U.S. Poultry Industry Provides 2 Million Jobs and $556 Billion in Economic Impact

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and United Egg Producers have released an updated economic impact study that highlights the positive impact the poultry industry has on jobs, wages, and federal and state revenue in the United States. A dynamic and integral part of the national economy, the U.S. poultry industry provides 2,012,269 jobs, $125.6 billion in wages, $555.9 billion in economic activity and $33.7 billion in government revenue.

The study breaks down poultry into three subcategories...

NCC Delivers Comments on FSIS Proposed Salmonella Framework

The National Chicken Council (NCC) today delivered public comments at a U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) virtual meeting about the agency’s recently announced regulatory framework for Salmonella in poultry products. NCC’s comments addressed each of the three components the agency said it is currently considering as part of a new strategy.

Food safety is a top priority for the broiler industry, and NCC supports changes in food safety regulations that are based on sound science, robust data, and are demonstrated to positively impact public health...

Chicken Industry Provides 1.5 Million Jobs and $417 Billion in Economic Impact: New Study

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation and United Egg Producers have released an updated economic impact study that highlights the positive impact the poultry industry has on jobs, wages, and federal and state revenue in the United States.

The study breaks down poultry into three subcategories: chicken, turkey and eggs. The chicken industry provides 1,517,797 jobs, $94.9 billion in wages, $417 billion in economic activity and $25.5 billion in government revenue.

The data is hosted on...

NCC Urges Biden Administration to Prevent Possible Railroad Strike

NCC joined over 320 local, state, and federal trade associations in urging the Biden administration to continue working with a collection of railroad unions and the railroad operators on an agreement to prevent a possible strike.

“With your help, from establishing the Presidential Emergency Board to involvement in the direct negotiations among the parties, the tentative agreement was reached on September 15,” the letter to President Biden said. “We have seen six of the twelve unions ratify the agreement to date. Unfortunately, we have seen two unions reject the agreement and..."

NCC Elects New Officers; Mountaire’s Kevin Garland Installed as Chairman

The National Chicken Council (NCC) has installed the four officers that will guide the organization through 2023. The installation took place at NCC’s 67th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Kevin Garland, CEO of Mountaire Farms, will serve as 2022-2023 Chairman.

Mountaire has been in the Cameron family for over 100 years. Kevin succeeded his father-in-law, Ronnie Cameron, as CEO of Mountaire. Kevin has spent the entirety of his career building and leading industrial businesses. Prior to Mountaire, Kevin spent over 25 years in private equity as a...

NCC Says FSIS’s New Salmonella Framework Lacks Data, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced a new regulatory framework in an effort it says will reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with poultry products.

Specifically, FSIS said it would be proposing three components, including:

- Requiring incoming flocks be tested for Salmonella before entering an establishment;
- Enhancing establishment process control monitoring and FSIS verification;
- Implementing an enforceable final product standard.

“We support the need to develop science-based approaches that will impact public health, but this is being done backwards,” said Ashley Peterson...

NCC Voices Strong Opposition to Proposed Poultry Contracting Rule

The National Chicken Council (NCC) today voiced strong opposition to the “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments” proposed rule and called for its withdrawal, in comments filed with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

NCC is deeply concerned that the proposed rule would have a devastating financial impact on the U.S. chicken industry by raising costs and administrative burdens, contributing to increased food prices for consumers, and ultimately destabilizing a successful compensation system for our growers.

“This isn’t about transparency,” said NCC President Mike Brown...

NCC Statement in Response to FSIS Announcing its Plans to Declare Salmonella an Adulterant 

The National Chicken Council today released the following statement in response to FSIS announcing its plans to declare Salmonella an adulterant in frozen, raw, breaded, stuffed, chicken products. Attributable to Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs.

“As these products often appear ready to eat, but contain raw chicken, we recognize their nature raises special considerations that merit additional attention. The National Chicken Council (NCC) and our member companies have invested millions of dollars and have worked for more than a...

Consumers Rely on Chicken Even as Inflation Affects Prices

While consumers average rating for their current financial situation is in the middle between “poor” and “excellent,” 87 percent are buying more or the same amount of fresh chicken now compared to six months ago, according to research presented today at the 2022 Chicken Marketing Summit.

The National Chicken Council (NCC) and WATT Global Media presented the results of a study that focused on current and anticipated U.S. consumer behavior, specifically, consumption of fresh chicken. The results suggest opportunities for chicken to maintain market share. IRI provided supporting data from its...

Nationwide Survey Reveals 81% of Americans Want Clearer Product Labeling of Plant-Based ‘Chicken’

The National Chicken Council (NCC) today announced findings from a recent national survey* of Americans regarding consumer attitudes about chicken and plant-based ‘chicken’ alternatives. Survey participants included individuals who consume meat and animal products, along with flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. The results indicate the majority of Americans want clearer product labeling and separate shopping sections for plant-based products.

