Next Nest & Headstart Hatching

In the January update, we highlighted the first placement of birds using Next Nest technology. As an employee within our organization this was probably not the first time you’ve heard reference of Next Nest Hatching, Headstart Hatching or both. Often, the two are used interchangeably when referring to the expansion project west of Willmar that took the N1 building from around 10,000 sq. ft. to 110,000 sq. ft., now dubbed Nest 1.

Both companies are newly formed and have similar logos so it’s easy to understand the confusion. Below let’s attempt to distinguish between the two.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

NEXT NEST HATCHING

Next Nest Hatching is the exclusive worldwide licensed distributor of the technology that has been developed in partnership with HatchTech.  Adapting HatchTech’s patented HatchCare technologies (for chickens) to work with turkey poults to provide optimum temperature conditions, feed, fresh water and light to poults as soon as they hatch. The LSI R&D team has spent over two years conducting research and trials with this technology showing that poults hatched with Next Nest Hatching technology (turkey HatchCare) have:

• 20-40% more body weight when leaving the hatchery
• 60% bigger digestive tract
• 26% more body weight at 7 days
• 2% better livability to market (toms)
• 0.9lbs. more body weight at processing

HEADSTART HATCHING

Headstart Hatching is a brand new, state-of-the-art facility (hatchery) that will utilize Next Nest technology to make Next Nest hatched birds available to the turkey industry. Features of the Headstart Hatching facility include:

• 110,000 sq. ft. facility
• Highly automated using Viscon equipment
• Facility can set 45M eggs
• Utilizing Jamesway P40 incubators (60) and HatchTech Microclimbers (18)
• The first turkey live embryo detection system will be installed
• PSP and MPSP machines from Nova-Tech Engineering
• 12 HatchCare machines

An Open House for the turkey industry was held at the new facility in December, with over 200 people attending, to get a glimpse of this exciting new venture. Currently, some staff has been hired with more openings to come.  You’ll see Headstart Hatching (HSH) added to the employee count below, and operations will be in full swing beginning the week of February 12th.

Congratulations to all who have been implemental in getting Next Nest Hatching and Headstart Hatching operational!  It will be fun to see these companies grow and flourish from the start.

Interested in learning more? Here are some links to additional articles and resources that have been published on Next Nest and/or Headstart Hatching.

• Gobbles, March 2023 | Next Nest Hatching
• Watt Poultry, April 2023 | Next Nest Hatching
• Gobbles, February 2024 | Headstart Hatching
• Next Nest Hatching & Headstart Hatching Info Sheet

Nova-Tech Engineering Highlights

submitted by Melissa Wallace

INDUSTRY EXPOS

Nova-Tech Engineering had teams attend the International Production & Poultry Expo in Atlanta, Georgia, and the National Poultry Show in Ontario, Canada. We have also installed our technologies in two new countries, Argentina and El Salvador.

 

CULTURE RECOGNITION PROJECT

In early January 2024, Nova-Tech Engineering launched a Culture Recognition Project to recognize daily displays of the values and pillars that define their culture. In just the first month, an astounding 79 nominations were submitted – each nomination serving as a testament to the hard work, integrity, and passion exhibited by their employees in their daily endeavors. As they move into month two of this project, they are eager to provide ongoing opportunities to recognize and celebrate individuals who exemplify their values and pillars.

Nova-Tech Engineering would like to extend their sincere gratitude to everyone who participated in the Culture Recognition Project thus far, whether through nominations or by embodying their values and pillars in their everyday actions. Your dedication and enthusiasm are what make the company truly special. Let’s continue to champion our values and pillars and celebrate the incredible individuals who embody them!

Employee Recognition

Employee recognition can offer benefits to both employees and organizations and is a powerful tool for motivating, engaging, and retaining employees.  It can come in many forms; verbal praise, written notes, public acknowledgments, employee-to-employee, and more. According to data gathered by Gallup the most effective recognition is “honest, authentic and individualized to how each employee wants to be recognized.”

