In addition to the price of gasoline going up, fly tyers can expect an increase in the cost of chicken feathers. Ethanol production has boosted the price of chicken feed and corn products measurably, now the Intel Corporation has designs on your hackles.

Plastics research suggests that waste feathers (hen necks, marabou, etc) can also be used to generated new stronger forms of plastic polymers, and printed circuits.

The good news is that flytiers that lick their fingers are no longer are at risk for Mad Cow Disease.