Wayne-Sanderson Farms President and CEO Kevin McDaniel Installed as Chairman of National Chicken Council

Wayne-Sanderson Farms announced today that President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin McDaniel has been installed as the 2026-2027 Chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC). The appointment occurred during the NCC’s 71st Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., on October 29, 2026.

McDaniel brings more than 35 years of poultry industry experience to the role, leading Wayne-Sanderson Farms on a strong trajectory of operational excellence and industry leadership.

“It is an honor to serve as Chairman of the National...

Broiler Industry Supports over 1.5 Million Jobs and $533 Billion in Total 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: broilers, turkey and eggs, and calculates the direct, supplier, induced, and total economic impact of each.

The broiler industry supports 1,555,821 total jobs, generating $118.7 billion...

NCC Elects New Officers; Wayne-Sanderson’s Kevin McDaniel Installed as Chairman

The National Chicken Council (NCC) has installed the officers that will guide the organization through 2027. The installation took place today at NCC’s 71st Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Kevin McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, will serve as 2026-2027 Chairman.

Kevin served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Fresh Business Unit, and held the role of Chief Operating Officer for Wayne Farms prior to the acquisition. With over 35 years of industry experience, he brings a wealth of leadership expertise...

FSIS ’27 Sampling Plan Expands Listeria Testing in RTE Plants

FSIS on October 2 posted its Annual Sampling Program Plan for Fiscal Year 2027. The plan lists every current FSIS sampling program and the microbiological and chemical residue data the agency expects to collect over the year to guide its planning. While the plan is largely unchanged from FY 2026, there are three notable changes.

WHAT’S NEW: The most significant for the chicken industry is a new paired environmental sampling program for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and non-Lm Listeria species in ready-to-eat (RTE) establishments. It builds on a...

NCC Praises Senate Ag Committee Passage of Farm Bill

The Senate Agriculture Committee this afternoon passed its version of the Farm Bill, the Agricultural Act of 2026, by a vote of 12-11. The bill now moves to the full Senate.

The National Chicken Council released the following statement upon passage:

“I want to thank Chairman Boozman for his leadership in advancing this important piece of legislation, and Senator Justice for his successful amendment that would add hot rotisserie chicken to the SNAP program,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “We are also...

Poultry Industry Safety Innovators Encouraged to Apply for Frank Cruice Award

The Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council is now accepting applications for the Frank Cruice Innovation in Safety & Health Award, recognizing poultry and egg industry organizations that are advancing workplace safety and health through innovative practices, programs or technologies.

Open to members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF) and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), the award honors companies that have demonstrated a significant advancement in operational excellence through a safety or health innovation that helps create safer, healthier workplaces across the poultry and egg industry.

The award is named in honor of Frank...

GLP-1 Medications and AI Reshape How Consumers Buy, Prepare and Eat Chicken

GLP-1 medications and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly impacting the way Americans plan meals, shop for groceries and consume fresh chicken, according to new consumer research presented today at the 2026 Chicken Marketing Summit.

The study, commissioned by the National Chicken Council (NCC) and WATT Global Media and conducted online by Circana in June 2026, surveyed 535 U.S. consumers (ages 18-67) who purchase fresh chicken. The research explored how evolving health priorities, emerging technologies and changing dietary guidance are influencing today's protein purchases.

"Chicken is uniquely positioned to meet consumers...

National Chicken Council Supports Trump Administration Deregulatory Efforts

The National Chicken Council (NCC) today voiced strong support for the Trump Administration's 2026 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, including USDA's plans to rescind three Biden-era Packers and Stockyards rules that threaten to dismantle an efficient and successful industry model that rewards farmers and helps keep chicken affordable for American consumers.

"We thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for their work in cutting unnecessary red tape on businesses and producers, including the Biden administration's Packers and Stockyard rules," said Harrison Kircher, President, National Chicken Council...

NCC Updates Broiler Welfare Guidelines; Gains Certification from Leading Welfare Auditing Authority

Consumers want to be sure that all animals raised for food are treated with respect and are properly cared for throughout their lives. The people and companies who raise chickens for food share that commitment.

To support chicken producers and processors in this effort, the National Chicken Council (NCC) in 1999 developed the NCC Broiler Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist, which have been widely adopted across the industry to help ensure chickens are properly cared for and treated humanely. Reviewed regularly...

NCC Applauds Introduction of House Ag Labor Reform Bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-Pa., today unveiled a bill to expand and modernize the H-2A agricultural guest worker program.

The Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act (SAWA) would broaden access to H-2A workers for year-round agricultural employers, remove the requirement that agricultural work must be seasonal, revise the wage calculation methodology and streamline the application process.

Most notably for the chicken industry, it expands eligible agricultural activities to include portions of meat harvesting and protein processing...

NCC Statement on Delay of Poultry Payment Rule

NCC today released the following statement in response to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service’s announcement of an 18-month delay of the “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule, which was set to go into effect on July 1, 2026. AMS proposed the delay in March after reviewing the rule’s potential costs to the poultry industry and consumers.

“I want to thank Secretary Rollins for delaying this Biden-era regulation which was published less than one week before President Trump was inaugurated,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “This rule threatened to...

China Lifts HPAI Poultry Export Restrictions for 17 States

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) this week updated its China export restrictions webpage to reflect that China has lifted HPAI-related poultry export restrictions for 17 states, effective May 15, 2026. The states are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. Only products produced on or after May 15, 2026 are eligible for export to China from these states.

BACKGROUND: China had been blocking raw poultry imports from U.S. states affected by HPAI outbreaks. Under...

House Passed Farm Bill Includes Provision to Include Hot Rotisserie Chicken in SNAP

During this morning’s consideration of amendments to the Farm Bill, the House voted overwhelmingly (384-35) in support of Rep. Rick Crawford’s (R-AR) commonsense and bipartisan amendment that would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase hot rotisserie chicken using their benefits. Currently, participants can only buy a rotisserie chicken if it's cold, but not if it's hot.

“I want to thank Rep. Crawford for his leadership on this issue, and congratulate him for the passage of his amendment by such a wide and...

Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Introduced to Add Hot Rotisserie Chicken in SNAP

Sens. Jim Justice (D-WV), John Fetterman (D-PA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act which would allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase hot rotisserie chicken with their benefits. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR) introduced companion legislation in the House.

The bill does not increase funding or participant eligibility for SNAP or allow all hot foods to be included for purchase, only hot rotisserie chicken.

“The Hot Rotisserie Chicken...

NCC Submits Comments Supporting USDA Proposal to Increase Poultry Line Speeds

The National Chicken Council (NCC) yesterday filed comments with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) strongly supporting a proposed rule that would increase the maximum line speed for young chicken processors operating under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) from 140 to 175 birds per minute (bpm).

“This is a science-based rule backed with decades of data that will make chicken more affordable for American families, create jobs in rural communities, and strengthen U.S. global competitiveness — all while...

NCC Submits Comments Supporting Delay of Poultry Payment Rule, Urges Full Rescission

NCC today submitted formal comments to USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service supporting the agency’s proposed 18-month delay of the Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems rule, which is set to go into effect on July 1, 2026. AMS proposed the delay in March after reviewing the rule’s potential costs to the poultry industry and consumers.

Beyond the millions of dollars in compliance costs the rule would impose, it would effectively ban bonuses for the best chicken farmers. Eliminating this performance-based...

Poultry Industry Safety Recognition Award Applications Being Accepted

The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program is now accepting applications from poultry industry facilities that have demonstrated exceptional safety programs. This award program is open to members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF), and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Eligible facilities include poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, animal support services and rendering facilities. To qualify, applicants must have implemented innovative and effective safety programs as well as have maintained injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years.

According to the most recent data from the Bureau of...

USDA Promotes New, Voluntary “Product of USA” Label

WHAT HAPPENED: USDA on Tuesday announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry, and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on January 1, 2026, and intends to increase consumer understanding of what the label means. The claim is voluntary and ends the prior practice which allowed imported products to carry the claim after minimal processing and strengthens consumer confidence by aligning with what Americans expect and demand.

WHY IT MATTERS: The new labels follow updated USDA rules governing which products can carry the designation. Previously, items that were merely packaged or processed in the U.S. could legally use the label. In 2024, USDA revised the...

NCC Applauds Trump Administration’s Delay of Biden-Era Poultry Payment Rule

“We applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their thoughtful review of this Biden-era regulation and for listening to chicken farmers across the country who oppose it,” said National Chicken Council (NCC) President Harrison Kircher. “NCC strongly supports the administration’s commitment to cutting regulatory red tape and returning decision-making to farmers and the businesses that sustain rural America.

“The Biden administration finalized a regulation six days before President Trump took office that threatened to dismantle an efficient and successful industry model that has worked well for decades and...

Including Hot Rotisserie Chicken in SNAP Receives Bipartisan Support During Farm Bill Mark-Up

As the House Agriculture Committee worked to mark-up and approve the Farm Bill on Wednesday, members of the committee debated whether hot rotisserie chicken should be available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), after an amendment offered by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR). SNAP already covers cold rotisserie chicken.

“I want to thank Rep. Crawford and the committee members for their debate and bipartisan support for including hot rotisserie chicken in the SNAP program,” said NCC President Harrison Kircher. “Although the provision was ultimately not included in the bill, we appreciate the committee’s commitment to...

Trade Associations Praise Trump Administration’s New Nutritional Guidelines

Following Wednesday’s release of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, several trade associations welcomed the updated federal nutrition guidance, which places protein back at the center of the plate.

“Thanks to the bold leadership of President Trump, this edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans will reset federal nutrition policy, putting our families and children first as we move toward a healthier nation,” US Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said.

“We are realigning our food system to support American farmers, ranchers, and companies that grow and produce real food. Farmers and...