This week, NCC SVP of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Ashley Peterson, along with team members from NCC Allied Leader Rabobank, traveled to Lincoln, NE to visit with NCC member Lincoln Premium Poultry, to meet with leadership and tour both the company’s headquarters and its chicken processing plant.
L-R: Hunter Odom, Rabobank; Peterson; Micki Donegan, Rabobank; Christine McCracken, Rabobank
L-R: Jessica Kolterman, Lincoln Premium; Peterson; Dr. Luke Baldwin, Lincoln Premium
U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending July 18, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 171,980,000 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 | ||||||||||
| 13 | 254,493 | 101 | 198,318 | 102 | 253,609 | 102 | 195,753 | 102 | 172,275 | 101 |
| 20 | 252,943 | 101 | 198,971 | 102 |
256,827 | 103 | 198,754 | 104 | 173,125 | 102 |
| 27 | 252,474 | 101 | 198,677 | 102 |
256,143 | 102 | 198,147 | 103 | 175,775 | 100 |
| Jul | ||||||||||
| 4* | 254,509 | 101 | 197,108 | 101 |
256,545 | 102 | 198,526 | 103 | 162,227 | 113 |
| 11 | 254,435 | 103 | 195,555 | 100 |
257,171 | 103 | 198,833 | 103 | 174,700 | 101 |
| 18 | 253,883 | 102 | 195,352 | 101 |
255,377 | 102 | 197,500 | 102 | 171,980 | 100 |
| 25 | — | — | — | — |
256,660 | 102 | 198,472 | 103 | — | — |
*July 4th Holiday Weekend
WHAT HAPPENED: State poultry associations representing 19 separate states this week sent a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) urging the committee to include the House-passed Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act in the Senate Farm Bill. “On behalf of the undersigned state poultry associations and the thousands of farm families, growers, and processors we represent, we write to express our strong support for the House-passed provision allowing SNAP recipients to purchase hot rotisserie chicken, and to respectfully urge you to include this commonsense, no-cost fix in the Senate’s Farm Bill,” the letter said.
WHY IT MATTERS: Under current law, SNAP recipients may purchase a cold rotisserie chicken – the very same bird, but refrigerated – but not a hot one. The letter notes that a hot rotisserie chicken is one of the best values in the grocery store, a complete, ready-to-eat protein for less than $7 on average, according to USDA.
HOW DID WE GET HERE: Governors from eight states have requested waivers to allow hot rotisserie chicken to be purchased via SNAP, but USDA has not granted them due to lack of authority. The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan amendment led by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI) to include the bill into H.R. 7567, its version of the Farm Bill. The amendment passed by an overwhelming 384-35 vote. Senators Jim Justice (R-WV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and John Fetterman (D-PA) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate, which has been cosponsored by seven other senators.
WHO SIGNED THE LETTER: The following associations signed onto the letter: Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, California Poultry Federation, Delmarva Chicken Association (DE, MD, VA), Georgia Poultry Federation, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Michigan Allied Poultry Industries, Mississippi Poultry Association, North Carolina Poultry Federation, Northwest Chicken Council (OR, WA), Ohio Poultry Association, PennAg Industries Association, Tennessee Poultry Federation, Texas Poultry Federation, The Poultry Federation (AR, MO, OK), and the Virginia Poultry Federation.
NCC’S TAKE: NCC strongly supported and advocated for the amendment in the House Farm Bill, and views this week’s letter from 19 state poultry associations as a powerful reinforcement of that effort.
WHAT’S NEXT: We are urging the Senate, as they consider their version of the Farm Bill, to build on this momentum and add this provision that costs nothing, requires no new spending, and simply extends an existing benefit to a ready-to-eat protein that’s already one of the best values in the grocery store.
Upon learning the news earlier this week of the sudden passing of the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), NCC released the following statement:
“We are saddened by the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. As a longtime member of the Congressional Chicken Caucus, he understood the importance of poultry to South Carolina and to America’s farm families. Our thoughts are with his family, staff, and the people of South Carolina during this difficult time.”
Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to finish out his term — she was sworn in July 14, becoming the first woman to represent South Carolina in the Senate. She serves until Jan. 3, 2027.
South Carolina law calls for a special primary election around August 11, with a possible runoff August 25, to pick a new GOP nominee for November.
WHAT HAPPENED: Nothing yet, but the 2026 Chicken Marketing Summit is nearly here, taking place July 27-29 at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. This year’s theme, “The Protein Moment,” puts the spotlight on one of the biggest storylines in food marketing today: how chicken is uniquely positioned to capitalize on surging consumer demand for protein. Registration remains open, and NCC members still have time to make plans to attend.
