When I joined U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, one of the first strategic objectives I learned about the Association was the desire to partner with other national poultry organizations and state affiliates to work with, augment and influence each other’s efforts in attacking common problems while avoiding duplication. This means that knowledge, information and expertise developed by one organization is shared and available to, and utilized by, the remaining organizations to further their own mission areas. Each of our groups has unique strengths, focus points and value to the industry, yet with our own distinct vision and mission areas. For instance, while USPOULTRY does not lobby or market poultry products on behalf of the industry, we do progressively serve the industry through communications, research, education and technical services. 

One way USPOULTRY works with other organizations is through committees such as the Joint Environmental Committee, Joint Human Resources Committee or Joint Safety and Health Committee. These committees are a combined effort by USPOULTRY, the National Chicken Council (NCC) and the National Turkey Federation (NTF), with the intent of benefitting the industry from a single committee that can address an issue from inception, and on all levels, from a research or educational need to reaching out to national legislators, thus helping to ensure all are informed and can collaborate on efforts on behalf of the industry. Some recent examples of the groups working together revolve around the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) reporting exemption and the poultry industry joint safety recognition awards. 

Other industry partners for which USPOULTRY works and collaborates on a regular basis are the American Egg Board, Animal Agriculture Alliance (AAA), International Poultry Council (IPC), United Egg Producers, U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. In fact, USPOULTRY staff recently participated in the 2018 first semester meeting of the IPC in the Netherlands, proceeded by the Environment and Sustainability Workgroup meeting. The group is working on IPC’s sustainability initiative, linking IPC’s commitments to the United Nation’s sustainability goals.

Another way USPOULTRY works with groups is through education and recruiting. USPOULTRY continues to actively seek ways to bring young talent into the poultry industry. Whether through support of the National FFA Organization Career Development Events, 4-H and high school curriculum programs, the National Poultry Judging Contest, the USPOULTRY Foundation College Student Career Program, International Student Program or the Ph.D. Student Career Fair, USPOULTRY works with a variety of organizations and universities to expose this young talent to the job opportunities that are available in the poultry industry.

Yet another way USPOULTRY works with groups is through communications. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve on a variety of communications committees within the poultry and agriculture industry, including working with AAA, NCC, NTF and USFRA. I was recently at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s Stakeholder Summit and an acquaintance asked me why I was involved in the organization. My answer was simple — because there is value in working together. NP