WHAT HAPPENED: In the March 27, 2026, Constituent Update, FSIS announced that establishments with updated retained water protocols would have one final extension until January 1, 2027, to make any necessary label changes. This additional time would help ensure that industry can obtain sufficient label materials and update any product labels, as necessary, by the deadline. Establishments still seeking review and approval of their retained water protocol must submit it with the associated data through askFSIS by June 1, 2026.
WHY IT MATTERS: In January 2025, FSIS published a final revised guideline providing a new equation to calculate moisture retention in meat and poultry products. In many cases, the new formula resulted in elevated and highly variable retained water percentages for the exact same product, with no actual change in an establishment’s procedures and processes.
NCC’s TAKE: While industry appreciates the additional time, the calculation remains unchanged and the concerns remain left largely unaddressed. NCC filed extensive comments on the guidelines and requested an extension of implementation dates, as the new calculation has led to higher and more variable retained moisture values. In the comments, we argued that the change did not go through the formal rule-making process, it lacked scientific justification, could have trade impacts, and lead to consumer confusion.
NEXT STEPS: We will continue to work with our members to navigate through these changes. Questions regarding retained water protocols can be sent to the Office of Policy and Program Development (OPPD) through askFSIS by selecting the “New Technology, Innovations” Inquiry Type.
After a two-week spring district work period, both chambers of Congress are scheduled to return to Washington on April 14. Lawmakers are coming back to a full plate — with several unresolved and contentious issues on the agenda.
Other than the war in Iran, the most pressing item is the ongoing partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which has now dragged on since February 14. The House passed a short-term bill to fund DHS through May 22, but the Senate passed a different version that would fund most of the department except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of Customs and Border Protection. The two chambers went into recess without reconciling those bills.
Republican leaders in both chambers have coalesced around a two-track approach: passing a bipartisan bill to fund most of DHS and reopen the agency, while separately pursuing budget reconciliation to fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection — allowing those priorities to pass with a simple Senate majority without needing Democratic votes.
Of note to the chicken industry, House Appropriations subcommittees have scheduled hearings next week on President Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget requests:
- Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins will testify before the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.
- Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will testify before the House Appropriations Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee on Thursday at 11 a.m.
WHAT HAPPENED? The U.S. Court of International Trade will hear oral arguments today in New York City in State of Oregon, et al. v. Trump, a lawsuit brought by 24 states challenging the administration’s use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose a new round of global tariffs. The action follows the Supreme Court’s February 20 ruling that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not authorize the president to unilaterally set tariffs — prompting the administration to pursue tariffs under a different legal authority.
WHY IT MATTERS: The plaintiff states argue the tariffs violate the Constitution’s separation of powers and do not meet Section 122’s statutory requirements. The effective U.S. tariff rate now stands at roughly 8 percent — more than double the 3 percent rate in place before January 2025. States estimate they face at least $748 million per year in additional costs.
NEXT STEPS: The three-judge panel will decide whether to block the tariffs while the case proceeds. Any ruling is expected to be appealed, potentially returning the matter to the Supreme Court.
WHAT HAPPENED? The Joint Poultry Industry Safety Award Program recently announced it is accepting applications from poultry industry facilities that have demonstrated exceptional safety programs.
WHO CAN APPLY? This award program is open to members of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF), and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY). Eligible facilities include poultry processing plants, further processing facilities, egg processing plants, hatcheries, feed mills, animal support services and rendering facilities. To qualify, applicants must have implemented innovative and effective safety programs as well as have maintained injury and illness rates below the industry average for three consecutive years.
WHY IT MATTERS: The poultry processing industry has demonstrated consistent and remarkable improvement in worker safety training, programs and results. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the poultry industry reported an injury rate of 2.4 per 100 full-time workers. This marks a 90% reduction from 1994, when the recorded rate was 22.7, the oldest data available from BLS.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Working safely is part of our industry’s values of taking care of our folks,” said Rick Hellinga, senior director of Safety, Health and Loss Prevention at Simmons Foods and chair of the Joint Poultry Industry Safety & Health Council. “Our workforce is at the heart of producing nutritious, affordable food, and the industry is continually advancing safety practices, training and technology to reduce workplace hazards. As a result, we have seen meaningful progress in reducing injuries and illnesses over the years.”
NCC’s TAKE: We encourage members to apply for the awards and highlight their tremendous progress in advancing worker safety.
NEXT STEPS: Award program rules, regulations and application forms can be accessed here. The application deadline is May 15. The annual awards will be presented during the National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry, Aug. 17-19, at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Destin, Fla.
Online registration is now open for the National Chicken Council’s 2026 Summer Board of Directors Meeting, which will be held June 11-13 in Jackson Hole, WY. This meeting will offer a unique opportunity to discuss important matters and collaborate with fellow industry leaders. It is open to NCC board members, allied leader representatives, and invited guests only.
