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Minutes of the
Board of Director’s Meeting
Main Street Café
Willimantic, CT. 06226
April 23, 2003
In attendance:
President: James Rock UConn Extension Educator, Emeritus, First Vice President: Gary Proctor Gourmavian Farms, Second V. President: Don Bourdeau Bourdeau’s Game Bird Farm, Secretary Pro-Tem: Bud Gavitt Retired UConn Extension Editor, Treasurer: Robert Feldman, Family Farms, Steven Bibula, Woodbridge Farm, Salem, Morris Burr, Burr Farm, Inc., Hampton, Dr. Michael Darre, UConn Professor of Poultry Science, Elanor Feldman, Family Farms, Jon Hermonot , Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, Rick Hermonot, First Pioneer Farm Credit, Dr. Mazhar Khan, UConn Extension Veterinarian, Jerry Kil, Kofkoff/Southern New England Egg Farms, Lebanon, North Franklin, Mark Koenigsberg, Rougish Manor Farm, Dr. Mary Jane Lis, State Veterinarian, Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Larry Lombard Central CT. Farmers Co-op, Frank Manfreda Jr., Manfreda Farms, Dr. Bruce Sherman, Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Karen Strong Strong Farm, Vernon, Julie and Jerry Srednicki, Yankee Chicks, Lee Sweet Yankee Chicks, Wayne Sweet, Sweet Farms, Harris Wright, Avtech
Call to order:
The April 23, 2003, Board of Director’s Meeting of the Connecticut Poultry Association, Inc., was called to order by the President James Rock at 6:40 p.m.
Secretary’s Report:
Approval of the March 12, 2003, Minutes: Alton Van Dyke minutes of March 12, 2003, were accepted without change.
Current Correspondence: Secretary Prom-Tem Bud Gavitt read a note sent to Jim Rock from the Director of the Connecticut Farmland Trust thanking the Connecticut Poultry Association for a $100 contribution made to the trust.
Treasurer’s Report:
Bob Feldman presented the treasure’s report as of April 23 the 2003 promotion budget and the 2003 general budget. The motion to approve these reports passed unanimously.
Promotion Report:
Ag Day at the Capital: Gary Proctor reported that the CPA had an exhibit at the March 19 Ag Day at the Capitol and was well received by attendees. Proctor thanked Kofkoff Egg Farms in Lebanon for donating six cases of eggs, with each legislator receiving one dozen eggs along with other Connecticut produced farm and forest products.
White House Easter Egg Ceremony: Gary announced that the CPA arranged to have a paint a state egg on display with other state eggs in the country at the White House, with the official ceremony held on April 14.
Connecticut Farm/City Week May 13-15: Morris Burr of Burr Farms, Inc., in Hampton reported that he manned the CPA exhibit during Farm/City Week May 13, 14, 15 at the Blue Slope Museum in North Franklin. Sponsors included the Connecticut Farm Bureau, the CPA and numerous other agricultural and natural resources organizations.
Cost of Egg Dessert Recipe Booklet #5: Bud Gavitt reported that he received a quote from ACE Printery to produce 1,200 copies of Egg Dessert Recipe Booklet #5. The booklet, which will feature 11 award winning egg dessert recipes in contest held at Radio Station WILI AM in Willimantic and the Middletown Press last December. The quote was $ 1,148.00 plus $150.00 for Bud’s professional development booklet fee. The motion to spend $ 1,298.00 to produce this booklet passed.
CPA Ad.: Bud arranged to hire a graphic designer to produce a CPA ad to appear in the 2003 New London County 4-H Fair Premium Book. A motion was made and seconded to reimburse Bud for $35.00 for the cost of designing this ad. The motion carried.
CPA Letterhead and Envelopes: Bud brought up the printing of CPA letterheads and envelopes. The cost to have them printed at ACE Printery in North Windham was $193.00 the motion to spend this amount was passed.
Poultry Health Report:
Update on Connecticut Avian Influenza (AI) Situation: Dr. Mazhar Khan, UConn Extension Veterinarian, and State Veterinarian Mary J. Lis and Dr. Bruce Sherman, both of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, spoke on the AI situation in Connecticut. Dr. Khan reported that Low Pathogenic AI appears under control at two Kofkoff Egg Farms in Eastern Connecticut. Thus far Dr. Khan noted no other poultry flocks in Connecticut have been infected with AI.
A 35,000 poultry flock in Rhode Island has been diagnosed as having IA. This farm is quarantined and may be depopulated. Exotic New Castle Disease outbreaks have appeared in California and has spread to poultry farms in Texas, but none have been diagnosed in New England.
State Veterinarian Mary J. Lis announced that the State Department of Agriculture has issued a directive on preventing poultry being shown and/or exhibited at summer and fall fairs this year in the state.
