Feedworks USA, Ltd., is excited to introduce Becca Culbertson as technical support manager. In this new role, Culbertson will work closely with Feedworks USA’s suppliers and field specialists to assimilate the company’s research data into technical and marketing formats for producer and nutritionist education. She will also help direct and manage new commercial research trials to better demonstrate and confirm product benefits within the Feedworks USA portfolio of feed ingredients, plus engage with stakeholders to support business objectives.

Additionally, Culbertson will help Feedworks USA promote initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions, and help producers capture carbon credits and advance their sustainability efforts.

“Our business has grown significantly, enabling us to hire recent master’s and PhD graduates who complement our existing team well,” says Tom Elliott, national ruminant manager at Feedworks USA. “Becca is already accomplished in her field. Her expertise and enthusiasm, combined with the deep knowledge and experience already on staff here, immediately boost our ability to conduct field research and regularly create useful educational content that will help producers and nutritionists make product decisions based on science.”

Before joining Feedworks USA, Culbertson earned her master’s degree in animal science and was a graduate research assistant at Cornell University. In that role, she investigated interdisciplinary methane mitigation solutions to support climate health; designed and executed scientific experiments with a focus on enteric methane mitigation; managed and trained a large team of undergraduate students assisting with data collection and sample preparation; and communicated the university’s scientific discoveries to industry and the public.

Culbertson is eager to help Feedworks advance its research capabilities and further establish the science behind its product portfolio. “I’m thrilled to be a part of this talented and knowledgeable group, where I can apply technical expertise to support our ultimate mission of advancing sustainable and science-driven solutions in the world of animal nutrition,” says Culbertson. “And I’m looking forward to collaborating with the team to enhance our product portfolio further and drive meaningful outcomes for producers and the broader agricultural community.”

At Cornell University, Culbertson graduated with several prestigious honors, including recognition as a 2024 Presidential Management Fellow Finalist, a 2024 Reppy Institute Graduate Fellow, and a 2023 International Livestock Congress Graduate Fellow. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, graduating Summa Cum Laude as the Valedictorian of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences.

Feedworks USA, Ltd., specializes in the marketing and sales of innovative, well-researched products that offer financial benefits to end users. For more information, visit FeedworksUSA.com.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced an extension of the modified poultry line speed waivers, pushing the expiration date from November 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025. This extension is aimed at allowing a comprehensive worker safety study to reach completion.

In July 2022, FSIS engaged a team of independent worker safety experts to assess the impact of increased line speeds on worker safety in New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) establishments. Since then, these experts have been gathering critical data from facilities operating under the modified line speed waivers.

The initial waiver expiration date was set for November 15, 2024. However, FSIS determined that additional time was necessary for the experts to complete their analysis and finalize a report on their findings.

This study represents a significant step in understanding the implications of higher processing speeds on worker health and safety, with FSIS emphasizing its commitment to ensuring the well-being of the workforce while maintaining food safety standards. The report is expected to provide key insights that could shape future regulatory decisions on poultry processing practices.

In the wake of a recent H5 avian flu detection in wastewater on Oahu, the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) on November 15 announced that state and federal tests have confirmed the virus in ducks and geese that died on a backyard farm.

The outbreak is Hawaii’s first and appears to be part of a surge in poultry outbreaks in US states that are along the Pacific flyway, where wild birds are migrating south. Hawaii’s outbreak also prompted an alert from the state’s health department about potential exposure at a pet fair that included birds from the affected flock.

Hawaii is the 49th state to report an H5N1 outbreak in poultry since the virus first turned up in US poultry in early 2022. Louisiana is now the only state that hasn’t reported the virus in poultry.

Warning about pet fair exposure

In a statement, the HDOA said the backyard flock is located in central Oahu and is in an area served by the watershed where H5 in wastewater was recently reported. It added that the virus matches the strain that has infected dairy cows and domestic poultry on the US mainland.

Officials said they received a report of at least 10 dead birds on the property on November 12. The flock included ducks, geese, and a zebra dove. So far, it’s not clear how the virus arrived in Hawaii. Though strict measures are in place to prevent sick birds from entering Hawaii by air or ships, the state’s location on the Pacific flyway puts it on the path of birds migrating from the continental United States.

In a statement today, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said it is working closely with animal health officials in Hawaii on a joint incident response.

In a related development, the Hawaii Department of Health yesterday warned of potential exposure at a November 2 pet fair in Mililani, where some of the birds from the infected flock were present.

Officials said, however, that the first signs of infection in the flock didn’t occur until several days after the fair. Though the likelihood of H5N1 spread to humans is low, officials recommended that people who attended the fair and touched a duck or goose monitor for and report flulike symptoms or conjunctivitis.

They also urged owners of other animals who had contact with a duck or goose at the fair to contact veterinarians if the animals show any illness symptoms.

Virus strikes several more dairy, poultry farms in California

Meanwhile, California’s surge in outbreak in both dairy cattle and poultry continues, with APHIS today confirming 41 more outbreaks on dairy farms. Outbreaks centered in the Central Valley have now hit 335 farms since late August. California is the nation’s top dairy producer, and outbreaks have now affected more than one fourth of the state’s farms.

California’s latest outbreak boosts the national total in dairy herds to 549 in 15 states.

Also, APHIS confirmed the virus in several more California commercial poultry farms, including turkey and broiler facilities in Fresno, Kings, and San Joaquin counties.

Arizona reports first outbreak in commercial poultry

Elsewhere, Arizona reported its first avian flu outbreak in commercial poultry, which involves a commercial layer farm in Pinal County. The state had reported two earlier outbreaks in backyard birds, with the last one reported in November 2022, according to APHIS records.

The Arizona Department of Agriculture said the birds first started showing symptoms on November 11. Officials said eggs produced after illnesses were noted did not enter the food supply.