Officers
Wally Taylor, President, Snead*
Mack Watson, Vice President, Pineapple*
Don Wisdom, Treasurer, Russellville*
Roger Chappell, Secretary, Cullman*
Roddy Sanders, Immediate Past President, Gordo*

Allied Industry Directors
Jeff Burroughs, Cullman
Randall Ennis, Huntsville

Egg Industry Directors
Del Brock, Cullman
Harold Kelly, Arab

Feed &Grain Director
Fred Cespedes, Hanceville

Processors Directors
Mike Pierce, Athens
Jack Sherwood, Enterprise*

Producer Directors
Dorman Grace, Jasper
Joe Norris, Arab
Ken Taylor, Anniston

Directors-At-Large
Ronnie Adrian, Collinsville
Jerry Arnholt, Albertville
Benny Bishop, Decatur
Bob Cryar, Albertville
Melissa Durbin, Birmingham
Victor Fox, Enterprise
Dale Gambrill, Snead
Richard Jamison, Dothan
Richard Lusk, Gadsden
Bill Peterson, Cullman
John Pittard, Oxford
Al Rhodes, Eufaula
Wendell Shelton, Boaz
Trey Sylvest, Montgomery
Ricky Walker, Albertville*

Advisors
Dr. Don Conner, Auburn University
Jim Donald, Auburn University
Dr. Mike Eckman, Auburn University
Dr. Tony Frazier, Montgomery
Troy Newton, Montgomery
Perry Oakes, Auburn

*Executive Committee Members

AP&EA STAFF

 Executive Director
Johnny Adams

Administrative Director
Wanda Linker

Administrative Assistant
Laura Wheatley

Communication Director
Ashley G. Etheridge

Membership Director
Dana Brindley-Bennett

The Alabama Poultry Monthly is published by the
Alabama Poultry & Egg Association
465 South Bainbridge Street
Montgomery, AL 36104
Phone: 334-265-2732
Fax: 334-265-0008

Address editorial and advertising
correspondence to The Alabama
Poultry Monthly Editor Ashley G.
Etheridge at P.O. Box 240,
Montgomery, AL 36101.
Advertising rates and closing
dates available upon request.
Editorial matter from sources outside AP&EA is
sometimes presented for the information and interest
of our members. Such material may or may not coin-
cide with official AP&EA policy. Publication does
not necessarily imply endorsement by AP&EA.


     Spring weather is finally here and with it comes relief from extraordinarily high heating cost but now high gasoline prices are driving transportation costs up and bottom lines down. The challenges of farming and agribusiness seem to never change. There is reason for optimism though. Demand for poultry remains strong and many of the export hurdles involving avian influenza (AI) have been resolved. Hopefully, 2004 will be a better year for our industry.
     We have escaped AI so far but we have not been without avian disease problems. Over the last several weeks, we have had several LT disease outbreaks in northeast Alabama. The cause of the outbreaks is not conclusive, but we know that any avian disease can be transmitted by humans (shoes, clothing, etc.) and the movement of equipment (tires, etc.). We must continue to practice good biosecurity management and we must not only pay attention to our own behavior, but be conscious of the behavior of others that come into contact with our farms and facilities. Please remind those vendors, company personnel, producers and association staff that you come into contact with of the importance of everyone practicing good biosecurity management. The biose-curity chain is only as strong as the weakest link.
     This year’s "Evening of Fun" is on its way to becoming a great event. The response to our entertainer, Brad Paisley, has been very positive. If you haven't bought your tickets yet, please consider doing so soon. It's a great way to entertain your family (kids get in free) and celebrate and support the poultry industry. I look forward to seeing you there.