www.sare.org publications rangeland-management-strategies set-goals Set Goals Every successful business follows a formula for achievement, and that formula starts with setting goals. In fact, people who write down goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as people who don’t, says Dave Kohl, professor emeritus at Virginia Tech and a well-known business consultant. Yet, 80 percent of U.S. residents say they […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry resources-6 Profitable Poultry Resources General Information National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) The Livestock Conservancy Publications Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses Chicken Tractor Day Range Poultry: Every Chicken Owner’s Guide to Grazing Gardens and Improving Pastures Fresh-Air Poultry Houses – The Classic […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry quality-of-life-issues Quality of Life Issues Most producers find alternative poultry systems make economic sense because the cost of establishing them is low while the potential for significant and steady income is high. However, much of the growing interest is because these new systems also promote values such as family and community cohesion, environmental stewardship, working outdoors and independence for farmers. […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry environmental-benefits-2 Environmental Benefits Poultry can do a lot to remedy problem soil and control both insect pests and weeds while supplying a new revenue stream for the farm. Soil Birds on pasture or cropland act as miniature manure spreaders that fertilize the soil. They turn and mix soil and manure as they scratch for insects and worms, increasing […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry poultry-processing Poultry Processing On-Farm Processing Consider slaughtering and processing arrangements early on, because commercial processors that handle relatively small numbers of birds are hard to find. If you want to sell through grocery stores or to restaurants, you typically must process in a government-approved facility, but those who sell directly to the public may be able to slaughter […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry potential-for-profit Potential for Profit SARE-funded researchers at Wisconsin’s CIAS studied five farms that raise poultry on pasture and found that the systems, while highly variable, yielded a significant profit for growers who incorporate poultry into diversified farms. CIAS researcher Stevenson said that in the beginning, people make it work best at lower numbers, around 1,000 birds per season. But […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry determining-the-right-alternative-poultry-production-system examples Alternative Poultry Production System Examples Yarding: Keeps birds in stationary housing, but allows them access to yard or pasture during daylight. This model has been a popular way for some confinement poultry producers to tap into the growing market for “free-range” poultry, including the new USDA-certified organic program. They can use the same houses designed for the industrial confinement model, […]
www.sare.org publications profitable-poultry determining-the-right-alternative-poultry-production-system Determining the Right Alternative Poultry Production System Industry Changes Raising poultry on pasture isn’t exactly new. Most broilers, layers and other domesticated fowl were raised outdoors before the advent of the now-dominant confinement method in the late 1950s. Since then, large corporations have become the primary producers of poultry in the United States, developing “vertically integrated” practices that allow them to capture […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm resources-general-information regional-experts Regional Experts These individuals are willing to respond to specific questions in their area of expertise, or to provide referral to others in the pest management field. Please respect their schedules and limited ability to respond. Consider visiting their websites before contacting them directly. One important source of information is your local Cooperative Extension Service office. Each […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm resources-general-information websites Websites Agroecology in Action. www.agroeco.org ATTRA Pest Management. attra.ncat.org/pest-management A Whole Farm Approach to Managing Pests. SARE Outreach. sare.org/pest-bulletin Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America. https://biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/index.php Center for Integrated Pest Management. Technology development, training, and public awareness for IPM nationwide. www.cipm.info Growing Small Farms. Sustainable agriculture website for North Carolina Cooperative Extension, […]