Insights from the 2025 USPOULTRY Environmental Management Seminar

The 2025 USPOULTRY Environmental Management Seminar witnessed a remarkable turnout, with attendance surpassing last year’s figures by over 60%. This year’s event was designed to address the pressing challenges faced by environmental managers in the poultry industry, covering a range of topics from legal and regulatory hurdles to talent development and sustainability reporting.

Legal Perspectives: Navigating the Landscape

Joe Miller, general counsel for Rose Acre Farms, provided attendees with a comprehensive legal update. He discussed recent court decisions and potential upcoming cases that may significantly affect the industry. Key topics included nationwide injunctive relief, Waters of the United States rulings, and the implications of the Chevron Deference and Major Questions Doctrine. Miller’s nuanced perspective adeptly transformed complex legal jargon into practical lessons relevant to the participants.

Talent Development: Strategies for Success

A panel discussion moderated by USPOULTRY Executive Vice President Paul Bredwell delved into strategies for attracting and nurturing environmental talent. Panelists Alex Sullivan from Fieldale Farms Corporation, Bill Knapke from Cooper Farms, and Michele Boney from West Liberty Foods shared effective methods such as tuition reimbursement, tailored individual development plans, and structured management trainee programs. These strategies are designed to cultivate a skilled workforce dedicated to environmental stewardship.

Water Reuse: A Practical Examination

Warren Howe, vice president for Woodruff & Howe Environmental Engineering, emphasized the importance of water reuse for processing facilities. He provided an overview of regulatory frameworks and explored various applications of water reuse. Howe discussed both advantages and potential downsides of water reuse, offering recommendations for effective implementation to support sustainability initiatives.

Simplifying Sustainability Reporting

Ryan Bennett, executive director of the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs (US-RSPE), presented a valuable overview of the US-RSPE Sustainability Framework. This framework aims to streamline sustainability reporting obligations, addressing the diverse needs of customers, institutional investors, and activists. Bennett highlighted the framework’s capability to serve as a benchmark for measuring sustainability progress and driving improvement across the industry, regardless of a company’s current standing.

Recognizing Excellence: The Clean Water Awards

The seminar also featured the announcement of the annual Clean Water Award winners, honoring poultry facilities that exemplify exceptional commitment to wastewater treatment and sustainability. Awards were presented in two categories: full treatment and pretreatment. Tyson Foods in Danville, Va., won the pretreatment category, while Perdue Farms in Lewiston, N.C., took home the award for full treatment.

Additionally, Draper Valley Farms in Mount Vernon, Wash., received an honorable mention in the pretreatment category, and Pilgrim’s in Cold Spring, Minn., was distinguished in the full treatment category.

For more details on this year’s seminar and awards, visit US Poultry & Egg Association.