Having unexpected mortality in poultry is never a good thing. Valuable resources for producers in Alabama are the four State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories.

For backyard poultry from Alabama submitted to one of these labs, a case accession fee of $10 is charged for a group of up to five birds. Lab services include diagnosing diseases or other problems using the lab techniques of microscopy, culturing, serology, or molecular techniques.

After a diagnosis has been made, the lab may provide recommendations to prevent the problem. With this information, an effective plan can be devised to prevent or eliminate further losses.

Before submitting a sample, call the closest diagnostic lab to clarify what type of specimen is needed. If the lab is too far, overnight ship fresh dead birds that are properly chilled and packaged. Notify the lab in advance that the box is coming.

The basic procedures for submitting poultry samples to a diagnostic lab are as follows:

Collecting Samples

• For birds less than 1 week old, recent mortality (less than 24 hours) is preferred.
• For birds more than 1 week old, the best sample usually includes several very sick birds and recent mortality. Call the lab for recommendations on the proper sample size.
• If there is a production problem, such as poor growth rate or egg laying, collect a random sample of live birds and daily mortality for submission.
• An accession number will be assigned when the sample has been received at the diagnostic lab. Test results will be mailed to the mailing address provided on the submission. Not all submitted animals will be returned.

Submitting Samples

Samples to be submitted can be dropped off at one of the four labs. All birds should be placed in coops or cardboard boxes. Be sure that the bottom of the box is taped. If the box isn’t big enough, get another one. For live birds, it is better to have too much room than too little room.

Submission forms are available at each diagnostic lab or on the Alabama Veterinary Diagnostic Labs website. Fill out the form completely, including the flock history; sample size; symptoms; suspected diseases; and size of flock, age, and county where the birds are located. Then take samples to one of the four diagnostic labs:

Thompson Bishop Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory

• 890 Simms Road
• Auburn, AL 36832-2209
• (334) 844-4987

Mitchem-Sparks State Diagnostic Laboratory

• 1833 Industrial Boulevard
• Boaz, AL 35957
• (256) 593-2995

J. B. Taylor Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

• 495 State Road 203
• Elba, AL 36323
• (334) 897-6340

Hinton Mitchem Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory

• 1001 Industrial Road
• Hanceville, AL 35077-0409
• (256) 352-8036

Reminder: If mailing the samples, be sure that the lab is notified before shipping.

Problems

• Frozen poultry. DO NOT FREEZE dead poultry. Recent mortalities should be kept refrigerated or in a cooler with ice.
• Number of birds submitted. Call the lab first to discuss your problem and request a recommendation on the number and type of birds to submit.
• Flock history. It is important to maintain good record keeping with your flock. This includes the age of the birds, any new additions or subtractions to the flock, a change in egg laying, and the number of birds that have died each day.
• Sick birds. Select only birds that have symptoms typical of the primary problem. Birds that were easy to catch or have unusual lesions inconsistent with the typical mortality are not good choices to submit. Submitting all live or all dead birds can make determining a diagnosis more difficult. With all live birds, the submitted birds may not have been infected with the disease-causing agent. With all dead birds, the disease-causing organism may be difficult to isolate and identify.

For more information, visit the Alabama State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories website. The state diagnostic laboratories are a program of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

Annual ryegrass has long been a major weed in small grain production, but now Alabama wheat producers have one more tool they can use to minimize its negative impact. Anthem Flex (pyroxasulfone + carfentrazone) may now be used as a preemergence application right behind the planter, which expands the window of treatment opportunity for farmers.

Prior to this approval, pyroxasulfone products like Zidua, Anthem Flex, or Fierce EZ were only labeled as a delayed-preemergence or early-postemergence treatment to wheat. This meant that growers needed to wait until the wheat had a shoot at least ½-inch long before applications could be made. Considering that annual ryegrass germinates and emerges simultaneously with wheat, this is a small window of treatment opportunity, especially for farmers trying to cover large acreage.

For farmers who have a known history of annual (Italian) ryegrass populations, Anthem Flex may be used as a broadcast preemergence treatment at planting from 2.75 to 4.5 fluid ounces per acre, depending on soil type.

This should only be applied to a uniform, prepared seedbed to ensure proper row closure and soil coverage over the seed. There is a risk of wheat stunting if rainfall washes herbicide onto exposed seed during germination. Therefore, do not apply to broadcast seeded wheat or if heavy rainfall is expected immediately after planting or herbicide application.

