Two of the largest poultry meetings on the East Coast are going virtual this year, falling in line with most large-scale events in 2020.

The National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing and Live Production, a significant scientific and educational gathering for the U.S. chicken industry, will return Sept. 28-30 as an all-virtual event. The meeting is usually held in Ocean City, Md.

Meanwhile, the 2020 Pennsylvania Poultry Sales and Service Conference, and the 92nd Northeastern Conference on Avian Diseases will be held virtually on Sept. 15-16. It is presented by Penn State Extension and Penn State’s Department of Animal Science, and the University of Delaware’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

Delmarva Poultry Industry Inc., which organizes the National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing and Live Production, says that anyone can attend its virtual meeting for one $99 registration fee. DPI is also offering chicken growers who are DPI members a discounted $49 registration fee.
More than 20 veterinarians, chicken company leaders, government officials, researchers, Extension educators and animal health officials will deliver presentations at the meeting on topics including supply chain disruptions, air quality impacts from animal agriculture, employee safety in the COVID-19 pandemic, robotic poultry deboning trials, platinum brooding practices and more.

“The need for cutting-edge research in poultry health, food and worker safety, and animal welfare is greater now than ever before, and we are pleased to be able to continue our tradition of offering a dynamic agenda, but in a virtual setting,” says Holly Porter, DPI’s executive director. “We’re looking forward to an engaging, productive conference in a format that makes it easier than ever for the chicken community to take part in the National Meeting.”

The two-day Pennsylvania Poultry Sales and Service Conference will touch on general topics important in the poultry industry as well as breakout sessions for turkeys, layers and broilers. Breakout sessions will be led by industry professionals and faculty members across North America.

“Industry representatives are encouraged to attend the virtual conference to learn about recent efforts to improve poultry health, management and production strategies,” says John Boney, assistant professor of poultry science in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “Conference topics will also include in-depth knowledge about recent trends and issues pertinent to our industry.”

The NECAD Symposium will take place on the morning of Sept. 15. Topics will include zoonoses and pandemics, poultry microbiomes, and non-antibiotic control.

General session topics will include farm emergency planning, employee safety, insect control, global diseases and mental health. There will also be a student showcase with Penn State Poultry Science Club students, providing an excellent opportunity to interact with the next generation of poultry industry professionals. A virtual social hour will conclude the first day of the conference.

Sept. 16’s breakout topics include different tracks for eggs and layers, turkeys, and broilers.

The registration fee is $25. The full conference schedule and registration can be found online. The registration deadline is Sept. 11.

Go online to learn more about the National Meeting on Poultry Health, Processing and Live Production.

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