ag-formation

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE                                  Telephone (803) 734-2210
D. LESLIE TINDAL, COMMISSIONER                                        Becky Walton, Director of Public Information
P.O. Box 11280, Columbia, South Carolina 29211                                  bwalton@scda.state.sc.us
www.scda.state.sc.us


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 03, 2002

Small Flock Certification Program

CLEMSON---A Small Flock Certification Program will be held May 24 and May 25, 2002 at Clemson Unviersity. The program will begin on Friday, May 24th at 1:30 PM with NPIP certification classes, followed by a necropsy laboratory and disease and parasites of poultry.

On Saturday, the program is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM and end at 4 PM. Topics that day will include Nutrition, Biosecurity, Rodent Control, Farm Management Plan and Genetics.

Clemson University Extension Service and the SC Department of Agriculture have developed the Small Flock Certification Program, designed to bring small poultry flocks into compliance with the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP). Since the commercial poultry industry in South Carolina is valued at $1.5 billion, preventing disease infestations between small and/or commercial flocks is essential. In addition, following the NPIP provides small flock owners with better quality poultry. The criteria for becoming certified in the program requires that each flock be NPIP Certified and the flock owner be a certified tester. NPIP workshops will be offered twice a year.

For more information, contact Dr. Michelle Hall, Clemson University Extension Service, at 864-656-4022 or email.

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