Connecticut Poultry Association Officers and Board

Connecticut Poultry
Association, Inc.

The Voice of Connecticut's Poultry Industry

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Resolutions For Adpotion by the

Membership of the

CONNECTICUT POULTRY ASSOCIATION
June 8, 2009

RESOLUTION 1 Feed Prices - New Federal

Whereas feed ingredient prices have increased significantly from April 1, 2006 to April 1, 2008 causing a financial hardship on Connecticut poultry producers and increased prices of poultry and eggs to consumers.

Whereas the price of major ingredients of poultry feed, Corn Meal and Soybean Meal, have increased from April 1, 2006 to April 1, 2008 respectively $115 (+105.6%) and $165 (+76.5%) per ton in Connecticut.

Whereas corn and soybeans are major ingredients of federally subsidized bio fuels and the poultry producers do not receive any federal subsidies.

Therefore the Connecticut Poultry Association (CPA) requests the US Congress remove all subsidies to the producers of Bio-fuels.

RESOLUTION 2 Poultry Meat Inspection - New State

Whereas there is a demand for Connecticut Grown specialty poultry meat products (all natural, organic, pastured poultry, etc.) for Connecticut poultry producers, and

Whereas Connecticut poultry producers that process their poultry can only sell live birds directly to the consumer at their farm by law, and

Whereas Connecticut poultry producers cannot sell their Connecticut Grown poultry to restaurants, stores and institutions because we do not have state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities, and

Whereas state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities will open new markets for Connecticut poultry producers thereby increasing poultry producers income and expanding the production of poultry meat, and

Whereas the expansion of poultry meat production in Connecticut with its benefits of increased employment, increased tax base, and preservation of farms and farm land will benefit all Connecticut residents and businesses;

Therefore the CPA urges the Connecticut legislature to enact legislation that will provide state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities similar to that in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont and Rhode Island.

RESOLUTION 3 Avian Influenza (AI) Revised - Federal and State

Be it resolved that the CPA supports the vaccination of chickens as a tool to help prevent the spread of low path AI in layer flocks, in the case of an isolated outbreak, as deemed necessary by state and federal regulatory veterinarians. Since low path AI is not a food borne illness, eggs and meat should be allowed to be marketed outside quarantine zones with appropriate safeguards.

RESOLUTION 4 Rearing of Chickens in Cages Revised - Federal and State

Whereas the CPA supports the proposition that consumers should have the choice of purchasing organic, free range, cage free, or cage reared poultry products and

Whereas there is no scientific consensus that the welfare of chickens reared in cages is less than that of birds reared on floor or open range systems, and

Whereas when properly managed both floor and cage rearing systems are humane management systems;

Therefore be it resolved that the CPA is against any laws or statutes that would prohibit the rearing of poultry in cages and the sale or purchase of eggs or any poultry products produced by poultry reared in cages.

RESOLUTION 5 Individual Poultry Identification - Continued Federal

Whereas there may be food safety issues related to the sale and consumption of poultry products,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports a realistic and user-friendly identification of poultry if and when appropriate.

RESOLUTION 6 Indemnity Insurance for Agriculture- Continued Federal

Whereas financial losses to poultry farmers due to diseases, environmental issues or loss of markets may be catastrophic,

Therefore, the CPA supports government backed income insurance programs for animal agriculture that parallels those for crop agriculture.

RESOLUTION 7 Hatch Act Formula Funding - Continued Federal

Whereas the Agricultural Experiment Stations at Storrs, CT, New Haven, CT and other Land Grant Universities perform valuable research that positively impacts the poultry industry of the United States and the World,

Whereas funding for animal health research and other agricultural research has not kept pace with other funding from the federal level,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports continuation of the Hatch Act, the McIntire-Stennis Act and the Animal Health and Disease programs in their present form, retaining the formula funding of the above stated programs and increasing the total funds available for these programs.

RESOLUTION 8 Regulation of Manure under Superfund Laws - Continued Federal

Whereas congress did not intend for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to–know Act (EPCRA) to apply to manure because the law clearly exempts the application of chemical fertilizers containing the same plant nutrient components as manure,

Therefore, the CPA urges congress to clarify that manure should not be regulated under superfund laws (CERCLA and EPCRA).

RESOLUTION 9 Agricultural Production Practices - Continued Federal and State

Whereas the members of the CPA believes legislation that bans the production and sale of agricultural products based on how they are produced is unwarranted because it would set a dangerous precedent that could seriously harm Connecticut’s poultry and agricultural industries and the consumers right to choose, and

Whereas in our free society we should be able to make choices as to what we grow and eat and that value systems are very personal and should not be subjected to unwarranted legislation,

Therefore, the CPA is against any legislation that would ban the production and sale of agricultural products solely based upon production practices provided they do not pose a public health risk.

RESOLUTION 10 Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDML) -

Continued Federal and State

Whereas the CVMDL at the University of Connecticut (UConn) serves a critical role in animal and poultry disease surveillance, and is the only accredited Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in New England, and

Whereas effective disease surveillance is critical to human and animal disease prevention and control, and

Whereas surveillance is critical in the detection of emerging diseases, and

Whereas diseases may be introduced into animal populations via natural or intentional means, and

Whereas these diseases in animal populations may affect human health, and

Whereas surveillance and early detection of animal and poultry diseases are critical to assuring a safe and adequate food supply,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports an increase in funding and staff for the CVMDL at UConn, and

Be it further resolved that the CPA supports state subsidized funding for diagnostic services for all poultry in the state of Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 11 University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System - Continued Federal and State

Whereas the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System has worked closely with the Connecticut Poultry industry through its health and management specialists, and

Whereas the poultry industry in Connecticut has benefited economically through its association with the Cooperative Extension System, and

Whereas this economic benefit to poultry farmers has resulted in increased benefits to all citizens in the state, and

Whereas the Cooperative Extension System promotes poultry education of youth which benefits all citizens in the state, and

Whereas this association between the Cooperative Extension System and the poultry industry has resulted in economic benefits to the poultry industry and allied industries in Connecticut,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Connecticut Poultry Association supports increased funding for UConn’s Cooperative Extension System to carry out applied research and educational programs related to all facets of the poultry industry in the state of Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 12 Composting - Continued State

Whereas organic agriculture waste is a major concern of agricultural enterprises, and,

Whereas composting has become an acceptable method for handling these organic agricultural wastes,

Therefore, be it resolved that any enterprise involved in the composting of these organic agricultural wastes should be considered an agricultural enterprise and be accorded all the legal rights and privileges of all existing farm enterprises

RESOLUTION 13 Favorable Tax Structure - Continued State

Whereas economic policy affects the ability to farm competitively in the State of Connecticut,

Be it resolved that the CPA does not support passage of any legislation, which seeks to repeal tax exemptions for Connecticut farmers.

RESOLUTION 14 Right to Farm - Continued State

Whereas actively operating agricultural enterprises contribute to the economic base of the state of Connecticut by providing employment, tax revenue, agricultural products and value-added products, and

Whereas agriculture supports many allied industries, and

Whereas agriculture preserves the environmental quality and rural character of the landscape, which is important to the quality of life for Connecticut citizens, and which encourages tourism, and

Whereas agriculture provides fresh, locally grown, high quality food and fiber products for domestic and export sales,

Be it resolved that the CPA support the socioeconomic conditions that will promote and maintain viable poultry and animal agriculture within Connecticut

Be it further resolved that the CPA maintains that the Connecticut Right-to-Farm Law supersedes any and all conflicting ordinances, laws and regulations

RESOLUTION 15 Farm and Farmland Preservation - Continued State

Whereas the preservation of farms, farm buildings and adequate, productive farmland is vital to Connecticut Agriculture,

And whereas farming provides an inspirational support function for the FFA and 4-H, two important Connecticut youth organizations,

Be it resolved that the CPA support preservation and conservation of farms, farm buildings and productive farmland in Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 16 Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOA) EXPANSION

Continued State

Whereas the poultry industry in Connecticut is a distinct agricultural enterprise with its own set of special needs that requires oversight by skilled agricultural specialists that understand these needs,

We support the need to have the CT-DOA to include all agricultural enterprises, including forestry, licensing of veterinarians and inspection of animal slaughter facilities, eggs, dairy and vegetable products at wholesale and retail level with adequate staff and financial resources.

RESOLUTION 17 Support of the Dairy Industry - Continued State

Whereas the CPA supports their fellow dairy farmers because they help maintain the agricultural infrastructure that is so important to all the many different types of farmers in our state, and

Whereas Connecticut Poultry Farmers depend on dairy farmers for recycling of their poultry manure, and

Whereas the use of poultry manure as a fertilizer reduces the cost of producing feed for dairy cows and provides a needed outlet for the proper recycling of poultry manure, and

Whereas Connecticut Dairy Farmers are faced with periodic extreme financial crises,

Therefore, the CPA supports legislative initiatives that would improve economic viability of Dairy Farming at the state, regional and national levels.

RESOLUTION 1 Feed Prices - New Federal

Whereas feed ingredient prices have increased significantly from April 1, 2006 to April 1, 2008 causing a financial hardship on Connecticut poultry producers and increased prices of poultry and eggs to consumers.

Whereas the price of major ingredients of poultry feed, Corn Meal and Soybean Meal, have increased from April 1, 2006 to April 1, 2008 respectively $115 (+105.6%) and $165 (+76.5%) per ton in Connecticut.

Whereas corn and soybeans are major ingredients of federally subsidized bio fuels and the poultry producers do not receive any federal subsidies.

Therefore the Connecticut Poultry Association (CPA) requests the US Congress remove all subsidies to the producers of Bio-fuels.

RESOLUTION 2 Poultry Meat Inspection - New State

Whereas there is a demand for Connecticut Grown specialty poultry meat products (all natural, organic, pastured poultry, etc.) for Connecticut poultry producers, and

Whereas Connecticut poultry producers that process their poultry can only sell live birds directly to the consumer at their farm by law, and

Whereas Connecticut poultry producers cannot sell their Connecticut Grown poultry to restaurants, stores and institutions because we do not have state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities, and

Whereas state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities will open new markets for Connecticut poultry producers thereby increasing poultry producers income and expanding the production of poultry meat, and

Whereas the expansion of poultry meat production in Connecticut with its benefits of increased employment, increased tax base, and preservation of farms and farm land will benefit all Connecticut residents and businesses;

Therefore the CPA urges the Connecticut legislature to enact legislation that will provide state inspection of poultry slaughter facilities similar to that in the states of New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont and Rhode Island.

RESOLUTION 3 Avian Influenza (AI) Revised - Federal and State

Be it resolved that the CPA supports the vaccination of chickens as a tool to help prevent the spread of low path AI in layer flocks, in the case of an isolated outbreak, as deemed necessary by state and federal regulatory veterinarians. Since low path AI is not a food borne illness, eggs and meat should be allowed to be marketed outside quarantine zones with appropriate safeguards.

RESOLUTION 4 Rearing of Chickens in Cages Revised - Federal and State

Whereas the CPA supports the proposition that consumers should have the choice of purchasing organic, free range, cage free, or cage reared poultry products and

Whereas there is no scientific consensus that the welfare of chickens reared in cages is less than that of birds reared on floor or open range systems, and

Whereas when properly managed both floor and cage rearing systems are humane management systems;

Therefore be it resolved that the CPA is against any laws or statutes that would prohibit the rearing of poultry in cages and the sale or purchase of eggs or any poultry products produced by poultry reared in cages.

RESOLUTION 5 Individual Poultry Identification - Continued Federal

Whereas there may be food safety issues related to the sale and consumption of poultry products,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports a realistic and user-friendly identification of poultry if and when appropriate.

RESOLUTION 6 Indemnity Insurance for Agriculture- Continued Federal

Whereas financial losses to poultry farmers due to diseases, environmental issues or loss of markets may be catastrophic,

Therefore, the CPA supports government backed income insurance programs for animal agriculture that parallels those for crop agriculture.

RESOLUTION 7 Hatch Act Formula Funding - Continued Federal

Whereas the Agricultural Experiment Stations at Storrs, CT, New Haven, CT and other Land Grant Universities perform valuable research that positively impacts the poultry industry of the United States and the World,

Whereas funding for animal health research and other agricultural research has not kept pace with other funding from the federal level,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports continuation of the Hatch Act, the McIntire-Stennis Act and the Animal Health and Disease programs in their present form, retaining the formula funding of the above stated programs and increasing the total funds available for these programs.

RESOLUTION 8 Regulation of Manure under Superfund Laws - Continued Federal

Whereas congress did not intend for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) or the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to–know Act (EPCRA) to apply to manure because the law clearly exempts the application of chemical fertilizers containing the same plant nutrient components as manure,

Therefore, the CPA urges congress to clarify that manure should not be regulated under superfund laws (CERCLA and EPCRA).

RESOLUTION 9 Agricultural Production Practices - Continued Federal and State

Whereas the members of the CPA believes legislation that bans the production and sale of agricultural products based on how they are produced is unwarranted because it would set a dangerous precedent that could seriously harm Connecticut’s poultry and agricultural industries and the consumers right to choose, and

Whereas in our free society we should be able to make choices as to what we grow and eat and that value systems are very personal and should not be subjected to unwarranted legislation,

Therefore, the CPA is against any legislation that would ban the production and sale of agricultural products solely based upon production practices provided they do not pose a public health risk.

