The National Turkey Federation, United Egg Producers and the University of Georgia applaud the work of Congress to include $114 million to fully fund renovations and critical upgrades to the Southeast Poultry Disease Research Laboratory (SEPRL) in Athens, Georgia. The groups appreciate House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee leadership and staff for including the funding within the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which was passed late last week by both House and Senate.

“The SEPRL is a critical research partner to ensuring a healthy and sustaining U.S. turkey industry,” said National Turkey Federation President Joel Brandenberger. “During a challenging 2015 spring filled with the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in turkeys SEPRL played an instrumental role that minimized the impacts to the turkey industry through vaccine research and development as well as other practices that we hope leads to virus eradication. This funding allows for modern facility upgrades consistent with program missions, goals and requirements that will more adequately address emerging and exotic diseases which threaten the U.S. turkey industry. ”

“United Egg Producers are eternally grateful to the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee leadership and staff who worked so hard to provide funding for the Southeast Poultry Research Lab,” said United Egg Producers President Chad Gregory. “After weathering the worst animal health crisis in the history of our industry with the HPAI outbreaks, it’s comforting to know that our Congressional champions responded by providing a world class USDA research facility to better understand and combat poultry diseases.”

“The University of Georgia appreciates the strong investment provided in the 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill for the Southeast Poultry Disease Research Laboratory in Athens, Georgia. This facility represents a highly successful collaboration between the University and USDA. The lab and the research that takes place there are critical not only to Georgia but to the entire nation. Georgia leads the nation in poultry production, and this lab will assure that we continue to be a leader in producing healthy and safe poultry products for the world.” said University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead.