Every year AP&EAstaff look forward to the annual grower educational seminars. These events are provided to help growers improve their bottom line and promote environmental stewardship through good management practices. AP&EA brings professionals in poultry science to the growers' communities to discuss and present new and timely information related to the industry.
      This year’s topic focused on litter management and litter economics. Covering those topics were Auburn University faculty, Dr. Joe Hess, a professor with the poultry science department, and Dr. Gene Simpson an agricultural economist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
     As the featured speakers, Simpson spoke on “Economic Considerations of Poultry Litter” while Hess discussed “Improving Performance and Reducing Disease: In-House Composting.”
     The AP&EA caravan, composed of Executive Director Johnny Adams, Administrative Director Wanda Linker, Membership Director Dana Brindley-Bennett and Communications Director Anna Pitts, traveled to the four seminar locations along with Hess and Simpson.
     South Alabama seminars were held on Oct. 21 at 11:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Troy, and that evening at the New Brockton Farm Center. For growers in north Alabama, seminars were held on Oct.28 when growers from around the Cullman area met at the Cullman Civic Center at 11:30 p.m., and later that night growers packed the Snead State Community College in Boaz.
     Growers and their families were invited for lunch or supper and seminars also counted for CAFO continuing education credit.
     General Chemical, First South Farm Credit and LB White/Casey Jones helped make this event possible through their sponsorship.