Free AI diagnosis offered at UConn: Dr. Khan stated that the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Connecticut Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science in Storrs is offering a free diagnostic service to small or backyard growers of poultry. The laboratory is accepting any sick or fresh dead birds—chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, game birds, peafowl, pigeon and wild bird species – for free disease diagnosis. To get this free diagnostic service, contact Dr. Mazhur Khan, Extension veterinarian, at UConn by calling him at 1-860-486-0228 or e-mail him at: mazhar.khan@uconn.edu.
Extension Report:
Website up and running: UConn Poultry Science Professor Michael Darre and CPA President Jim Rock presented an update on UConn Cooperative Extension activities. Mike announced that the poultry website is up and running. “We have received a lot of hits,” he reported. “The website includes new information of the states AI disease situation.”
Business and Planning for Poultry Farmers: Jim Rock announced that business planning sessions for poultry farmers will be held May 1 and 8, 2003.
New England Turkey Growers’ Conference: Mike said a conference for turkey growers in New England will be held sometime in 2004.
New England/New York Poultry Pest Management Workshop: This workshop will be held Wednesday, May 28, 2003, at UConn. Co-sponsors are cooperative Extension of the New England Land-Grant Universities and the Connecticut Poultry Association.
Poultry Management and Health Conference: Mike Darre reported good attendance at this conference. The conference will be held at Penn State University in University Park in 2004.
CPA Annual Meeting Update:
Larry Lombardi of Central Connecticut Farmers Co-op and Mike Darre announced that the 2003 Annual Poultry Day meeting and banquet will be June 3 at Zenney’s Restaurant in Storrs, starting at 6:00 pm. All poultry farmers including game bird and small chicken flock owners are invited to attend. Attendees will have an opportunity to sample award winning egg desserts and hear speakers on nutrition and agricultural economics. There will also be various award and other presentations.
Old Business: James Rock
Poultry Farm Occupancy Situation Report: Jim reported that the following poultry houses are available.
1. Steve and Jeanne Chesnowitz have two 12,600 square feet houses in Brooklyn. Labor may be available. Tel. 1-860-774-3400.
2. Nicholas and Mary Halowaty of Jewett City have a 19,200 square feet poultry house with feed bins and other equipment. No labor available. Tel. 1-860-376-0196
3. Beauregard Poultry Farm in Norwich has one windowless 14,400 square foot house. No equipment. No Labor available. 1-860-877-0709.
4. Joseph and Joyce Eber of Brooklyn have one 20,000 square foot house with feed bins, water and ventilation. Fully equipped. No labor available.
5. Greta Markiewicz of Colchester has one 16,300 square foot house. No equipment. No labor available.
6. Anne Krieslar of Mansfield has two houses with a total of 41,000 square feet. No equipment. Tel. 1-860-456-1013.
7. Harold Leiberman of Lebanon has one 7,200 square foot house with feeders and community nests. Tel. 1-860-642-7018.
New Secretary Nominating Committee Report: The nominating committee recommended that Bud Gavitt be elected Secretary for the CPA. The motion to have Bud serve as Secretary was approved. Bud succeeds Alton Van Dyke of the state Department of Agriculture, who held this post for the last 15 years.
Hartford Regional Market Tour: Jim Rock is planning to have a tour of the Hartford Regional Market to determine the feasibility of establishing a small poultry processing plant there. Karen Strong of Vernon and Steve Bibula of Woodbridge Farm in Salem, among others, have expressed strong interest in such facility. Jim said UConn Extension Facility can help small flock owners with setting up the facility.
New Business:
Connecticut Farm Bureau Bills of Interest to the Poultry Industry: A discussion was held regarding Connecticut Farm Bureau bills of interest to the poultry industry. This includes a proposal to merge the State Department of Agriculture into another department, a move the CPA strongly opposes.
Suggestions for Poultry Policy Resolutions: Suggestions were sought for poultry resolutions and have them presented at the June 3, 2003, Annual Poultry Meeting and Banquet. President Rock appointed the following Committee: Chair Gary Proctor, Donald Bourdeau, Steve Bibula, Morris Burr, Dr. Michael Darre, Bud Gavitt, Dr. Mazhar Khan, Larry Lomabard, Frank Manfreda Jr. This committee will meet on May 8, 2003, at the Main Street Café in Willimantic to draft the resolutions.
Set Date and Place for Next Meeting: The annual meeting and banquet for the Connecticut Poultry Association will be held Tuesday June 3, 2003, at Jenneys’ Restaurant in Storrs, starting at 6:00 p.m.
Adjourn:
A motion to adjourn was made at 10 p.m.
Respectively submitted
Bud Gavitt, Secretary
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