March Madness

Will Bird Flu Become a Recurring Issue Each Year?

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, ravaged U.S. flocks in 2022, with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) estimating 58 million birds have been culled since HPAI was first detected last year.

Egg prices peaked in December at around $5.43, then decreased 52% to $2.61 per dozen in February — a 47% decrease from the beginning of 2023, according to USDA's egg market news report.

Have you seen a poultry farm for sale?

You’ve got your eye on that chicken farm for sale. You talked to the current owner to learn more about the operation, including who is the integrator. It looks like what you want, you just need to finance your plans. But where do you begin to get a poultry loan with an integrator in the mix?

Introducing: Hunter Blackwood

1. Role at FFB: Agri Loan Officer

2. Family: mom, dad, and 2 brothers

3. Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business from Southern Arkansas University

4. Hobbies: Attending Razorback sporting events and spending time with my family and friends.

5. What is your favorite thing about working at FFB? The amount of encouragement and help around you. No matter the question, you can always find someone to answer.

6. Do you have an unknown talent? I’m ambidextrous when it comes to most things.

7. Favorite place you have visited? Savannah, Georgia, but I’ve always wanted to go west to big sky country.

8. What is one thing you would like to learn more about? I’d like to learn more about woodworking. I think it would be neat to make some of my own furniture.

9. Words you live by or funny story about you? Don’t worry today God will provide because he always does. Whatever your situation today, he is with you always, and you will never be alone.

Hashbrown Casserole

Ingredients

1 (32-ounce) package of frozen diced hash brown potatoes, thawed
1 (10 3/4-oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 (8-oz.) container of sour cream
1 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 cups cornflakes cereal
Garnish: fresh curly-leaf parsley sprigs

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Stir together the first 5 ingredients and 1/2 cup of the butter until well blended.
Spoon into a greased 2- to 3-quart baking dish.
Crush the cereal, and stir in the remaining 1/4 cup butter. Sprinkle over the potato mixture.
Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes.