U.S.-Russia chicken war heating up

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Russia "chicken war" is heating up.

Russia went ahead with its threat and on Sunday banned all poultry imports from the United States until it is convinced the products are free of antibiotics, undesirable additives, and genetically modified feed.

Meanwhile, a delegation of experts has been dispatched from Washington to handle the crisis.

The import ban is expected to cost the U.S. poultry industry $50 million a month. Georgia poultry accounts for about 20 percent of all U.S. poultry exports - and much of it originates here in northeast Georgia.