Eighty-five poultry growers from Crenshaw, Butler, Montgomery, Lowndes and Conecuh counties attended the Central Alabama Poultry & Egg Association’s quarterly meeting on April 16 at the Tom Harbin Farm Center in Luverne.

“The purpose of the meeting was to provide an opportunity for growers to earn their required CEU’s (continuing education units) so they can manage cleaner and more environmentally friendly operations,” said Russty Parrish, Crenshaw County Extension director. “These CEU’s are required for the larger growers by the Natural Resources Conservation Service so they can maintain the registration of their operations.”

Corey Ellis of Power South Energy Cooperative was one of four speakers, Parrish said. He gave a program on energy efficiency in poultry house lighting. The other speakers were Dr. Sacit F. Bilgili and Dr. John P. Blake, who spoke on alternative litter sources for broilers and litter treatments to control ammonia, respectively.

James McAfee from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management also spoke on air release reporting of ammonia from poultry operations, Parrish said.

The Chicken Shack in Luverne provided a chicken finger dinner for the evening. Power South Energy Cooperative sponsored the dinner. Power South Energy Cooperative provides electricity to South Alabama, Pioneer, Covington and Southern Pine Electric Cooperatives.

The two remaining meetings in 2009 for the CAP&EA will be held July 16 in Greenville and October 15 in Luverne.