MINNEAPOLIS — The Midwest Poultry Federation is excited to announce its education program for the 2022 convention to be held March 22-24, 2022, at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minn.
The MPF Convention, the nation’s largest trade show and convention that is 100 percent focused on the poultry industry has made some important improvements to its education program. Education will be focused in four tracks: pullet/egg layer, turkey, broiler, and processing (meat and eggs). Each track will run for one hour each day, March 22, 23 and 24. In addition, the longstanding Pre-Show Nutrition and Poultry Health Symposium will be held as usual on Tuesday, March 22.
“͞This new schedule will provide the exceptional educational content attendees expect from MPF along with ample time to visit our newly-expanded Exhibit Hall,” said MPF President Scott Waldner, who represents the Chicken and Egg Association of Minnesota (CEAM) on the MPF Board of Directors.
The trade show portion of MPF is moving to larger space within the Minneapolis Convention Center on the street level and 2nd floor of the building.
“This will allow us to expand our Exhibit Hall quite substantially, and provide more space for registration, our Welcome Reception, and our education program,” Waldner said.
MPF is also adding Poultry Ted Talks to the schedule on Wednesday March 23. These presentations will be short, more informal, and held right on the Exhibit Hall floor, every half hour from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. An online call for presentations is in place for this session and poultry graduate students as well as MPF exhibitors are encouraged to submit their proposals.
In addition to the education tracks, MPF is planning a unique “Slice of Learning” event, which will take knowledge gleaned from the Pullet/Egg track and bring attendees together as a working group to discuss what the future of cage-free production looks like.
“In the Slice of Learning session, we will develop concrete steps for the industry to take in order to get production where it needs to be by 2025, which is the deadline for cage-free production imposed by many retail and foodservices companies,” Waldner said. A Slice of Learning (tickets are $10/person) will round out the convention on March 24 and include a pizza lunch for those who pre-register.
MPF Unhatched, the 3rd annual networking event with food and entertainment, will kick off opening night of the convention on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:30-10 p.m. at the Hilton Minneapolis Hotel. The event is being reincarnated with a more casual vibe perfect for networking and meeting up with colleagues and friends. Tickets will be $50 each and feature a variety of food stations, an open bar, and two musical acts.
“MPF is beyond thrilled to welcome our exhibitors and attendees back to the 2022 MPF convention for our 51st year. We look forward to spreading out into new, larger exhibit space as well as providing an updated, more interactive education schedule,” Waldner͘ said.
MPF’s partner events include the North Central Avian Disease Conference (March 21-22) and the Organic Egg Farmers of America Symposium (March 22); both events will be held in-person at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
Details on all MPF Convention events, education program, and the list of exhibitors are available at www.midwestpoultry.com. You can also find MPF on Facebook and Twitter. You may also contact MPF with any questions at info@midwestpoultry.com or 763-284-6763.
Education schedule
The list of education sessions will include:
March 22
Pre-Show Nutrition and Poultry Health Symposium
Chairs: Dr. Michael Lilburn, The Ohio State University, and Curtis Novak, Purina Animal Nutrition.
- 1-1:30 p.m.: Dietary Approaches to Control Necrotic Enteritis in Broilers
- 1:30-2 p.m.: Probiotics, Immunity, and Gut Health – How Does the Microbiome Influence Health and What Can We Do to Support It?
- 2-2:30 p.m.: TBD
- 2:30-3 p.m.: An Historical Overview of Turkey Skeletal Research
MPF Track – Broilers
Chairs: Dr. Jonathan Moyle, University of Maryland, and Dr. Zachary Williams, Michigan State University.
- 3:15-3:45 p.m.: Vegetative Buffers for Environmental Stewardship & Poultry Management
- 3:45-4:15 p.m.: Litter Management
MPF Track – Processing
Chairs: Dr. Deana Jones, USDA-ARS, and Dr. Manpreet Singh, University of Georgia.
- 3:15-3:45 p.m.: Broiler Processing/Product Quality/Yield
- 3:45-4:15 p.m.: Broiler Processing Food Safety
MPF Track – Pullet/Egg Layer
Chairs: Dr. Darrin Karcher, Purdue University, and Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, University of Illinois
- 3:15-3:45 p.m.: The Role of Early Experience on the Behavior and Bone Integrity of Hens Housed in Cage-free Aviaries
- 3:45-4:15 p.m.: What We Do and Don’t Know Related to Cage-Free Egg Production and Research
MPF Track – Turkeys
Chairs: Dr. Marisa Erasmus, Purdue University, and Ron Kean, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- 3:15-3:45 p.m.: The ABCs of CDT: Clostridial Dermatitis in Turkeys
- 3:45-4:15 p.m.: A Comparison of Various Euthanasia Devices and Methods in Turkey Hens
March 23
MPF Track – Broilers
Chairs: Dr. Jonathan Moyle, University of Maryland, and Dr. Zachary Williams, Michigan State University.
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Legal Strategies to Avoid Litigation
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Future of Welfare Legislation
MPF Track – Processing (Meat & Eggs)
Chairs: Dr. Deana Jones, USDA-ARS, and Dr. Manpreet Singh, University of Georgia.
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Egg Production Food Safety
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Molecular Diagnostics in Food Safety: Innovative Methods and Technologies
MPF Track – Pullet/Egg Layer
Chairs: Dr. Darrin Karcher, Purdue University, and Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, University of Illinois.
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Case Studies of Re-Emerging Bacterial Diseases in Cage-Free and Organic Flocks
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Monitoring Hen Movement in Cage-Free Aviaries
MPF Track – Turkeys
Chairs: Dr. Marisa Erasmus, Purdue University, and Ron Kean, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Game Cameras as a Biosecurity Tool around Turkey Farms
- 9:30-10 a.m.: Primary Breeding for a Sustainable Future
March 24
MPF Track – Broilers
Chairs: Dr. Jonathan Moyle, University of Maryland, and Dr. Zachary Williams, Michigan State University.
- 8:30-9 a.m.: Seasonal Ventilation Changes
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Poultry House Management between Flocks
MPF Track – Processing (Meat & Eggs)
Chairs: Dr. Deana Jones, USDA-ARS, and Dr. Manpreet Singh, University of Georgia.
- 8:30-9 a.m.: TBD
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Turkey Processing
MPF Track – Pullet/Egg Layer
Chairs: Dr. Darrin Karcher, Purdue University, and Dr. Ken Koelkebeck, University of Illinois.
- 8:30-9 a.m.: Outlook of the Economic Situation Regarding Cage-Free Aviary Housing
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Experimental Salmonella Infections in Laying Hens in Indoor Cage-Free Housing
MPF Track – Turkeys
Chairs: Dr. Marisa Erasmus, Purdue University, and Ron Kean, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- 8:30-9 a.m.: Sustainable Approaches to Control Salmonella in Turkeys
- 9-9:30 a.m.: Could you survive a stop movement order in case of an HPAI outbreak?
Noon – 1 p.m.: A Slice of Learning – Cracking the Future of Cage-Free Production.
More information about the MPF Convention’s education schedule can be obtained at midwestpoultry.com.