TURKEY VALLEY FARMS

Beginning in 2024, Turkey Valley Farms has started an Employee of the Month program to recognize outstanding employees who consistently demonstrate exceptional performance, dedication, and contribution to Turkey Valley Farms’ goals and values.

SELECT GENETICS | OSCEOLA, IA

The Select Genetics Osceola Hatchery began an Employee of the Month program in February of 2023.  The program has been enjoyable for the employees and a wonderful way to recognize and appreciate the hard work they are putting in.  Congratulations to all of the 2023 recipients!

• February– Manuel Vasquez (Service)
• March– Timoteo Lozas Perez (Truck Shop)
• April-Keylin Gonsalez (Egg Room)
• May-Jose Ynguanzo (Maintenance)
• June-Enrrique Vela (Hatch)
• July-Walter Meija (Egg Room)
• August-Pedro Rodriguez (Hatch)
• September-Donald Van Sickle (Truck Shop)
• October-Lucilia Munos (Laundry)
• November -Dominga Cortez Martinez (Service)
• December-Rolando Santillan Hernandez (Maintenance)

Benefits Spotlight

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

Frequently in the updates we’ll highlight webinars and educational resources offered from both MMA (MarshMcLennan Agency) and Empower. Below is an explanation of the difference between the two. Both offer some great educational resources that all employees can utilize for future planning!

MMA | VOICES OF REASON DURING VOLATILE MARKETS

Check out the most recent message from our MMA Advisors discussing how to learn from the voices of reason during a volatile market season. There are also several other educational videos covering topics like Roth or Traditional Contributions, Rollover Options, and Making a Budget to name a few.

EMPOWER EDUCATION SERIES

Empower recently updated their Learning Center to now provide numerous resources on Retirement, Saving, Investing, and more! In addition, you can now register for their monthly educational webinars several months in advance to ensure its on your calendar.

Upcoming webinar series for February and March are:

• February | Building a Foundation of Financial Wellness
• March | Market Volatility

HEALTHY YOU FROM UMR

Our new medical provider, UMR, publishes a quarterly magazine titled “Healthy You.”  It is an educational resource for members and provides information about tools and resources available to you as part of the UMR network. Check out the Winter 2024 edition which includes articles like:

• Circadian rhythms
• Binge watching
• Breaking down your blood pressure
• ‘Miracle’ cures and promises: Identifying red flags
• Probiotics and prebiotics
• Protect yourself from cervical cancer
• How to avoid exercise injuries

Years of Service Anniversaries

Congratulations to the following team members who are celebrating Years of Service milestones in the month of February!

5 YEARS

Jason Will | Nova-Tech Engineering

Eric Hillesheim | Nova-Tech Engineering

Rodolfo Rodarte | Select Genetics

Luis Hernandez Rodriguez | Select Genetics

Joseph Lawson | Select Genetics

Hugo Medrano | Select Genetics

Lorenza Morales | Select Genetics

10 YEARS

Alfredo Cantu Jr. | Select Genetics

Jose Roman | Select Genetics

Pah Toe | Turkey Valley Farms

15 YEARS

Landon Fries | Nova-Tech Engineering

Eliceo Manriques | Select Genetics

Yrma Campos | Select Genetics

Maria Garcia | Select Genetics

20 YEARS

Maria Martinez | Select Genetics

25 YEARS

Matthew Erickson | Nova-Tech Engineering

30 YEARS

Brian Bundy | Select Genetics

Openings

Current status of all organizational openings.

Position	Company	Phase	Current Status	Contact

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Welcome New Employees

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Employee Count

As of 2/15/24 we have 2,135 employees

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Human Resources is a 360 degree business partner with our family of affiliates to attract, engage, retain and develop our most valuable resource: our people.  We are located on the first floor of Life-Science Innovations on the MinnWest campus at 1800 Technology Drive. We look forward to working with you!

Please message us via email at human.resources@life-scienceinnovations.com or give us a call at

320.222.9750 and select Human Resources, option 1