August 2024 vol. 2 For the past several years, we’ve happily raised Thanksgiving turkeys. Turkeys are precocious little critters and though they’re less than cute, they’re a welcome addition to our menagerie. As we sell our turkeys FRESH, it’s very important that we get our production just right – ensuring they reach market weight a
August 2024 vol. 1 Farming is learning. Regardless of age, I can’t imagine anyone claiming to be an expert. It’s an ongoing process of learning and adapting, drawing on past experience, and tweaking for today’s reality. But in order to make adjustments, it’s necessary to understand the variables and their effect on the outcome. Unlike
July 2024 vol. 2 A few of you have taken the time to forward me articles and news clippings, or ask directly, about the looming crisis in the egg and poultry industry. So when I read a recent article from Dr Mercola I was reminded that I should provide a written response with respect to
Last week we started a batch of 100 Cornish Cross broiler (meat) chickens with the intent to raise on pasture and sell at the farmer’s market. We are prototyping the system with 100 birds, but hope to get up to batches of 300, as chicken is a high volume – low margin game. A chicken
Heading toward Christmas I could see the bellies swelling and the udders filling. I knew we were going to have some winter calves. I pulled two heifers out of the heard (#12 & #21) and put them in a paddock with hay so I could assist with the birth in the event I needed to.
Well 2017 concludes my first year in the cattle business. And I must say, I made some big mistakes. 1. I paid too much for most of my cattle. I was paying premium price on moderate quality animals, and I was paying bred heifer pricing on animals that turned out to be open. Takeaway: a
Working cattle is a necessary endeavor that every rancher dreads. Lots of pushing and prodding, a few rambunctious animals, and tons of poop and flies. The challenges start when you try to round up the cattle. It’s important to incorporate you’re working area into the cattle’s normal routine – otherwise they’ll know something is up
