Speaker: Kansas likely to join Poultry Federation

Chicken enthusiasts flocked to the Allen County Courthouse Thursday evening for a meal and an open Poultry 101 discussion led by Extension Poultry Specialist, R. Scott Beyer of Kansas State University.
Beyer said it’s inevitable that Kansas will join the Poultry Federation and predicted the move will bring economic development opportunities along with thousands of jobs to the state.
Current members of the The Poultry Federation, a tri-state trade association, include Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. According to the group’s website the association “promotes and protects the interests of the industry and is a unified voice before the state governments.”
Beyer said adding Kansas to the federation and developing uniform regulations across the four states will increase the opportunities for commercial contract growers.Increased automation within the industry, Beyer said, increases upper management employment opportunities.   
But whether Kansas is a member of the Federation is not a decision that Beyer makes.
“It’s one that the community has to make,” Beyer said.
On the hobby side of poultry farming, Beyer said that in 2009 the high cost of eggs in supermarkets inspired more and more people to start raising their own chickens.
“What’s kind of cool about it is the hobby has sort of kept up,” Beyer said. “The hobby has sort of rolled over a little bit.That’s been kind of fun to see.”
Christopher Petty, Southwind District, said he believes that poultry makes a great livestock project for small farmers because of the low cost associated with raising them.
Phyllis Loomis, Iola, said she has 11 chickens. She attended the event with her husband in order to gain a better understanding of  nutritional requirements. Mallory Heim, Moran, said she has 22 chickens and wanted to know how she can increase their egg production.
“A lot of people have chickens and don’t get a lot out of them,” Beyer said. “I try to correct those mistakes.”
K-State Research and Extension, Southwind District sponsored Poultry 101. Their next event, Pasture Burning Workshop, is March 1 at the Uniontown Fire Department.