TUCKER, Ga. — You will recall in 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assumed the lead role in administering the effort to establish the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay to meet the established water quality standards for the Bay.
This has been a complex task considering the Chesapeake Bay watershed spans multiple states, encompasses an area over 64,000 square miles and every imaginable type of development or land type contributes runoff that can carry nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment into the Chesapeake Bay. Seventeen years later, the task remains.
This past May, I participated in a meeting held at the offices of the Delmarva Chicken Association to discuss the outcome of a recently completed research project that was partially funded by the U. S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). The project was performed to address, in part, requirements of the TMDL to control and reduce the deposition of nutrients and sediment into the waterways that eventually discharge into the Chesapeake Bay.
As a stakeholder that has a substantial footprint in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the poultry and egg industries have been intimately involved in the process to accurately quantify nutrient contributions to the Bay. The latest project is further effort to honor a 2014 commitment made by the poultry and egg industry to improve data sets being used to estimate the volume of nitrogen and phosphorus generated on poultry farms.
To keep its 2014 commitment, industry took part in a 2015 project that collected data from turkey farms in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This project was initiated after a report issued by a subcommittee of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Agricultural Workgroup communicated that additional data sets were needed to provide TMDL modelers with more accurate data. One of the recommendations suggested collaborating with the poultry and egg industries to collect populations, on-farm manure management operation, manure generations volumes and manure volumes transferred off the farm.
A particularly remarkable finding from the 2015 project was that the litter generation rates per bird were about 48 to 77 percent less than the values established by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in 2005 — the values the modelers were using to estimate nitrogen and phosphorus contributions from turkey farms.
The project discussed in May was an outgrowth of the 2015 project, however, this project focused on the broiler industry on the Delmarva Peninsula. In this project researchers examined the effect of known increases in feed conversion rates on the volume of litter generated by each bird.
Once again, the data collected showed a remarkable reduction in the per bird litter generation rate — roughly 25 percent lower than the rate used in the current Chesapeake Bay TMDL model. When examined on a nutrient content basis, the reduction in litter volume equates to the reduction of 3 pounds of nitrogen and 2 pounds of phosphorus per ton of litter generated.
During the May meeting, researchers requested ongoing participation by the poultry companies to provide additional data that would supplement the Chesapeake Bay TMDL model with more accurate data. Researchers correctly emphasized that additional data collection would keep the Chesapeake Bay model aligned with current poultry production practices and reduce risk from outdated proxies, make the model more transparent and credible and document the innovation and effort industry takes to make itself more sustainable.
Project researchers concluded that bird genetics are the leading factor in the resulting reduction in manure volume generation. While this is a reasonable deduction, there are likely other factors that compound the nutrient reductions obtained by the decrease in litter generation. One of which is the animal husbandry efforts that take place on thousands of poultry and egg farms.
Providing the birds with a safe, healthy and ideal environment reduces anxiety and physical stress that would intuitively have a negative effect on their health and development.
To acknowledge the efforts that poultry and egg farmers take to care for and nurture their animals and additionally protect and enhance the environment, USPOULTRY sponsors an annual award program that recognizes family operated farms around the country. USPOULTRY’s “Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award,” which will celebrate its 23rd anniversary in 2027.
Applicants are evaluated on numerous issues including litter management protocols, regenerative soil practices, nutrient management planning, mortality management, conservation or wildlife enhancement programs and community involvement efforts.
Additionally, applicants are asked to provide information on innovative ways they manage litter and by-products. The number of novel ideas that have been implemented at the farm level have been remarkable. An array of products developed by poultry and egg producers has ranged from liquid fertilizer formulated for specific uses such as golf courses and nurseries, the production of pelletized fertilizer inoculated with bacteria and the production of decomposable flowerpots.
Awards are presented to family farms in five to six regions across the United States. Any USPOULTRY integrator or egg processor may submit two family farms for each processing facility in each state supporting their operations. Additionally, an independent producer or grower who is a member of a USPOULTRY integrator may self-nominate and each affiliated state poultry association may submit two nominees. Semi-finalists for each region receive an expense paid trip to attend the International Production & Processing Expo and an award ceremony January 26th in Atlanta, Georgia. Winners for each region will receive a cash award of $1,000 to honor their work and dedication to making their farm more sustainable.
The deadline for submitting applications for the 2027 Family Farm Environmental Excellence Award is Oct. 23, 2026. Companies or individuals wanting recognize the notable efforts demonstrated by these family farmers can find an application for the 2027 award at, https://www.uspoultry.org/programs/environment/ffee-award/.
With an ever-increasing world population that is demanding more dietary protein, the poultry and egg industry will grow. While this growth may expand the footprint of the industry and the pressures associated with managing byproducts like litter, industry will continue to progress to address and offset potential challenges. This track record has been proven.
Paul Bredwell is executive vice president of regulatory programs with the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association based in Tucker, Ga. He can be reached by e-mail at pbredwell@uspoultry.org.
