Mission Statement & Highlights
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As a national leader in the poultry industry, DPI is a highly respected and innovative organization working for the continued progress of the poultry industry through:
• Promotion of the chicken industry
• Membership services
• Government and public affairs
• Educational programs
2009 Promotion of the Chicken Industry
*Spoke as the united voice for Delmarva's chicken industry
*Sponsored the 60th Delmarva Chicken Festival in Queen Anne's County, Maryland attended by more than 20,000 persons
*Offered No Farms? No Food! tee shirts
*Increased chicken consumption through a promotion with local Arby's restaurants
*Promoted the chicken industry at various state fairs, festivals, and other forums
*Advocated for agricultural issues to enhance Delmarva's quality of life
*Promoted chicken consumption and safe food handling practices
*Distributed more that 20,000 recipes and other promotional materials, including monthly recipes to The Delmarva Farmer
*Conducted factual and positive news media interviews and distributed industry-related press releases
2009 Membership Services
*Planted trees around chicken houses for environmental and neighbor relations purposes
*Kept members informed of DPI and industry activities through DPI in Action and Timely Topics newsletters
*Saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for members through our third electric buying group
*Continued an experimental on-farm electric generator program to earn money for growers
*Met with persons proposing different uses for chicken manure
*Offered members a vision care discount program through Accurate Optical and Halpern Eye Associates
*Recognized outstanding growers and individuals at the 53rd DPI Booster Banquet
*Led the Incident Command System responsible for planning and responses to emergency poultry diseases
2009 Educational Programs
*Sponsored the internationally recognized 44th National Meeting on Poultry Health and Processing
*Presented positive, educational programs about the chicken industry to civic and service organizations and student groups
*Created the DPI college scholarship program and awarded $10,000
*Distributed educational materials to members and to the general public
*Increased youth awareness of the chicken industry through support of Ag in the Classroom programs, FFA, 4-H, and other educational activities
*Began updates to DPI's two educational and promotional videotapes, thanks to a grant from the United Soybean Board
2009 Government and Public Affairs
*Provided strong and effective legislative and regulatory representation in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
*Spent considerable time on federal and state environmental issues
*Hosted 700 persons at three meetings with EPA to explain the new federal CAFO program
*Reviewed and responded to Chesapeake Bay regulatory and legislative issues
*Represented growers and other members aggressively in the environmental arena
*Spoke up for chicken industry at countless local, state, and national meetings
*Participated in two national meetings to protect and expand animal agriculture
*Served on USDA committees in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia to direct environmental dollars to poultry growers
*Served on Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore Tributary Team
*Fought unwise and unnecessary government regulations
