Achievement Award is for those who have given their lives to the turkey industry and who have left better off for their efforts – that sums up our father perfectly.”
NTF initiated the Lifetime Achievement Award program at its 1946 Annual Convention. Since that time, 65 recipients have been recognized with this honor. Past recipients include turkey industry leaders, executives of national and state poultry/turkey organizations, allied industry leaders, government officials, university professors, researchers and journalists.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
SCPF 2010 Annual Conference
Please mark your calender for the 22nd Annual South Carolina Poultry Federation conference, to be held at the Crowne Plaza Resort, Hilton Head Island, July 8-10th.
We are currently looking for sponsors, so if you are interested in your company being at the forefront of South Carolina's largest poultry event, please contact the SCPF for more information. If you would like to be on our mailing list for conference information, please give us a call at 803-779-4700.
Come join us for a great event with the greatest people!
We are currently looking for sponsors, so if you are interested in your company being at the forefront of South Carolina's largest poultry event, please contact the SCPF for more information. If you would like to be on our mailing list for conference information, please give us a call at 803-779-4700.
Come join us for a great event with the greatest people!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Your Voice Matters
With the South Carolina General Assembly in session, now is the time to contact your senator and house member to remind them to make agriculture and agribusiness a top priority. It is crucial that our elected officials hear from the voters on matters that are important. Keeping South Carolina’s poultry industry viable and strong has to be a main concern for not only us who make our living in the industry, but those who are the decision makers of our state. Your phone call, your letter, your email, your visit to their office, matters. Listed below you will find a few talking points you can use when speaking with your representative. If you are unsure who your representative is, please go to the link below.
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe
South Carolina’s poultry industry makes up 80% of animal agriculture and 40% of all agriculture.
South Carolina Agribusiness contributes $34 Billion to the state’s economy each year.
South Carolina’s Agribusiness provides 200,000 jobs to South Carolinians.
Agriculture and forestry combined, is the largest industry in our state, larger than tourism.
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/cgi-bin/zipcodesearch.exe
South Carolina’s poultry industry makes up 80% of animal agriculture and 40% of all agriculture.
South Carolina Agribusiness contributes $34 Billion to the state’s economy each year.
South Carolina’s Agribusiness provides 200,000 jobs to South Carolinians.
Agriculture and forestry combined, is the largest industry in our state, larger than tourism.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Legislative Update
Since our last legislative posting, most of our time has been spent in House and Senate Committees.
S.452 Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting- passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Senator Campsen still has major concerns over some of the language in the bill and how DNR and DHEC would coordinate their efforts in regards to implementation. It appears that if certain changes are not made to satisfy him that members of the environmental community will work to stop the bill from passing. Agricultural exemptions remain in the current language.
S.1034 TRAC Commission-has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill as passed out of the Senate would extend the Commission report due date from March 15, 2010 to November 15, 2010.
H.4482 was introduced last week and contained similar language as S.1034 however, it would allow the TRAC commission to consider all non-homestead property tax exemptions in its review. This would broaden the property tax base and allow overall property tax rates to be lowered.
We continue to monitor all legislative introductions and bills currently before the respective bodies. We are committed to keeping our poultry industry viable.
The House is in furlough this week and will return February 16Th. The Senate will meet this week in normal session.
S.452 Surface Water Withdrawal Permitting- passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Senator Campsen still has major concerns over some of the language in the bill and how DNR and DHEC would coordinate their efforts in regards to implementation. It appears that if certain changes are not made to satisfy him that members of the environmental community will work to stop the bill from passing. Agricultural exemptions remain in the current language.
S.1034 TRAC Commission-has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Ways and Means Committee. The bill as passed out of the Senate would extend the Commission report due date from March 15, 2010 to November 15, 2010.
H.4482 was introduced last week and contained similar language as S.1034 however, it would allow the TRAC commission to consider all non-homestead property tax exemptions in its review. This would broaden the property tax base and allow overall property tax rates to be lowered.
We continue to monitor all legislative introductions and bills currently before the respective bodies. We are committed to keeping our poultry industry viable.
The House is in furlough this week and will return February 16Th. The Senate will meet this week in normal session.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
SCPF Welcomes New Board Member
The South Carolina Poultry Federation would like to welcome Mr. Ray Cheeks of Louis Rich, a division of Kraft Foods, to our board of directors. Ray is the Raw Manufacturing Manager for the Newberry plant.
On Monday, Connie and I traveled to Newberry where we had the pleasure of meeting Ray and Glenda O'Brien, the new plant manager for Louis Rich. Glenda, while new to South Carolina, is not new to the Kraft family. She comes to us from Missouri where she was plant manager at another Kraft facility.
We again welcome both Glenda and Ray and look forward to a successful, continued relationship.
On Monday, Connie and I traveled to Newberry where we had the pleasure of meeting Ray and Glenda O'Brien, the new plant manager for Louis Rich. Glenda, while new to South Carolina, is not new to the Kraft family. She comes to us from Missouri where she was plant manager at another Kraft facility.
We again welcome both Glenda and Ray and look forward to a successful, continued relationship.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Upcoming IPE Nutrient Management Plan Workshop
IPE Nutrient Management Plan Workshop For Poultry Growers, Environmental Managers And Field Service Representatives.
Industry and the regulatory community are still at odds over how the new CAFO rules address National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. On Thursday, January 28th in Room A-407 during IPE, Dave McGuigan and Chris Thomas of the EPA will provide an overview of the on-farm inspection process to help industry understand what the EPA is looking for during an inspection. Steve Schwalb of Perdue Farms will present Perdue’s newly implemented program to assist poultry producers with self evaluations and how to implement best management practices programs. Dr. Phil Hess from Purdue University will discuss a new internet tool to prepare Nutrient Management Plans and representatives from the USDA natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss on farm conservation practices. Plan to attend this informative program. Attendance is free with your registration to IPE.
Industry and the regulatory community are still at odds over how the new CAFO rules address National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements. On Thursday, January 28th in Room A-407 during IPE, Dave McGuigan and Chris Thomas of the EPA will provide an overview of the on-farm inspection process to help industry understand what the EPA is looking for during an inspection. Steve Schwalb of Perdue Farms will present Perdue’s newly implemented program to assist poultry producers with self evaluations and how to implement best management practices programs. Dr. Phil Hess from Purdue University will discuss a new internet tool to prepare Nutrient Management Plans and representatives from the USDA natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss on farm conservation practices. Plan to attend this informative program. Attendance is free with your registration to IPE.
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