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
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.
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!
WHAT HAPPENED: Two systematic reviews funded by the National Chicken Council and conducted by researchers at Purdue University were presented as posters this week at NUTRITION 2026, the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting. Both reviews examined prospective cohort studies to assess whether poultry consumption is associated with chronic disease risk.
WHAT DID THE STUDIES FIND?
Cardiovascular disease: Researchers screened 2,293 articles and included 32 in the final analysis. The review found that higher poultry consumption (roughly 1 to 6 oz/day) was not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease morbidity, mortality, or the combination of both, across the large majority of comparisons. Substituting fish, plant foods, dairy or eggs with poultry showed no association with CVD outcomes, and replacing red or processed meat with poultry was linked to no association or a decreased risk in most comparisons.
Type 2 diabetes: Researchers screened 1,441 articles and identified 21 assessing T2DM morbidity. More than half of comparisons between higher (~35-82 g/day) and lower (~0-10 g/day) poultry intake showed no association with T2DM morbidity, and two-thirds of food-substitution models similarly showed no association.
NCC’s TAKE: “This research adds even more weight to the evidence base behind chicken’s role in what we’re calling the Protein Moment, which is really a Movement,” said NCC spokesperson Tom Super. “As the new Dietary Guidelines take shape, as the Make America Healthy Again movement pushes for real food and real nutrition, and as families look for the best nutrition per calorie and per dollar, chicken keeps proving itself as a lean, affordable, versatile protein with no downside for heart health or diabetes risk. Add in the GLP-1 trend we’re already seeing reshape how Americans eat, and it’s clear: chicken isn’t just meeting the moment, it’s built for it.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The research papers will be submitted to a prominent nutrition journal for peer-review before they are published. Once published, NCC will look for opportunities to put this research in front of dietitians, researchers and media covering the nutritional value of chicken.
WHAT HAPPENED: New consumer research commissioned by the National Chicken Council (NCC) and WATT Global Media, conducted online by Circana in June 2026, finds that GLP-1 medications and artificial intelligence are rapidly changing how Americans shop for, prepare and eat chicken. The survey polled 535 U.S. fresh chicken buyers ages 18-67 and was presented this week at the 2026 Chicken Marketing Summit. A full copy of the presentation is available here.
Funding for the survey was provided by Elanco Animal Health, NCC and WATT Global Media.
WHAT ARE THE KEY FINDINGS:
- GLP-1 use has more than doubled. Twenty-seven percent of respondents said they or someone in their household has used a GLP-1 medication, up from roughly half that share two years ago. These consumers reported snacking less, eating out less, drinking less alcohol, and eating more poultry, fruits and vegetables.
- AI has moved from novelty to everyday tool. More than half of fresh chicken buyers now use AI for recipes and meal inspiration, and about a third use it for meal planning or grocery shopping — with usage up across every category and younger consumers leading adoption.
- Fresh chicken’s position is strengthening. Sixty-four percent of respondents said fresh meat is the best source of protein, up from last year. Consumers also showed a willingness to pay more for free-range, antibiotic-free and locally sourced claims, with Millennials showing the strongest premium tolerance.
- Convenience still matters. Fast preparation time remains the top meal-prep priority, and six in 10 consumers buy groceries online or via a mobile app at least monthly.
NCC’s TAKE: “Chicken is uniquely positioned to meet consumers where they are — whether they’re managing a health goal, short on time or looking for AI-powered meal inspiration,” said Tom Super, spokesman for the National Chicken Council. “This research reinforces why chicken remains America’s protein of choice.”
WHAT’S NEXT: As GLP-1 adoption and AI-assisted shopping continue to climb, expect chicken marketers and retailers to lean further into messaging around freshness, production claims and quick-prep formats to meet consumers where these trends are heading.
Erkin Peksoz, protein practice principal at Circana, delivers the results of the 2026 chicken consumption survey
WHAT HAPPENED: Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen has been named the recipient of the 2026 Chicken Marketer of the Year award, presented this week at the 2026 Chicken Marketing Summit. The award recognized Popeyes’ bold pickle-themed marketing campaign, which turned a limited-time menu launch into a cultural event, driving record guest traffic and widespread consumer engagement.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING: “We are proud to recognize Popeyes as the winner of the 2026 Chicken Marketer of the Year,” said Elizabeth Doughman, editor of WATT PoultryUSA and Poultry Future. “This year’s finalists showcased outstanding creativity and strategic thinking, but Popeyes stood out by building an immersive campaign that extended far beyond the menu. Every customer touchpoint reinforced the same message, creating excitement, driving conversation and ultimately delivering measurable business results.”
The award was accepted by Shelli Laskowitz (L), senior manager, poultry innovation, and Shivangi Singha, senior manager, innovation & activation, both of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