For more information, questions, sponsorship opportunities, or to register, please contact Polina Burko at [email protected].
The National Chicken Council is most grateful for the continuing support of our sponsors:
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Chicken exports in January 2026 increased 2.8 percent in quantity; decreased 3.7 percent in value when compared with January 2025, according to USDA.
Chicken exports for January 2026 were as follows:
| U.S. Chicken Exports in the Month of January | ||||||
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 2025 | 2026 | Change | 2025 | 2026 | Change | |
| metric tons | % | million dollars | % | |||
| Chicken Parts | 230,555 | 234,140 | 1.6 | 330.77 | 312.95 | -5.4 |
| Prepared Chicken & Sausages | 10,081 | 10,259 | 1.8 | 43.03 | 41.15 | -4.4 |
| Whole Chickens | 1,538 | 4,604 | 199.3 | 2.82 | 8.60 | 205.0 |
| Total | 242,173 | 249,002 | 2.8 | 376.62 | 362.70 | -3.7 |
Chicken parts exports January 2026 were as follows:
| Destination | U.S. Chicken Parts Exports for the Month of January | |||||
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 2025 | 2026 | Change | 2025 | 2026 | Change | |
| metric tons | % | million dollars | % | |||
| Mexico | 63,964 | 55,012 | -14.0 | 74.88 | 59.68 | -20.3 |
| Cuba | 26,180 | 15,577 | -40.5 | 33.57 | 19.02 | -43.3 |
| Taiwan | 21,040 | 14,421 | -31.5 | 29.71 | 16.91 | -43.1 |
| Vietnam | 7,398 | 14,287 | 93.1 | 8.77 | 15.83 | 80.5 |
| Canada | 14,041 | 13,390 | -4.6 | 36.96 | 34.62 | -6.3 |
| Philippines | 5,960 | 11,770 | 97.5 | 6.88 | 13.83 | 101.0 |
| Guatemala | 11,388 | 11,609 | 1.9 | 15.49 | 14.34 | -7.4 |
| Angola | 5,676 | 9,634 | 69.7 | 6.76 | 11.88 | 75.7 |
| Haiti | 4,387 | 8,044 | 83.3 | 5.01 | 10.32 | 106.0 |
| Turkmenistan | 2,178 | 7,536 | 246.0 | 2.43 | 8.82 | 263.0 |
| Ghana | 4,358 | 5,824 | 33.6 | 6.28 | 8.74 | 39.2 |
| Dominican Republic | 6,089 | 5,298 | -13.0 | 9.37 | 9.04 | -3.5 |
| Hong Kong | 1,807 | 4,597 | 154.4 | 2.72 | 5.80 | 113.2 |
| Colombia | 2,100 | 4,526 | 115.5 | 3.83 | 7.66 | 100.0 |
| Gambia, The | 2,270 | 4,340 | 91.2 | 2.86 | 5.29 | 85.0 |
| Top 15 Countries | 178,836 | 185,864 | 3.9 | 245.52 | 241.78 | -1.5 |
| Other Countries | 51,718 | 48,276 | -6.7 | 85.25 | 71.17 | -16.5 |
| Grand Total | 230,555 | 234,140 | 1.6 | 330.77 | 312.95 | -5.4 |
U.S. total broiler slaughter data for the week ending April 4, 2026, is estimated by USDA’s Poultry Market News Service to be 168,174,000 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- | % | |
| Feb | ||||||||||
| 21 | 254,948 | 102 | 192,408 | 101 |
253,045 | 102 | 196,861 | 102 | 172,407 | 106 |
| 28 | 254,423 | 102 | 193,098 | 101 |
252,529 | 102 | 195,873 | 103 | 170,100 | 101 |
| Mar | ||||||||||
| 7 | 253,744 | 102 | 194,166 | 102 |
252,666 | 102 | 196,122 | 103 | 172,229 | 103 |
| 14 | 254,767 | 102 | 196,111 | 102 |
252,239 | 101 | 194,978 | 101 | 173,432 | 104 |
| 21 | 254,820 | 102 | 195,837 | 102 |
253,361 | 102 | 195,386 | 102 | 170,237 | 102 |
| 28 | 255,665 | 103 | 195,857 | 102 |
254,388 | 103 | 195,573 | 102 | 168,527 | 101 |
| Apr | ||||||||||
| 4* | 252,754 | 102 | 196,420 | 103 |
253,842 | 102 | 195,378 | 102 | 168,174 | 100 |
| 11 | — | — | — | — |
251,111 | 101 | 192,408 | 101 | — | — |
*Easter Holiday Weekend
