California Loses TB-Free Status
In late April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture removed California from its list of tuberculosis (TB) accredited-free states because three TB-affected herds were detected within a 48-month period. California is now classified as a TB-modified accredited advanced state.
Since May 2002, bovine TB has been confirmed in three dairy herds in the southern San Joaquin Valley. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), all herds were quarantined, test-positive cattle were destroyed, and the remainder of the herds depopulated. As of March 30, 2003, 231,682 cattle in 155 herds have been tested for bovine TB since the investigation began, and about 13,000 cattle have been depopulated.
Beginning September 30, all sexually intact cattle and bison leaving California will require official identification and certification that they tested negative to an official TB test done within 60 days prior to the date of movement. Exceptions are provided for cattle moved to slaughter at an approved slaughterhouse, or cattle moved from an accredited herd and accompanied by a certificate stating that the herd completed the testing necessary for accredited status with negative results within one year prior to the date of movement.
CDFA advises that when moving cattle out of California, producers should check with the state of destination for their TB testing requirements. Provided no additional infected herds are detected, California can reapply for accredited-free status in April 2005.
Cook Named to Trade Committee
National Renderers Association President Tom Cook has been appointed one of 32 members of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Animals and Animal Products. He will serve a two-year appointment on the committee that was established by Congress in 1974 to ensure a private sector voice in establishing U.S. trade policy and trade negotiation objectives.
The ATAC for Trade in Animals and Animal Products is one of six ATACs that offer detailed technical advice and information on specific commodities. The other committees cover fruits and vegetables; grains, feed, and oilseeds; processed foods; sweeteners and sweetener products; and cotton, peanuts, planting seeds, and tobacco.
Dupps Named Turbodisc Dryer Distributor
The Dupps Company, Germantown, OH, has been appointed the exclusive North American distributor for the Stord Bartz Turbodisc dryer. Stord Bartz AS, headquartered in Bergen, Norway, manufactures cooking and drying equipment for rendering systems as well as other process industries.
Of particular interest to renderers and other processors, the Turbodisc dryer is a continuous-operation, disc-type vessel suitable for drying a wide range of materials. Turbodisc dryers can be steam, oil, or water heated, and are available in 14 models offering heating surface areas between 1,700 and 7,100 square feet.
With the addition of the Turbodisc, Dupps is now able to replace the rotors of Rotadisc brand cookers and dryers. The rotor, a key component in disc-type dryers, is particularly subject to wear and requires periodic replacement or repair.
Excel to Expand Pork Plant
Excel Corporation will invest $10 million in its pork processing facility in Beardstown, IL, to expand the number of hogs it can buy from Midwest farmers.
On two production shifts, the plant currently has the capacity to process 16,000 hogs per day. When the expansion project is completed within two years, the plant will be able to handle 18,000 hogs per day. The project will add capacity for cooling carcasses and storing pork. Additional loading lines will be added for shipping product.
About 25 jobs will be created with the new project, adding to the current 2,025 people on the plant’s two production shifts and a third shift cleaning operation.
Excel acquired the Beardstown plant in 1987 from Oscar Mayer, which was closing the facility. Excel has one other pork processing plant in Wapello County, Iowa.
EU Pet Food Regs Described
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has released a report titled, “European Union: EU Petfood Regulations,” which provides guidance to pet food exporters on European Union regulations. The report describes a number of import requirements that are likely to change in the future as several legislative proposals are under discussion. The document is intended to provide a guide on existing EU legislation and to provide an overview of proposals that are currently debated that may affect future pet food exports.
The report is available on the Internet at www.fas.usda.gov/scripts/gd.asp?ID=145885162.
Florida Transport Reverts to Past
Florida Transport 82, a producer of top-white tallow, low acid yellow grease, and meat and bone meal, has announced it is going back to its original name, Tallowmasters LLC. The company is headquartered in Miami, FL.
Florida Transport was a joint venture of four rendering businesses in south Florida. After two members retired, Charles Largay purchased each retiring partner’s share of the venture and continues to operate the business under his old rendering moniker, Tallowmasters.
Tallowmasters has been a family owned and operated business since 1958.
IBP Name Retired
Tyson Foods, Inc., has announced that is has renamed its IBP, Inc., fresh meats division to Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. The change became effective May 1, 2003. IBP logos, decals, and plant signage on offices, plants, vehicles, stationary, and uniforms should reflect the change by this summer. Tyson Foods acquired IBP in 2001.
