Attendees gathered round in the course of the cease on the farm tour on the rooster pens. Photographs by Cait Carr Picture.

TO SELL OR NOT TO SELL…. EGGS

Grateful Pastures Farm has left behind elevating laying hens in favor of solely rising their Cornish hens for meat. Sabrina and Shaun discovered that for the reason that demand for eggs on the farmers market is so variable, it’s onerous to take care of their profitability. Additionally, as livestock farmers, managing the opposing must preserve their meat frozen and eggs refrigerated proved to be a stress level. Finally, the Terrys decided that the varied infrastructure wants of promoting eggs added a layer of additional logistics to their system, so that they determined to chop it out.

That being mentioned, vegetable farmers who’re contemplating including eggs to their operation may, in reality, make the most of the identical post-harvest storage infrastructure they use for different crops – one thing to contemplate should you’re a vegetable grower who desires to diversify your farm merchandise!

PASTURE MANAGEMENT

When requested about their pasture administration, Shaun replied that they like to attenuate their interference with what nature intends for the land. For Grateful Pastures, which means not tilling or making use of fertilizers. Whereas they don’t presently plant within the pasture, Shaun is contemplating seeding legumes to extend the forage high quality the place the chickens have knocked again the pasture. The Nationwide Natural Program customary 205.239 requires poultry to have out of doors entry however doesn’t specify the sq. footage or pasture entry. Nonetheless, pasture entry supplies poultry with a assorted food plan, contemporary air, and humane care that helps improve their immune system to guard them from viruses and ailments, and likewise produces extra nutritious rooster for the buyer.