During 2016, supply levels are returning to normal after the disruptions in 2015 caused by the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

For birds, a high heat index, and the resulting heat stress, is an issue that affects all of the concerns of animal management.

Voters for The National Provisioner’s Plant of the Year award this year faced a serious challenge, as each of the nominees — all processing facilities visited for cover stories from June 2015 through May 2016 — made a very strong case for winning the annual award.

This year the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) chose poultry processing for a special emphasis program and is conducting comprehensive safety and health inspections at poultry plants.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been the topic of hot news for over the past year in my realm of poultry production.

The success of Foster Farms' ambitious journey to category and industry leadership and overall excellence has earned the company the distinction of being named The National Provisioner’s 2016 Processor of the Year.