The company said it will continue the IBP name on boxed beef and pork products “for a period of time.” According to the company, the decision to rename the division does not affect the location or structure of the division, which will remain headquartered in Dakota Dunes, SD, with approximately 60 facilities in North America, including 11 beef and six pork plants, and more than 41,000 employees.
IBP was founded in 1960 as Iowa Beef Processors. The company entered pork processing in 1982, at which time it changed its name to IBP.
Animal Nutrition Venture Launched
Novus International Pty., Ltd., and Nutrition Specialties Pty., Ltd., have merged operations of both companies into the new entity, Novus Nutrition Pty., Ltd. The new company unites the Novus leading edge position in methionine and animal nutrition research with the market strength of Nutrition Specialties in distributing a broad range of feed ingredients throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Assuming leadership of the new organization as managing director is Ian McDowell, previously with Nutrition Specialties. David Damjanovic of Novus International Pty., Ltd., becomes regional manager. The company has offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia.
Literature Review for Poultry Rendering Released
The U.S. Poultry and Egg Association’s Poultry Protein and Fat Council (PPFC) recently funded a literature review by Dr. Gene Pesti, professor of poultry science and animal nutrition at the University of Georgia. The review includes how poultry protein and fat products are produced, product definitions, and the latest research information on feeding to various species. The review can be accessed on the Internet at www.poultryegg.org, then clicking on Poultry Protein and Fat Council.
“This new section is a long-needed gold mine for the poultry rendering industry,” said John Starkey, U.S. Poultry’s vice president of environmental programs and PPFC liaison. “Dr. Pesti did an outstanding job reviewing all the available literature – over 400 articles – on the use of poultry meal, feather meal, and poultry fat as feed ingredients in virtually all animal sectors.” Information on the review can also be obtained by calling Starkey at (770) 493-9401, or e-mailing jstarkey@poultryegg.org.
New Zealand Officers Reelected
Meat New Zealand Chairman Jeff Grant and Deputy Chairman Wayne Walden have been reelected unopposed to their positions for another term, a period of 12 months. Both will be serving their third terms.
Grant, a producer director, was first elected to the Meat New Zealand board in 1994, while government appointee Walden first served on the board in 2000.
NAMP Executive VP Resigns
Marty Holmes, executive vice president of the North American Meat Processors (NAMP) association, resigned effective May 9, 2003, after five-and-a-half years of service. He will be joining the staff of the Association of Former Students at Texas A&M University as the assistant executive director for Marketing and Programs. Holmes is a 1987 graduate of Texas A&M.
NAMP’s executive committee is searching for a replacement.
New Mexico Forms Meat Group
At a meeting in April, a majority of New Mexico’s state-inspected meat and poultry plants have agreed to form a state association, the New Mexico Meat and Poultry Association. The group’s elected leaders include: Rick De Los Santos, Pecos Valley Meat, president; Lee Dixon, High Country Meats, Inc., vice president; Donald Martinez, Zenitram Industries, treasurer; Wayne Pinchart, New Mexico Processing, Inc., secretary; and Ramon Villalobos, Villalobos Bros. Enterprises. Michael Paquette, Success Partners, was named executive director. The officers will complete the group’s organization and sign up dues-paying members.
The first priority of the association is to link with other groups interested in advancing the issue of interstate shipment of state inspected meat and poultry. They identified a list of other interests, including the dissemination of scientific, technical, and regulatory information.
Perdue Farms Settles with EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a consent agreement with Perdue Farms, Inc., that requires the company to pay an $80,000 penalty for alleged water pollution violations involving wastewater discharges from its Accomac, VA, processing plant (see People, Places &, December 2002 Render).
EPA and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) discovered the alleged violations last summer during a joint investigation. Under a Clean Water Act permit, Perdue is authorized to discharge treated wastewater into Parker Creek, a waterway emptying into Metompkin Bay. Perdue exceeded the permit’s effluent limits for ammonia on numerous occasions, reportedly due to malfunctions of aerobic treatment equipment. To prevent further violations, the company diverted the wastewater discharge to a holding pond and stopped the flow to the creek. During an investigation in late August 2002, EPA and DEQ discovered Perdue was running out of storage capacity in its holding pond yet was still in full-production mode. At that time, an EPA inspector directed the company to take measures to prevent a discharge in violation of its permit.
