USDA Announces Plans for New Rulemaking for Chicken Processing Line Speeds

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced new actions to reduce burdens on U.S. chicken processing facilities, allowing for greater efficiency while maintaining food and worker safety standards. The directive instructs the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to eliminate outdated administrative requirements that have slowed production and added unnecessary costs for American producers.

“I want to thank Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for adhering to science-based principles and following 25 years of experience, studies and data on increased line speeds...

NCC Congratulates Brooke Rollins on Confirmation as Next Secretary of Agriculture

The U.S. Senate today voted to confirm Brooke Rollins to be President Trump’s Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by a margin of 72-28.

Rollins, an attorney who graduated from Texas A&M University with an undergraduate degree in agricultural development, served as White House domestic policy chief during President Trump’s first term. She is the former president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute and previously served as an aide to former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ran a think tank... 

Injuries and Illnesses in Poultry Processing Fall Below All General Industry for First Time

The incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses within the poultry sector’s slaughter and processing workforce has fallen below all general industry, manufacturing and food manufacturing levels for the first time since the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began recording injuries and illnesses information in 1994. The poultry industry’s rate of 2.6 injuries per 100 full-time workers was below the rate of 4.7 for similar agricultural industries and lower than 3.6 for the entire food manufacturing sector...

Harrison Kircher Named President and CEO of National Chicken Council

The National Chicken Council’s (NCC) Board of Directors today announced that Harrison Kircher has been named NCC President and CEO, effective January 1, 2025.

“On behalf of the NCC Board of Directors, I congratulate Harrison on his appointment as the new President and CEO,” said NCC Chairman Bill Griffith, Peco Foods. “Harrison’s dedication, expertise and leadership have been evident throughout his time with the Council. We have complete confidence in his ability to guide us towards a successful future. His passion for our industry...

NCC Elects New Officers; Peco Foods’ Bill Griffith Installed as Chairman

The National Chicken Council (NCC) has installed the four officers that will guide the organization through 2025. The installation took place at NCC’s 69th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Bill Griffith, Chief Operations Officer at Peco Foods, will serve as 2024-2025 Chairman.

Bill has more than 25 years of management experience in the food industry and is known for his strong reputation for innovation, sustainability and quality...

After Unfulfilling FSIS Public Meetings and Mounting Unanswered Questions, NCC Requests more Time 

As a result of recent unfulfilling public meetings and a growing series of unanswered questions, the National Chicken Council (NCC) today requested an additional 90-day extension to the comment period for FSIS’ proposed Salmonella Framework in order to properly analyze the proposal and provide meaningful comments.

NCC was very pleased when the Agency announced in its Constituent Update two webinars “to share information about the science behind its Salmonella Framework for Raw Poultry Products proposed rule and determination to reduce Salmonella illnesses linked to raw poultry...

Mike Brown Retires from NCC; Gary Kushner Named Interim President

After serving for more than 13 years, Mike Brown has retired from his role as President of the National Chicken Council (NCC), NCC Chairman Randy Day announced today.

“We thank Mike for his work in building a strong foundation at NCC and for his years of work to promote the chicken industry in Washington, D.C.,” said Day, who is the retired former CEO of Perdue Farms. “We are now turning our attention to conducting a nationwide search to choose the right person to lead this organization and this...