“When shopping for chicken to grill this Fourth of July weekend, people shouldn’t have to waste time at the grocery store dissecting whether they’re about to..."

USDA Announces New Regulatory Burdens on Chicken Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a proposed rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act that would do nothing to lower food prices, increase competition or reduce inflation, which is a result of policies like these from the Biden administration.

“This is a solution in search of a problem,” said NCC President Mike Brown. “The last thing the Biden administration should be doing is pushing increased regulations, red tape and costs onto businesses at a time of record inflation and input costs, threatening food security and potentially raising grocery bills even..."

NCC Response to House Committee Report on COVID-19 Workplace Safety

Attributable to National Chicken Council (NCC) President Mike Brown:

“NCC member companies have long been committed to protecting and enhancing worker safety, a commitment that well predates the COVID-19 pandemic. But when the COVID-19 pandemic reached American shores, it was immediately clear that worker safety would be paramount.

“As a critical infrastructure sector staffed by essential workers, the chicken industry was presented with a seemingly impossible task – keep food on the tables and keep workers safe, all in the face of a highly transmissible and all-but..."

Applications Being Accepted for New Poultry Industry Innovation in Safety & Health Award

The Joint Industry Safety and Health Council is currently accepting applications for a new Innovation in Safety & Health Award program. The program is open to National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) members and is intended for poultry and egg industry members that have made a significant advancement in operational excellence in a safety and/or health innovation.

Award applications can be entered in the industry categories of Poultry Processing (NAICS 311615), Poultry & Egg Production (NAICS 1123)...

New Study Highlights Benefits of the Partnership Between Contract Farmers and Chicken Companies

The National Chicken Council today released a study that presents the results of a recent broiler industry survey designed to capture key live chicken production statistics. In addition, the study summarizes several key trends in broiler production efficiency, returns and loan quality data.

“Raising chickens under contract is one of the best and most reliable sources of cash flow that helps keep families on the farm,” noted agriculture economist and the study’s author, Dr. Thomas Elam, president of FarmEcon LLC. “The business partnerships between chicken farmers and chicken companies are mutually beneficial, viable and profitable. The real winner is the American consumer, though, who benefits from the healthiest and most affordable protein in the meat case.”

NCC Responds to Latest New York Times Attack on Chicken Producers

The National Chicken Council today released the following statement in response to a New York Times Opinion video attacking U.S. chicken production and advocating for increased food costs:

“The New York Times Opinion video, “The True Cost of Cheap Chicken,” is a vegan propaganda piece whose goal is to make meat more expensive, as clearly articulated in the final line of the video, “Chicken should be $6 a pound, not $1 a pound.” The activist group behind the video, Mercy for Animals, spends tens of millions of...

Americans Projected to Eat 1.42 Billion Chicken Wings for Super Bowl LVI

Football fans might be surprised at the matchup, but one thing is not surprising: America’s love for chicken wings. This is never more apparent than on Super Bowl weekend, when wings are at their hottest. Americans are anticipated to devour 1.42 billion wings while watching the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams battle for the Lombardi Trophy, according the National Chicken Council’s (NCC) 2022 Wing Report.

“There will be no wing shortage,” said NCC spokesperson Tom Super. “Like almost anything else you buy right now, wings might be..."

NCC: Stop Scapegoating Meat, Poultry Companies for Inflation, Rising Prices

The National Chicken Council (NCC) today released the following statement in response to the Biden administration’s plans for more government intervention in the meat and poultry industries.  Attributable to NCC President Mike Brown:

“While we haven’t seen any proposals, for the chicken industry, this looks like a solution in search of a problem.

“The vast majority of chicken farmers are thriving helping to produce America’s number one protein. In fact, chicken companies have waiting lists of potential family farmers that want to partner with them and enter into the chicken..."

Chicken Council Responds to Politicized Criticisms of Food Inflation

The most recent drumbeat from the White House National Economic Council (NEC) blaming the meat and poultry industry for their failed policies and rising meat prices came yesterday in a blog post. Let’s look at the facts according to the federal government’s own data.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.9 percent in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 6.8 percent...

NCC Submits Comments on the Labeling of Cell-Cultured Meat, Poultry Products

The National Chicken Council (NCC) believes cell-cultured products must be marketed in an appropriate manner that clearly conveys their basic nature to consumers and avoids confusion between cell-cultured protein products and traditional animal protein products.

“This approach ensures a neutral playing field wherein consumers are provided truthful information about cell-cultured products so that they may make choices as they deem most appropriate,” said NCC SVP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., in comments submitted to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on...