During the Labor Day weekend, millions of gallons of insufficiently treated wastewater was discharged when storage capacity was exceeded. EPA ordered Perdue to return to compliance, which they did. The company has worked cooperatively with EPA to monitor the performance of the treatment plant and has presented to DEQ plans to upgrade their plant to prevent future problems.
As part of the settlement, Perdue neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but agreed to comply with all applicable Clean Water Act requirements.
Pork Co-Op Buys Packing Plant
The Iowa Premium Pork Company, a cooperative with 1,400 independent pork producer members, and Daniel Ochylski, president of Pinnacle Food Group, have signed an agreement for the purchase of most of the operating assets of Pinnacle Food Group, including a pork harvesting plant. The transaction is scheduled to close June 2, 2003.
Majestic Food Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iowa Premium Pork, will acquire the assets, which include the Iowa Packing Company harvest facilities and ForeSure Transport operations, both in Des Moines, IA, and the Rosewood Farms further processing facility in St. Joseph, MO.
The Iowa Packing facilities harvest approximately 3,600 butcher animals and 1,400 heavy breeding stock per day.
he Iowa Premium Pork Company began a $25 million equity drive in early April to raise the investment capital to implement the purchase. Cooperative spokesman Marston McGwin believes the money will be raised based on interest shown by farmers. Investors had until May 19 to buy the 1.8 million shares available. Each share, which costs either $14 or $16 depending on the investor’s financial obligation with the co-op, requires a farmer to deliver an animal for slaughter. A minimum purchase of 500 shares is required. In 2001, the co-op raised $1.4 million for operating capital to pursue the purchase of a packing plant.
Safety Program for Truckers, Rail
A new program certifying compliance with federal regulations on food and feed transportation was launched in April by the Facility Certification Institute (FCI).
The Certified Transport Program incorporates the Sanitary Food Transportation Act (SFTA) of 1990 to protect the public from receiving food and other consumer products that may have been made unsafe during transportation practices involving truck and rail. It also assimilates federal requirements of the Food and Drug Administration’s rule on ruminant feed. The program is open to anyone involved in the supply and delivery of feed and feed ingredients.
Under SFTA, persons arranging the transportation of potentially harmful substances are required to disclose the identify of such substances. FCI’s program assists with that compliance and addresses federal regulations governing the use of restricted use mammalian protein products. It will also certify that trucks and rail carriers are following proper procedures to prevent carryover of restricted materials.
For more information, contact FCI at (888) 324-6885, e-mail fci@certifiedfacility.org, or log onto www.certifiedfacility.org.
Test for BSE in Sheep Developed
Professor Stanley Prusiner of the University of California, San Francisco, has developed a test that will be used to determine if sheep have been infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Prusiner reportedly said the test is 100 percent accurate and can identify animals with BSE long before they show the first symptoms of disease. The test will also reportedly be used to ensure that cattle entering the food chain are free of BSE.
Tissue samples of sheep experimentally infected with BSE will be tested by Prusiner to see if he can distinguish BSE from scrapie, a naturally occurring brain disease that causes the same symptoms as BSE. If the test works, it will be used to test the brains of slaughtered sheep to see if BSE has accidentally infected the national flock.
The commercial testing will be performed by InPro Biotechnology, a company set up by Prusiner, and LGC, formerly the Laboratory of the Government Chemist, of Teddington, England.
Tyson Phases Out Operations
Tyson Foods, Inc., has begun phasing out operations at its Berlin, MD, poultry complex, with a target date of discontinuing operations by the end of this year. The company has signed a letter of intent with Mountaire Farms, Inc., Selbyville, DE, which provides for the sale of the company’s feed mill in Westover, MD, to Mountaire. Additionally, the company anticipates Mountaire will enter into contractual relationships with many of the 155 Tyson poultry growers in the Berlin complex. Settlement offers will be made with those growers not immediately transferring to other companies.
According to Bill Lovette, group vice president of the Tyson Foods Foodservice Group, the move is part of the company’s ongoing plant rationalization efforts. He added that the Berlin operations faced ongoing challenges with their product mix and need for capital improvement.
Tyson’s Berlin complex currently employs 650 people and includes a hatchery and feed mill in addition to the plant, which has a processing capacity of approximately one million chickens per week. The company will assist in placement opportunities for employees of the facility.
June 2003 Render