Washington update

Jesse and Doris Lyons are the recipients of the 2008 Poultry Extension Special Recognition Award for their exceptional contributions to state, regional, and national extension programs. The National Poultry Extension Workshop continues to be possible only through the dedicated efforts of volunteers. In a welcome break from tradition, the workshop was moved from Sunday to Monday morning, which reduced personal conflicts related to Saturday travel and early Sunday meetings. The Future Trends in Animal Agriculture 2008 Symposium was “Complementary Relationships in Animal Agriculture.” The 2009 Quadrennial Poultry Extension Workshop will be held in Raleigh, North Carolina. The National Poultry Waste Management Symposium coordinator for 2008 is Casey Ritz, University of Georgia. The USDA grants, deadlines, and procedures can be found on the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Internet site (http://www.csrees.usda.gov). The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, Plant and Animal Systems has yearly internal reviews of its various portfolios that summarize the accomplishments and impacts of system personnel. Program accountability requires documentation by everyone. Now and in the future, cooperation, networking, teamwork, and participation in multistate research committees are essential to our ability to make meaningful contributions to the poultry system. Several universities now provide animal welfare education programs, including participation in assessment competitions and distance education. The Animal Welfare Assessment Contest will be coordinated by Michigan State University for the next few years. Tyson Foods sponsors the Poultry Science Association Support Personnel Award, and Felicity Dennis of the University of Alberta was the 2008 recipient.