This label approval by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries comes after more than 2 years of field research, which has been supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Wheat and Feed Grain Division and industry partner FMC, an agricultural sciences company.

Food service establishments fall into one of four categories based on the ingredients and processes they employ. Owners must understand how their establishment is classified because that classification affects facility and training requirements and inspection frequency.

Category 1

You may be Category 1 if Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods are received commercially prepackaged and sold in the original packaging. Examples: Commercially packaged ice cream or deli meat.

Category 2

You may be Category 2 if no raw animal products are used, hot foods are not cooled, and customer contact utensils are single use. Examples: Shaved ice, popcorn, hard cheese, dip ice cream, and lunch meats received fully cooked from a permitted facility.

Category 3*

You may be Category 3 if raw animal products are used, food is cooled and reheated, or customer contact utensils are reused. Examples: Restaurants that use raw meat or eggs and bars that reuse cups.

Category 4*

You may be Category 4 if the operation falls under category 2 or 3 and performs operations that require a variance or HACPP plan. Examples: Establishments that produce raw sprouts or cure meats to prolong shelf life.

Customer contact utensils = Items, such as plates, bowls, silverware, etc., used by the consumer.

TCS = Food that requires time and/or temperature control for safety.

Raw animal products = Things such as uncooked meat, fish, poultry, seafood, eggs.

*Category 3 and 4 establishments are required to have someone who meets the requirements for Food Safety Manager Certification on-site at all times.

Home lawns are one of the most popular topics of discussion in horticulture. To help answer questions about turfgrass, From the Ground Up! Podcast host Brian Brown welcomes David Han, Alabama Cooperative Extension System commercial horticulture specialist, to discuss home lawns.

Do you want to take your gardening knowledge to the next level? Do you love volunteering? Are you passionate about your community? Register now to become an Alabama Cooperative Extension System Master Gardener (EMG).

The EMG program is familiar to many Alabama residents. However, the program’s delivery methods have recently changed, making attendance and participation easier for those wishing to participate. Emily Burchfield, the EMG program administrator, said the statewide schedule allows individuals from across the state to learn and grow together.

“We have worked hard to make the statewide course schedule something that appeals to all of our EMG interns,” Burchfield said. “Encouraging all of our counties to hold classes at the same time brings strength and depth of service. We are looking forward to the fall course and hope to have many Alabama residents join us as EMG volunteers.”

Registration and Spring Courses

Registration for the EMG spring courses opened Nov. 1. Those who are interested need to register online to begin the application process. Registrants will receive an email with instructions for completing the remainder of the process. Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30.

The courses begin January 18, 2024, and wrap up April 11, 2024. To become a certified volunteer, interns must earn an Extension Master Gardener Course Certificate and complete a minimum of 50 Extension volunteer hours within a 12-month period. Attendees do not have to complete an EMG course in their county of residence but should note that travel will be required for any EMG course completion.

To register and to see a comprehensive list of counties facilitating a spring EMG course, visit the Become an Alabama Extension Master Gardener Volunteer web page at www.aces.edu.

About Master Gardeners

The concept of the Master Gardener volunteer program began at Washington State University. In Alabama, it began in 1981 with Gary Murray, an Extension agent, and Mary Lou McNabb, a Cornell Extension Master Gardener who moved to Huntsville.

The EMG program represents an effective partnership between Alabama’s land-grant universities, Alabama Extension agents and motivated volunteers. To that end, volunteers have opportunities to work with Extension programs, federal, state and county agencies, and local schools and organizations. Many communities benefit from EMG beautification projects and volunteers. EMG volunteers also devote lots of time and effort to local schools and students.

Garden-U

Not interested in volunteering? Unable to travel? Interested in research-based gardening? Register for the Alabama Extension horticulture training course as a Garden-U participant and receive a certificate upon completion of the training. Because there is no volunteer commitment, Garden-U participants do not become Alabama Master Gardeners. Learn more about Garden-U at www.aces.edu.

Host Olivia Fuller welcomes Harli Willis of Alabama Extension to talk about one of Extension’s newest programs, Operation Grow. The duo speaks about how the program is helping military veterans across Alabama in episode 13 of the Farming Basics Podcast.