Miller Poultry expanding
News Coverage:
Herald Republican
July 8, 2016
Miller Poultry expanding
Amy Oberlin | KPCNews
Orland -
Miller Poultry, one of Steuben County’s largest employers, is getting bigger.
The company broke ground Tuesday on an expansion to accommodate its continued growth. The processing plant has added a second shift and is processing 650,000 birds weekly. Miller Poultry currently employs around 800 people.
Along with the expansion, the company plans to start a breeder operation. The breeder project will add approximately 52 new contract growers to the area, and add significantly more jobs, said a news release.
The project is tentatively scheduled for completion in early 2018.
“Miller Poultry is excited for the opportunity to expand our business and bring jobs to the local area. This will also make our business more sustainable and help us continue to produce good quality products to the end producer,” said Galen Miller, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Miller Poultry.
The breeder operation will make Miller Poultry more sustainable as it will produce fertile eggs for its hatchery in Goshen. It currently purchases eggs through an agreement with another producer.
“This addition will mean that we are raising hens and roosters and producing our own eggs to hatch — so a very major move for us,” said Sally Durbin, administrative coordinator. “This start-up location is in Michigan, as we want the genetics for the egg production somewhat isolated from our actual growing chickens for biosecurity reasons.”
The breeder operation will add a new facet to the business and add more employees and contracted growers.
“The plant has expanded and, of course, as we continue to grow more decisions will need to be made on what that means for the processing plant,” said Durbin.
Miller Poultry is now feeding 100 percent non-GMO grains in its antibiotic-free program that parallels organic-fed birds, said the news release. Durbin said all grains are certified non-GMO company-wide. Miller also has a certified organic program.
Durbin said going completely non-GMO has taken a lot of dedication from the company and its employees as they meet protocol for the certification process.
“Every truckload of grain is tested,” said said.
The Miller Poultry brand will soon be carrying the Project Verified Non-GMO label. It is in the United States Department of Agriculture approval process at this time.
