It’s time for the poultry industry to make its annual winter migration to sunny Atlanta, just in time for the annual International Poultry Expo. Once again, the Georgia World Congress Center will serve as the meeting place, as tens of thousands of industry professionals from around the world will meet from January 24-26 to view the latest technologies and learn about the latest industry news.

This year’s show will mark the 60th year that the Expo has been held in Atlanta, and it is shaping up to be the biggest show yet. The co-location of the International Feed Expo, sponsored by USPOULTRY and the American Feed Industry Association, will make it the one-stop location for the latest technology and information in the poultry industry. Every segment of the poultry and egg industry is represented: feed milling, live production, hatchery, processing, further processing, packaging, commercial egg, marketing and all support activities. This year’s show will have more than 910 exhibitors, an increase of almost 100 exhibitors, as well as more than 20,000 attendees.

With the number of new products that will be available on the show floor, a quick way to look at the highlights is to stop by the InfoMart Theaters, which will feature free educational presentations by exhibitors on the latest technologies and innovations for the poultry and egg industry. The theaters will be located on Aisle 2400 of Building C and Aisle 5400 of Building B. The programs will run from 10:30 a.m. until approximately 5 p.m. on January 24 and 25. Feed, environment, egg, health, poultry production, incubation/hatchery, cooling/refrigeration, processing, sanitation and services are the topics to be covered in the theaters.

Along with the new products, services and technology on display, another highlight on the floor will be the Food and Drug Administration’s new video on “Preventing the Spread of BSE.” It will be available at the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) booth, #3662. The video has been five years in the making and will educate truckers on the animal disease as well as on the importance of thoroughly cleaning out their vehicles, particularly after carrying restricted material. AFIA officials worked closely with the FDA in developing the video, which should help prevent commingling of material, prohibited under FDA’s BSE feed regulations, with ingredients intended for ruminant feed.

Attendees of the IPE show can do more than walk away with new ideas to improve their processes or facilities. If they participate in the annual College Student Career Program, they may leave with some new employees as well. USPOULTRY has been sponsoring the program for more than 30 years, and it gives employers the opportunity to interview qualified college students for employment or internship openings.

There are plenty of activities away from the show floor as well. The conferences that take place during the week give attendees plenty of opportunities to learn about the latest developments in critical areas of the poultry industry. The seminars start on January 22 and 23, with the International Poultry Scientific Forum, also held at the Georgia World Congress Center. The forum is sponsored by the Southern Poultry Science Society, the Southern Conference on Avian Diseases and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. The forum presents information on industry topics such as environmental management, nutrition, physiology, pathology, processing and products, and avian diseases.

The education program scheduled for January 25 will feature speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, Foster Farms and the University of Georgia. Avian influenza will be the subject of several talks, as will water supply and the effects ethanol will have on corn availability and cost.

USPOULTRY has scheduled a free educational program on January 24 at 9 a.m. that will help attendees determine whether their company is ready to expand globally through exports and will offer assistance in developing a strategy for entering a foreign market. Lincoln Martinez, a senior international trade specialist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, is a confirmed speaker. After the show ends that evening, there will be an International Reception in the International Ballroom of the Omni Hotel at CNN Center. Exhibitors and international attendees are welcome. Along with complementary drinks, entertainment and prize drawings, there also will be the opportunity to network with others who share similar interests and business goals. Last year’s reception drew more than 1,000 attendees.

Funds earned at the International Poultry Expo are funneled directly back into the industry in the form of research grants, educational programs, communications, and product promotion.