Nearly 300 participants attended the UEP Area Briefings held in four cities across the U.S. The pertinent updates and open discussion provided guidance for UEP leaders and staff to represent the best interests of egg farmers on several issues.

With the Area Chairmen presiding and Chad Gregory, Oscar Garrison, and Dr. Larry Sadler sharing updates, the following topics were covered at each briefing:

• Updates on state legislation impacting hen housing
• The new UEP Certified Cage-Free logo and website
• The new UEP Certified Portal
• Update on the global landscape of in-ovo sexing
• FDA’s utilization of whole genome sequencing and the implications for the egg industry
• AMS plant sanitation training and calibration
• Responding to an FDA 483
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• EGGPAC Report and area nominations to the UEP Board

This year, UEP staff tested using a webinar format for the briefing normally held in Atlanta. Though successful for sharing industry issues, discussion was limited due to the digital format. UEP staff will continue to evaluate options for timely and effective member engagement.

Thank you to the members and allied representatives that attended. Those who could not attend can view the webinar here.  For meeting handouts, email Audrey Wierson at awierson@unitedegg.com.

All the issues presented at the Area Briefings, and more, will be discussed at UEP’s Annual Board Meeting and Executive Conference being held at The Greenbrier, October 14-17.