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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mississippi State, Mississippi » Poultry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416635

Research Project: Improving Sustainability and Resiliency in Commercial Broiler Production

Location: Poultry Research

Title: Analysis of lightning strikes densities for broiler production in Mississippi and Alabama

Author
item Rowland, Matthew
item LINHOSS, J - Auburn University
item DAVIS, J - Auburn University
item CAMPBELL, J - Auburn University
item CHESSER, G - Mississippi State University
item Purswell, Joseph

Submitted to: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/21/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Protecting broiler houses from extreme weather events, such as lightning strikes, is a major concern for producers, integrators, and insurance companies. Lightning strikes can cause catastrophic fires and electrical damage and can lead to costly bird losses and, therefore, a greater understanding of the impact of lightning on broiler producing states is needed. For this project, cloud-to-ground lightning strike data for Mississippi and Alabama for the years 2011-2020 was analyzed and spatially mapped. Data showed that the highest broiler producing counties in both states had high lightning strikes and that strikes are most likely to occur at night and during the summer months. The information provides growers with necessary information about when to inspect and ensure that critical earth grounding equipment and alert systems are functioning properly to protect employees and birds and reduce risk from extreme weather events.

Technical Abstract: Modern broiler houses are expensive to build, maintain, and insure. Protecting them from extreme weather events is a major concern to producers, integrators, and insurance companies. Lightning strikes can cause catastrophic fires and electrical damage and can lead to costly bird losses and, therefore, a greater understanding of the impact of lightning on broiler producing states is needed. The objectives of this study were to 1) perform a long-term evaluation of lightning strike data around heavy broiler producing areas in Mississippi (MS) and Alabama (AL), 2) spatially map lightning strike densities throughout MS and AL to evaluate spatial and temporal patterns, and 3) observe strike patterns within a one-mile radius of select broiler farms. Cloud-to-ground lightning strike data for MS and AL for the years 2011-2020 was purchased from a lightning detection service provider and used for analysis. Overall, Mississippi experienced 7% more lightning strikes than Alabama over the 10-year period. Lightning strikes were elevated near coastal regions of both states, however the highest broiler producing county in each state had high lightning strike densities. Summer months (June, July, August) experienced the highest number of lightning strikes across both states. There were also increased lightning strikes between 1600 – 0400 CST for both states. The increased lightning strikes during the hottest months of the year and during nighttime hours means that producers in both states should ensure that sensitive equipment is properly grounded to protect from lightning damage and that all emergency and alert systems are functioning properly to protect employees, birds, and reduce risk from extreme weather events.