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Avian Influenza has caused poultry producers across the country to lose millions of birds. Here are some guidelines for producers to follow to minimize the risk of their flocks getting the virus:

Personal Protective Equipment

One of the ways producers can mitigate the risk of their flock getting AI is ensuring anyone with access to the premise is using all proper personal protective equipment. OSHA (Avian Influenza – Control and Prevention | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)) defines this as disposable gloves, disposable shoe covers or boots, disposable hair cover and beard cover, protective chemical-resistant or chemical-impermeable clothing, properly fitted safety goggles, and N95 respirator.

These items are to put on as the person or persons enter the premises and are not to be taken off until exiting the premises. When exiting the premises, the PPE should be left on the premises for the property owner or manager to dispose of and should by no means travel with the person leaving the premises.

Here is an idea of what PPE should look like:

Image Source: Chicken Farm Staff Use Full-Body Working PPE Coverall Non Woven Waterproof Protective Garment – SMS Disposable Protective Coverall and Chemical Protective Suit price

 

Vehicle Disinfectant

Before driving onto the poultry facility’s premises, the driver should exit the vehicle and thoroughly spray all tires with chemical disinfectant. This ensures any traces of feces or other debris from other facilities does not travel into proximity of the facility you are approaching. Before getting back into the vehicle, the bottom of your shoes/boots should also be sprayed with disinfectant. This applies to all entering the facility including feed truck drivers, service technicians, and maintenance personnel.

Training

Any personnel who will be in contact with birds should be trained on the risk of Avian Influenza exposure. These personnel should understand the controls and procedures in place to prevent the exposure of Avian Influenza and should be trained in personal protective equipment, sanitation/disinfection of surfaces, and general housekeeping according to the industry standards.

Interviews can be stressful. Whether interviewing for job, a loan from the bank, or a local sports club membership, making an impression can be difficult. These few tips should enhance your ability to leave a strong first impression and get you to the next phase.

Preparation

To avoid being bombarded by questions you were not prepared for, it is essential to do your research. You should know the position you are advocating yourself for and the general expectations associated with that position.

Along with this, you should be prepared for the type of questions they might ask based on the position as well as questions regarding behavior or character. An example of some of these questions from Harvard Business Review can be found here: 10 Common Job Interview Questions and How to Answer Them (hbr.org).

Once you have done the research, you should have a general idea of the type of questions this might be, and you need to practice answering these questions. A good way to do this is by utilizing a friend or family member to come up with some potential interview questions and performing a mock interview.

Dress for the position. This might differ based on what exactly you are interviewing for, but you should know the expectations for appearance and dress to impress. In most cases, it will be hard to overdress, so just dress professionally.

Ask Questions

Asking questions demonstrates your willingness to learn more about the organization and its people. The last thing you want is to seem uninterested in the position you are interviewing for, and it can take the spotlight off of you for brief moments.

Be Personable

Unless explicitly clear you shouldn’t do this, create small talk to ease the tension of the interview and allow you to show some of your personality. Many organizations value people who can hold a conversation and not feel awkward doing so. Building rapport with the interviewer will only strengthen your bid for the position.

Appreciation

Lastly, say thank you and shake the interviewer’s hand. They are giving you an opportunity to join their organization and showing your appreciation can go a long way, especially if you get the position. Good luck!

Checklist:

Image Source: Use These 9 Pro Tips When Preparing for Your Next Job Interview | Job interview tips, Interview tips, Job interview preparation (pinterest.com)

Background

My name is Nathaniel Metzler (Nate for short), and I am from Lancaster, PA. I will be graduating from Penn State University in May of 2024 with a bachelors in Agribusiness Management.

My interest in Agribusiness comes from growing up on a commercial poultry farm with over 120,000 laying hens. I decided to pursue a career in agriculture to learn everything I can about how to successfully manage large, commercial facilities like the one I grew up with.

