This year has not been without challenges to our association, but we never let go of our vision to be the most respected resource for the poultry sciences. This year, the Poultry Science Board of Directors and staff have been busy with long and short-term strategic plan development and execution as well as meeting with trade organizations and government agencies globally to make sure they all know we are THE reliable scientific resource for the poultry sciences. Our poultry science staff has worked diligently on increasing membership and increasing our online presence with educational videos, webinars, and making our society more relevant to the global agricultural community. This is only the beginning!

In 2020, PSA's journals (Poultry Science^® and The Journal of Applied Poultry Research) saw growth in each journals' impact factor (IF). Again, in 2021, each journal has experienced an increase in impact factor.

Poultry Science^® now has an IF of 3.352, this is a 26% increase from last year. This journal continues to be ranked 7/63 in the Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science category for journals. This is the highest IF Poultry Science^® has received since it was first awarded an IF in 1997.

The Journal of Applied Poultry Research now has an impact factor of 1.178, which is a 16% increase from last year. This journal is ranked 42/63 in the Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science category for journals.

This article from The Journal of Applied Poultry Research focuses on how geese that have reached their second laying season, typically have larger egg yolks. The article further outlines suggestions on how producers can take steps to help boost yolk size as birds get older.

As PSA puts the finishing touches on next week's Virtual Meeting, we are pleased to provide the Scientific Program Book as well as the Unofficial Book of this year's abstract presentations (official supplement will be published at the end of the year as an e-supplement to Poultry Science^®).

View these resources on the PSA website here. The program book and all abstract presentations will be available within the virtual environment next week.

This year's meeting is full of a variety of social events and activities. See the list below and enjoy them next week!

Put on your running shoes and grab this year's t-shirt!

This is your opportunity to interact with the 2021 poster presenters as they take your questions.

Poultry Science^® 100^th Anniversary Celebration

Poultry Science^® has been in publication for 100 years! Join us in celebrating this major milestone with a hosted event that will include trivia, craft 1920s cocktail recipes, and more!

Join us for an exciting virtual magic show fit for the whole family! We are pleased to welcome Alan Hudson who has appeared on several reality shows including Britain's Got Talent!

This event provides a unique opportunity for students to connect and network with PSA's Fellows, who are some of the most experienced and accomplished members of the Association. The event will facilitate informal conversations and friendly discussions where students are free to ask any questions they have about careers, research, grad school, and beyond.

The Fellows are established professionals from a variety of fields within the Poultry Sciences, so this event is sure to be an incredibly valuable experience for students from all areas and levels of study! Learn more about this year's Student Events here.

Student Family Feud Competition: The Final Round

Leading up to the meeting, teams of students representing schools all across the globe have been competing for the ultimate prize. Join us as the final two teams compete for the title of the competition winner. The winning team will receive bragging rights for their institution! This event will be streamed live!

This awards ceremony will recognize this year's PSA Fellows award recipients as well as identify other award winners. The ceremony will wrap-up with the announcement of the winners in the 2021 Student Competition.

Know someone you'd like to nominate for Member Spotlights or want to nominate yourself? Contact Sam Shafer at sam.shafer@poultryscience.org for more information.

University of Georgia

Education:

Food Safety and issues related to food safety in poultry production and processing continuum.

I grew up in India. I am from the state of Punjab, also known as “India’s Bread Basket” because of the vast diversity in agricultural commodities in the state. My exposure to Food Safety and challenges associated with processing of foods of animal origin was during my undergraduate education at Punjab Agricultural University.

My first job was as an Assistant Professor of Food Safety in the Department of Poultry Science at Auburn University. I was involved with teaching poultry processing and conducted research in food safety of poultry and poultry products. I also was involved in Extension activities including 4-H and FFA poultry judging while at Auburn Univesity.

The motto I follow and adhere to is “Be the Change you wish to see in the world”. It has served me well and has allowed me to think in an innovative manner.

The membership to PSA has been an invaluable asset for my professional career developing collaborations, building industry partners, having colleagues who have become life long friends and are like family. More importantly being able to interact with young talented students in the poultry science field of study has been a very invigorating asset of my PSA membership.

All living organisms require a certain amount of iron. This review article looks at the iron requirement for Salmonella bacteria, how the bacteria obtains iron from its host (in this case poultry), and ways that iron deficiency for the bacteria can be achieved through the host's diet.

The article is summarized at the end with items that required further research.

What is the Activin gene and what role does it play in poultry? Join us as we discuss this gene with Ikele Chinyere (University of Nigeria, Nsukka) to discuss this gene and how producers can benefit from activating it.

Do you want to squawk with us? Complete the Get Involved with PSA Form to submit your topic for consideration on Let's Squawk About It.

Livestock producers who suffered animal losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing may apply for assistance for those losses along with the cost of disposal of the animals.

Authorized payments will be based on 80% of the fair market value and the cost of depopulation. Primary recipients of this assistance are expected to be producers of swine, chickens, and turkeys.

In order to qualify, the livestock will have to have been depopulated from March 1, 2020 through December 26, 2020 due to insufficient processing access as a result of the pandemic. Livestock must have been physically located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory at the time of depopulation.

Producers may begin applying for assistance on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.

In case you missed last month's webinar with Víctor D. Naranjo on the Opportunities and challenges related to Potential of crude protein reduction in broiler diets in Latin America, you still have the opportunity to watch the recording.

Head on over to the PSA Webinar Archives to watch this webinar recording as well as other past webinars.