RESOLUTION 10 Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDML) -

Continued Federal and State

Whereas the CVMDL at the University of Connecticut (UConn) serves a critical role in animal and poultry disease surveillance, and is the only accredited Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in New England, and

Whereas effective disease surveillance is critical to human and animal disease prevention and control, and

Whereas surveillance is critical in the detection of emerging diseases, and

Whereas diseases may be introduced into animal populations via natural or intentional means, and

Whereas these diseases in animal populations may affect human health, and

Whereas surveillance and early detection of animal and poultry diseases are critical to assuring a safe and adequate food supply,

Be it resolved that the CPA supports an increase in funding and staff for the CVMDL at UConn, and

Be it further resolved that the CPA supports state subsidized funding for diagnostic services for all poultry in the state of Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 11 University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System - Continued Federal and State

Whereas the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System has worked closely with the Connecticut Poultry industry through its health and management specialists, and

Whereas the poultry industry in Connecticut has benefited economically through its association with the Cooperative Extension System, and

Whereas this economic benefit to poultry farmers has resulted in increased benefits to all citizens in the state, and

Whereas the Cooperative Extension System promotes poultry education of youth which benefits all citizens in the state, and

Whereas this association between the Cooperative Extension System and the poultry industry has resulted in economic benefits to the poultry industry and allied industries in Connecticut,

Therefore, be it resolved that the Connecticut Poultry Association supports increased funding for UConn’s Cooperative Extension System to carry out applied research and educational programs related to all facets of the poultry industry in the state of Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 12 Composting - Continued State

Whereas organic agriculture waste is a major concern of agricultural enterprises, and,

Whereas composting has become an acceptable method for handling these organic agricultural wastes,

Therefore, be it resolved that any enterprise involved in the composting of these organic agricultural wastes should be considered an agricultural enterprise and be accorded all the legal rights and privileges of all existing farm enterprises

RESOLUTION 13 Favorable Tax Structure - Continued State

Whereas economic policy affects the ability to farm competitively in the State of Connecticut,

Be it resolved that the CPA does not support passage of any legislation, which seeks to repeal tax exemptions for Connecticut farmers.

RESOLUTION 14 Right to Farm - Continued State

Whereas actively operating agricultural enterprises contribute to the economic base of the state of Connecticut by providing employment, tax revenue, agricultural products and value-added products, and

Whereas agriculture supports many allied industries, and

Whereas agriculture preserves the environmental quality and rural character of the landscape, which is important to the quality of life for Connecticut citizens, and which encourages tourism, and

Whereas agriculture provides fresh, locally grown, high quality food and fiber products for domestic and export sales,

Be it resolved that the CPA support the socioeconomic conditions that will promote and maintain viable poultry and animal agriculture within Connecticut

Be it further resolved that the CPA maintains that the Connecticut Right-to-Farm Law supersedes any and all conflicting ordinances, laws and regulations

RESOLUTION 15 Farm and Farmland Preservation - Continued State

Whereas the preservation of farms, farm buildings and adequate, productive farmland is vital to Connecticut Agriculture,

And whereas farming provides an inspirational support function for the FFA and 4-H, two important Connecticut youth organizations,

Be it resolved that the CPA support preservation and conservation of farms, farm buildings and productive farmland in Connecticut.

RESOLUTION 16 Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOA) EXPANSION

Continued State

Whereas the poultry industry in Connecticut is a distinct agricultural enterprise with its own set of special needs that requires oversight by skilled agricultural specialists that understand these needs,

We support the need to have the CT-DOA to include all agricultural enterprises, including forestry, licensing of veterinarians and inspection of animal slaughter facilities, eggs, dairy and vegetable products at wholesale and retail level with adequate staff and financial resources.

RESOLUTION 17 Support of the Dairy Industry - Continued State

Whereas the CPA supports their fellow dairy farmers because they help maintain the agricultural infrastructure that is so important to all the many different types of farmers in our state, and

Whereas Connecticut Poultry Farmers depend on dairy farmers for recycling of their poultry manure, and

Whereas the use of poultry manure as a fertilizer reduces the cost of producing feed for dairy cows and provides a needed outlet for the proper recycling of poultry manure, and

Whereas Connecticut Dairy Farmers are faced with periodic extreme financial crises,

Therefore, the CPA supports legislative initiatives that would improve economic viability of Dairy Farming at the state, regional and national levels.