Work Experience

Much of my work experience is homegrown. With a commercial poultry facility in my backyard, work and learning opportunities have not been difficult to come by. From egg-packing operations, feed and water management, temperature control, and industry regulation adherence I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge in both poultry management and business management.

Last year I had the opportunity to intern with The Wenger Group where I was a manufacturing intern. I was able to dive into another side of the agriculture industry by learning how bulk animal feed is made, special procedures for organic feed and feed not containing animal protein, and general operations of an array of equipment utilizing specialized software programs for the feed manufacturing processes.

Along with these learning opportunities, I was granted the ability to shadow current poultry service technicians with Dutchland Farms which is Wenger’s own division of poultry. Here I was able to see the everyday life of a service technician and became a Certified Poultry Technician, able to test through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s field exam and written exam. This certification gives me the ability to service commercial flocks in Pennsylvania and submit testing results to the PA Department of Agriculture lab in Harrisburg.

As for my current role, I was hired in March 2024 by Kreider Farms for a Maintenance Technician role. Kreider Farms is in the top 10 largest egg producers in the nation, and the plant I work in boasts around 1.9 million egg-laying hens producing Grade A shell eggs. The plant is equipped with a Sanovo Optigrader 600 egg grader and is currently running at round 450 cases per hour. My job entails plant and equipment maintenance, in both corrective and preventive fashions, ranging from advanced technical adjustments in the egg grader and egg packers to basic repairs and SQF compliance. In October 2024, I was informed I will be assuming the Lead Technician role at my one-year review. This is an accelerated pace for most individuals and reflective of my ability to learn and grow quickly. It also reflects my upcoming graduation in December 2024 with my Agribusiness Management bachelor’s.

Future Aspirations

Once I graduate from PSU, I am hoping to further my career within Kreider Farms or another company in the poultry industry in a management capacity. My experience in the industry along with my Agribusiness Management degree makes me well-suited for a role of this magnitude. From there I hope to grow within the company and/or industry to upper management and be involved in major organizational decisions.

Image source: 14 Things Only German Shorthaired Pointer Owners Understand – Page 2 of 3 – PetPress

 

As a proud owner of a German Shorthaired Pointer, I want to speak on some of the attributes that make the GSP one of the most desirable hunting companions.

History

Originating in Germany in the late 1800s, breeders set out to create an all-around hunting dog that embodies all the qualities of a friendly companion. They succeeded. The German Shorthaired pointer can do all things hunting and more. They hunt, point, and retrieve a multitude of game animals.

Because of their aspirations in creating an all-around hunting dog, breeders in the 1800s wound up with one of the most energetic dog breeds in the world. GSPs are known to sometimes evacuate the premise in response to their insanely high prey drive. This means that large amounts of exercise are crucial for keeping this massive energy in check.

Puppy Phase

From personal experience I can confidently say that GSPs do not grow out of their “puppy phase” as quickly as most dogs, and they will always be young at heart. Although they typically reach mature size by the age of six to eight months, these dogs will maintain their youthful exuberance well into their teenage and adult stages. Owning one of these dogs can be a challenge due to the vast amounts of training and exercise required to satisfy their drive.

Hunting

There are few dog breeds that can perform all gundog tasks, and the GSP is atop that list. Known as a natural hunter, many breeders and owners start exposing these dogs to small gamebirds at just 7 or 8 weeks of age! German Shorthaired Pointers will find the prey with their excellent sense of smell, point at the prey with their long, streamlined, and agile build, and retrieve prey of many sizes with their long and strong snout.

The American Kennel Club provides hunting test standards that measure a GSPs hunting ability against a baseline for three different levels: Junior Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Master Hunter. Some breeders restrict purchasers of their pups to the people who will not seek an active lifestyle for their GSP in some manner or another. My dog’s breeder, for example, only sells to people who will hunt with their pups and even makes new owners sign documents restricting breeding rights to only those dogs that make Master Hunter certification.  If you are looking to find your next companion in a GSP, I strongly suggest you visit Hunting | GSPCA German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America for information on local GSP clubs and training seminars to fulfill your dog’s hunting potential!