WHAT HAPPENED: The Senate Agriculture Committee failed to advance Chairman John Boozman’s (R-Ark.) farm bill Thursday on a 10-11 vote. Ten Republicans voted yes in person, while 11 Democrats voted no. Two Republicans — Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the latter sidelined by a health issue — voted yes by proxy, and one Democrat, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), voted no by proxy. Under Senate rules, proxy votes can’t be used to pass a bill but can be used against one, so Slotkin’s proxy “no” counted while the two Republican proxy “yeses” didn’t — sinking the bill 10-11.
WHAT’S THE DISPUTE: The core dispute is over how quickly states must absorb a share of SNAP benefit costs tied to payment error rates, a cost-shift originating in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Boozman’s text includes a one-year compliance window; Democrats, led by ranking member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), pushed for two years, arguing the shorter timeline unfairly penalizes states with smaller error-rate problems.
WHAT’S IN THE BILL FOR CHICKEN: Earlier voice votes had approved an amendment offered by Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) making hot rotisserie chicken SNAP-eligible.
WHAT’S NOT IN THE BILL: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) spoke in support of three amendments that were never brought to a vote, including one with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) to codify three finalized Packers and Stockyards Act rulemakings, and one with Booker and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to create a USDA Office of the Special Investigator for Competition Matters. Booker’s previously floated line-speed amendment was not raised and did not receive a vote.
MCOOL: Only one Republican amendment was offered, from Sen. John Thune (R-SD), that would direct USDA and USTR to propose a World Trade Organization-compliant mandatory Country of Origin beef label. The amendment passed by a 17-6 vote. All 11 Democrats voted “yes” along with GOP Senators Hoeven, Ernst, Hyde-Smith, Grassley, Thune, and Fischer.
NCC’S TAKE: NCC appreciates Sen. Justice’s work to add hot rotisserie chicken to the SNAP program and we will continue to advocate for its inclusion in any version of the Farm Bill that moves forward.
Regarding the PSA and Special Investigator amendments, NCC organized a coalition of the meat and poultry trade associations in Washington, including the Meat Institute, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council, and National Turkey Federation, and communicated our strong opposition in a letter sent directly to the Committee. We will continue to strongly oppose any efforts to include provisions that would impede the free market or would negatively impact the
way livestock or poultry are contracted or marketed.
WHAT’S NEXT: Boozman held the committee in recess rather than adjourning it, meaning it can be called back into session at any time. The committee is expected to resume the markup after the Senate’s August recess, with the chamber scheduled to return the week of September 7 — though Boozman could call members back sooner if a SNAP deal comes together. Until the error-rate delay dispute is resolved, the bill’s path forward is stalled. The House’s own Farm Bill passed in April still awaits reconciliation with whatever the Senate ultimately passes.
Senate Ag Chair Boozman (R-AR) leads the mark-up of the Farm Bill
WHAT HAPPENED: Hormel Foods, based in Austin, MN, has joined the National Chicken Council as an allied leader member company. Chad Randick, Vice President of Government Affairs, will serve as the official representative to NCC.
ABOUT HORMEL FOODS: Founded in 1891 by George A. Hormel in Austin, Minnesota, Hormel Foods has grown from a small regional meatpacking business into a global branded food company and a member of the Fortune 500. While the company remains rooted in its Midwestern heritage, it has expanded its reach to serve consumers around the world.
Over the years, the company has expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including Applegate, Columbus, Fontanini, Ceratti, and Sadler’s Smokehouse. Today, Hormel Foods continues to focus on providing high-quality, convenient, and nutritious food products while building on its long-standing commitment to innovation, quality, and integrity.
To learn more about Hormel Foods, visit their website here.
The Tennessee Poultry Association Annual Meeting & Summer Getaway recently took place last week at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The event featured industry networking, auctions, and guest speakers including NCC’s Ashley Peterson who spoke to the group about regulatory issues facing the broiler industry, food safety and broiler health and welfare. Thank you, Tennessee Poultry, for the invitation!
NCC features in a short spotlight column the official representative from each of our Allied Leader and Allied Member companies. This week’s Allied Leader Spotlight is Austin Jasek, Technical Account Manager, Poultry at Zinpro.
We asked Austin three questions:
In 2-3 sentences, describe what good or service your company provides to the broiler industry.
Zinpro® manufactures performance trace minerals bound in a 1:1 ratio with amino acids. Our science, service, and support create a partnership with customers that advances bird health and performance. Our broiler support tools include the Zinpro® Perfect Carcass® Tool for reducing condemnations and maximizing profits, and the Zinpro® H2O Water Analysis Program™, which helps producers understand water’s impact on flock performance.
Can you briefly describe your position and responsibilities within the company?
As a Technical Account Manager, Poultry at Zinpro, my primary focus is supporting customers and building strong, lasting relationships across their organizations. Working with a diverse range of customers provides opportunities to learn, grow, and develop solutions that help them achieve their goals. My background in poultry nutrition and research allows me to provide science-based recommendations and support informed decision-making. In addition to customer-facing responsibilities, I enjoy serving on graduate student committees and helping organize the Arkansas Nutrition Conference, which allows me to engage with and support the next generation of poultry industry professionals.
What is your favorite chicken dish?
Grilled Marinated Chicken Thighs – marinate 3-4 hours in blend of Dijon mustard, minced garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, honey, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. A nice flavor that pairs well with just about anything.
NCC President George Watts (R) with Jamie Whitten, a Democratic U.S. Representative from Mississippi who served in the House for 53 years (1941–1995). He was the powerful chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations from 1979 through 1992. He previously led its Agriculture Subcommittee for decades, earning the nickname “the permanent secretary of agriculture.” Today, USDA’s Whitten Building is named after him. Photo from 1986.
U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending August 1, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 172,471,000 broilers, no change from the same week a year earlier.
The no change in slaughter compares with a 2-percent increase in eggs set in the United States, 10 weeks earlier, and a 2-percent increase in chicks placed 7 weeks earlier in the United States. USDA’s latest Broiler Hatchery report can be viewed here.
| U.S. Eggs Set, Chicks Placed, Broiler Slaughter Report | ||||||||||
| Week ending | Eggs set | Chicks placed | Eggs set | Chicks placed | Broilers slaughtered | |||||
| change from | change from | 10 weeks previous | 7 weeks previous | |||||||
| 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | 1 year | ||||||
| -000- | % | -000- | % | -000- | % | -000- | % | -000- | % | |
| Jun | ||||||||||
| 27 | 252,451 | 101 | 198,693 | 102 |
256,143 | 102 | 198,147 | 103 | 175,775 | 100 |
| Jul | ||||||||||
| 4* | 251,707 | 100 | 197,202 | 101 |
256,545 | 102 | 198,526 | 103 | 162,227 | 113 |
| 11 | 251,807 | 102 | 195,611 | 100 |
257,171 | 103 | 198,833 | 103 | 174,700 | 101 |
| 18 | 254,422 | 102 | 195,455 | 101 |
255,377 | 102 | 197,500 | 102 | 171,980 | 100 |
| 25 | 254,401 | 102 | 194,507 | 100 |
256,660 | 102 | 198,472 | 103 | 173,011 | 102 |
| Aug | ||||||||||
| 1 | 254,134 | 102 | 194,392 | 101 |
256,395 | 102 | 198,318 | 102 | 172,471 | 100 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — |
257,558 | 102 | 198,971 | 102 | — | — |
*July 4th Holiday Weekend
With Congress now in August recess, NCC’s Washington Report will run on a biweekly basis until Labor Day. The next issue will be Friday, August 21. Thank you for reading!
