Poultry

CIAS researched the potential contribution of pastured poultry systems to small and mid-size farms in the upper Midwest. We found that pastured poultry can be an excellent supplementary enterprise (under 1,500 birds per year) on diversified farms, particularly if these farms already direct market other farm products. The success of primary pastured poultry enterprises (over 1,500 birds per year) depends on several important off-farm variables including access to state or federally inspected processing facilities and effective marketing mechanisms. For more information on pastured poultry research at CIAS, contact Steve Stevenson.
Cover Crops Case Studies: JenEhr Family Farm

Cover Crops Case Studies: JenEhr Family Farm

Wisconsin is seeing a renewed interest in planting cover crops to prevent soil erosion, retain or add nutrients, reduce pest pressures and accomplish other goals. [...more]

Poultry Your Way

Poultry Your Way

Farmers who are considering starting or modifying poultry operations have a new resource available. Poultry Your Way is a free, 124-page book that profiles a variety of poultry systems suitable for the Upper Midwest. Producers and poultry experts from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan contributed to the book, and each chapter profiles a different kind of [...] [...more]

Poultry Enterprise Budget

Enterprises like pastured poultry can add to farm income with careful financial planning. CIAS has developed a spreadsheet to help farmers make financial and management decisions about new or existing poutry enterprises. While the budget was developed for a CIAS pastured poultry project, it is applicable to most kinds and sizes of poultry enterprises. This budget [...] [...more]

Large-scale pastured poultry farming in the U.S. (Research Brief #63)

Can you make a living raising pastured poultry on a large scale? "Yes, but talk to farmers who'll give you their whole story, including their failures, before you begin," one producer participating in a 2000 Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS) survey advises. [...more]

Raising poultry on pasture (Research Brief #57)

A common way to raise pastured poultry involves putting 75 to 100 three- to four-week old meat chickens in movable pens during the growing season. These floorless 10' by 12' by 2' pens are moved daily by sliding them along the ground, providing fresh pasture. Chickens also receive a grain-based ration. At 8-14 weeks, the chickens are butchered and sold to consumers or restaurants. [...more]

Pastured poultry study addresses broad range of issues (Research Brief #46)

Farmers wishing to capitalize on the trend of increased consumption of white meat can consider raising chickens. But for many, a conventional commercial chicken operation’s high capital investment, large scale, and limited market access are unsuitable. Enter the pastured poultry model, where growing chickens are kept in large, floorless pens that are moved across pasture to [...] [...more]

Register Now for Flower Growers School

The Wisconsin Cut Flower Growers School offers practical information on how to grow and sell flowers using organic and sustainable production practices and manage a cut flower business. It will be held February 18-19 on the UW-Madison campus. More information is available here.

Events

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CIAS in the community

CIAS recognized for work on value chains

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development has recognized CIAS and Agriculture of the Middle as "influential initiatives" working on value chains over the past ten years. Value chains are strategic alliances between farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and other partners in the food supply chain. These partners work together to deliver high quality, differentiated food to the marketplace and share profits equally. CIAS has researched and developed teaching materials on value chains. CIAS researcher Steve Stevenson contributed to two articles in the value chain issue of JAFSCD; view the abstracts here and here.

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