WHY IT MATTERS: Aging demographics, fitness culture and the rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications are driving a boom in high-protein eating — and chicken stands to benefit more than any other protein. Its affordability, versatility and near-universal cultural acceptance give it an edge few other proteins can match, fitting a wide range of diets and lifestyles without cultural or dietary barriers. The growing “eat real food” movement, including the emphasis on protein in the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, plays directly to chicken’s strengths. Capitalizing on the protein moment without losing consumer trust — is the kind of strategic marketing conversation Summit attendees can expect this year.
WHAT’S NEXT: With the event less than two weeks away, now is the time to lock in travel plans and register if you haven’t already. Sessions will dig into how chicken can win on “protein plus” positioning, avoid the pitfalls of overprocessing, and stay top-of-mind with consumers navigating a crowded protein marketplace. Full registration details and the full agenda can be found here. NCC will have more Summit coverage in the weeks ahead.
U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending July 11, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 174,700,000 broilers, a 1-percent increase from the same week a year earlier.
The 1-percent increase in slaughter compares with a 3-percent increase in eggs set in the United States, 10 weeks earlier, and a 3-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 | ||||||||||
| 6 | 257,097 | 102 | 198,472 | 103 | 256,471 | 103 | 198,480 | 104 | 173,295 | 103 |
| 13 | 254,493 | 101 | 198,338 | 102 | 253,609 | 102 | 195,753 | 102 | 172,275 | 101 |
| 20 | 253,036 | 101 | 198,971 | 102 |
256,827 | 103 | 198,754 | 104 | 173,125 | 102 |
| 27 | 255,834 | 102 | 198,677 | 102 |
256,143 | 102 | 198,147 | 103 | 175,775 | 100 |
| Jul | ||||||||||
| 4* | 254,509 | 101 | 197,128 | 101 |
256,545 | 102 | 198,526 | 103 | 162,227 | 113 |
| 11 | 254,005 | 103 | 195,709 | 100 |
257,171 | 103 | 198,833 | 103 | 174,700 | 101 |
| 18 | — | — | — | — |
255,377 | 102 | 197,500 | 102 | — | — |
*July 4th Holiday Weekend
WHAT HAPPENED: The White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) has published the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions, a snapshot of rules federal agencies plan to propose or finalize.
WHAT IS IN IT IMPORTANT TO CHICKEN: Several entries in it touch broiler production, HPAI response, and grower contracting. Of note:
- Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) rescissions (AMS): Three Biden-era PSA rules are teed up for formal rescission via new rulemaking including the “Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity” rule, the “Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments” rule, and the “Poultry Grower Payment Systems and Capital Improvement Systems” rule. A related final rule already delayed the payment-systems rule’s effective date until December 31, 2027; the rescission proposed rule is the next step in unwinding it.
- Line speed modernization (FSIS): FSIS’s Maximum Line Speed Rates for Young Chicken and Turkey Establishments Operating Under the New Poultry Inspection System (NPIS) remains listed; the comment period closed April 20, 2026, and the agency is now working toward a final rule.
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) import requirements (APHIS): This proposed rule would shorten the current 90-day waiting period before live birds and avian commodities can be imported from a region after an HPAI-affected premises is cleared, aligning the U.S. standard with World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) benchmarks.
- National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) biennial update (APHIS): A proposed rule would codify changes to NPIP regulations approved by voting delegates at the 2024 NPIP Biennial Conference.
- Payment of Indemnity and Compensation for HPAI (APHIS): APHIS is moving to finalize its December 2024 interim final rule requiring commercial poultry premises to pass a biosecurity audit before restocking after an HPAI outbreak, or before buffer-zone premises can move birds onto the property.
- SNAP “eligible food” definition (FNS): Tied to the administration’s MAHA initiative, this proposed rule would narrow what qualifies as “eligible food” under SNAP, which could have downstream effects on chicken as a covered protein.
WHY IT MATTERS: Several of these items are top priorities for NCC and the Unified Agenda provides a clear window into USDA’s rulemaking priorities.
NCC’s TAKE: “We thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for their work in cutting unnecessary red tape on businesses and producers, including the Biden administration’s Packers and Stockyard rules,” said Harrison Kircher, President, National Chicken Council. “These rules were rushed, one-size-fits-all mandates that would have added compliance costs and legal uncertainty without benefiting farmers or consumers. We trust this Administration to regulate competitive markets, support American agriculture, and protect consumers — not through duplicative federal mandates, but through common-sense oversight that reflects how the modern broiler industry actually works. NCC and its members look forward to continuing to work with USDA on policies that strengthen the entire chicken supply chain, reward farmers, and keep America’s #1 protein affordable for American consumers.”
WHAT’S NEXT: We will monitor the Federal Register for the publication of rules pertaining to all the topics previously mentioned. NCC will have opportunities to comment on each PSA rescission proposed rule once available. Regarding line speeds, the next milestone is for FSIS to publish a final rule. We will continue tracking timing and circulating comment deadlines as dockets open.
Source: NBC News
