Princess Anne, MD October 2, 2006 – Today, Congressman Wayne Gilchrest and USDA Rural Development State Director Marlene Elliott announced a $500,000 grant to support a pilot poultry house project that is expected to enhance the conditions for raising commercial broilers on the Eastern Shore. "This project could be a revolution for the poultry industry and have tremendous benefits for the environment, the growers, and consumers," said U.S. Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-Maryland-1^st).  "It is literally a win-win proposal and I am proud that USDA Rural Development has recognized the potential that it offers."

  The poultry industry is under continuous pressure to change -- from environmental, occupational and health issues to better air quality, animal welfare and increased profits to the growers. Maryland Hawk Corporation, a non-profit affiliate with the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), is the recipient of the USDA Rural Development funding and is partnering with AviHome LLC a manufacturing firm that is in the process of developing a new poultry house of the future. The new products will be tested in the Environmental Poultry House located on the UMES campus and will be designed so that they can be retrofit to existing chicken houses. The new products consist of new flooring and a new ventilation system. The new flooring will replace pine shavings that are typically used in the industry and would provide a "litter-less" environment that will remove moisture from manure and reduce the smell of ammonia. Less ammonia will provide a better living environment for the birds, and improved working conditions for the producer. Reducing ammonia exposure can also improve bird health and performance. Results from studying the new ventilation system would provide the poultry industry with an alternative method in which to heat and cool poultry houses.

"The Maryland Hawk Corporation/AviHome LLC pilot project will help create 13 jobs, but the indirect impact that it could have on our local economy, the region and as a nation is staggering," said Daniel S. Kuennen, executive Director, Maryland Hawk Corporation.  "The development and retention of the industry in the region is a major goal of the Corporation. The Maryland Hawk Corporation will help to insure a viable public-private partnership." The total cost of the pilot project is expected to be $3.3 million and has a great deal of support from the State of Maryland, UMES, and the poultry industry in general.

USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities. Last year, the agency returned over $100 million to rural Maryland. They have over 40 programs that support agriculture, business opportunities, home ownership, home repair, rental housing, broadband technology, public safety, health care, education, social and cultural needs and energy related projects. Additional information on rural programs is available by calling their State Office at (302) 857-3580 or by visiting their website at www.rurdev.usda.gov.

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