Category Archives: My Journalism

Regulatory burden on U.S. poultry industry Reply

My Journalism, Regulation

The U.S. poultry industry is closely regulated by several agencies of the U.S. government, including several within the Department of Agriculture, OSHA, the Food & Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection

EPA is trying to set pollution limits for every basin and sub-basin in the vast Chesapeake Bay watershed. (Photo: US EPA)

EPA is trying to set pollution limits for every basin and sub-basin in the vast Chesapeake Bay watershed. (Photo: US EPA)

Agency. Of these, EPA is the most aggressive in trying to expand its authority over poultry operations. Watt Poultry USA Magazine has just published my article on the topic, entitled “EPA’s heavy hand on the U.S. poultry industry.” I cover EPA’s attempts to rope poultry farms into the type of water pollution control regime used for industrial facilities. It looked to me like EPA was going far beyond its authority. And whaddya know — after the piece went to press, a federal court firmly rejected EPA’s attempt to regulate farms.
But EPA does not give up easily. I cover several other regulatory initiatives and pieces of litigation in the article. Unfortunately the magazine requires a subscription, but if you’re interested, it’s at http://tinyurl.com/Lobb-enviro

Bigger, Tastier Wings Reply

Food, My Journalism

Chicken wings really are getting bigger. I have this on authority of Sally Smith, president and CEO of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar, who says the company used to get ten or eleven wings per pound but now gets only eight or nine. This and other facts are in my article just published in Watt PoultryUSA magazine, based on her presentation to the National Chicken Council last October (long lead time). The piece is, I think, the last echo of my brief stint as a trade journalist from October to February. See it at

Buffalo Wild Wings Sees Growth, Keeps Focus on Chicken

My column on farm safety Reply

My Journalism

I spent a couple of weeks recently with the fine folks at the American Farm Bureau Federation, which is a major provider of news and commentary to the farm press and farm community.  I wrote a piece on agricultural occupational safety, which is important since the farm is actually a rather hazardous place to work.  The column has popped up in farm papers and web sites all over the place.  Here it is: More…

“Angry Birds” and the GIPSA Rule Reply

My Journalism

I used to play Angry Birds but quit because it was so darn hard to line up shots on an iPhone.  (I am now a FreeCell addict.)   However, the concept appealed to my editors at Meatingplace in Print magazine, and they put it in the headline of my article about the “GIPSA Rule” controversy.  It is in the February issue of the magazine, which is now available online.  You have to have a membership, but it’s free!

“Angry Birds” in Meatingplace in Print

Basically I am saying that while no one got everything they wanted in the final rule, the industry has reason to be satisfied, and it cost them only a million bucks.  What a country . . .

My Busy Month in Magazines Reply

My Journalism
Cover of January 2012 issue WATT PoultryUSA

I wrote the cover story in the January issue of WATT PoultryUSA

January is a busy month for me in trade magazines.  First out of the box was WATT PoultryUSA with my report on the Chicken Marketing Seminar in California.  I attended that event as an NCC staff person and of course had no inkling that I would be called upon to write a story about it.  It focuses on the growing role of social media in chicken marketing. You can see it at the WATT PoultryUSA web site: “Chicken suppliers and sellers confront new technology, social issues.”

More…