Pastured Poultry Producer Processes On-Farm

Pastured Poultry Producer Processes On-Farm LIVESTOCK Poultry Beth Whiting and Bruce Hennessey Maple Wind Farm solved their poultry-processing problem by setting up a USDA-approved processing operation on their farm The diversified producers of pork beef and poultry had to find an approved processor or drop back to the 1 000 chickens a year level allowed under uninspected on-farm processing Previously they had expanded their chicken numbers to 2 500 per season by using a state-sponsored Mobile Poultry Processing Unit     “When the state sold it we had to find a solution ” says Whiting     The first step for Maple Wind Farm was to buy a Plant In A Box Vol 38 No 4 from Featherman Equipment www feathermanequipment com; ph 660 684-6035 The 8 by 40-ft container was billed as a turnkey USDA inspected facility ready to be hooked up to water propane and electricity on the farm The cost was $75 000 well below traditional building costs     With help from the state of Vermont a wastewater facility was built on farm A $15 000 grant from the state helped with site and utility work     Unfortunately there were significant problems with the set up Whiting gives Featherman credit for paying for improvements needed to fix the problems Luckily they had started under state inspection electing to apply for USDA inspection later     “Our state inspector allowed us to work through the problems as long as we were making steady progress ” says Whiting     In 2014 their barn burned and they rebuilt and expanded continuing to use the PIB Instead of replacing the walk-in cooler they went with a blast chiller that eliminates ice water chilling     “The chilling facility allows us to keep birds in a cooler so we can spread processing and packaging out over 2 days ” says Whiting “It also adds value quality and safety to our products ”     With the expanded on-farm processing the number of birds and how they are raised has changed as well In 2016 they raised and processed 18 500 broilers and 750 turkeys     To do so they switched from 10 by 12-ft chicken tractors to mobile high tunnels on skids with automated waterers and hanging feeders They now have eight 21 by 36-ft mobile field shelters each housing up to 500 birds Chicken wire keeps birds in and predators out and sides can be raised or lowered to match the weather     “The biggest advantage is labor savings ” says Whiting “It takes 2 people 10 min to move 500 birds It used to take 3 people 35 min to move the same number of birds The birds are also better sheltered against bad weather Last May we experienced a late snowfall with high winds The birds remained dry and relatively warm It would have been a disaster with the chicken tractors ”     Whiting and Hennessey reserve the processing facility on Thursdays for other producers who can bring their birds for custom slaughter In 2016 they processed 8 000 birds for other producers at a price of $5 50 per bird minimum of 200 The price includes heat shrink wrapping labeling and USDA inspection     “Large producers book ahead during the winter as they plan their flocks for the year ” says Whiting “We definitely serve a need as there isn’t another USDA plant for many miles ”     Whiting reports recently processing 765 broilers in a single day her highest number yet The potential volume allows her to accommodate smaller operations with 30 to 50 broilers In any one day they may process birds from 2 or 3 producers in addition to Maple Wind Farm birds     “The availability of USDA inspection adds a lot of value to our poultry and the poultry industry in Vermont ” says Whiting “It lets us expand our sales to greater New England ”     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Maple Wind Farm 1340 Carse Rd Huntington Vt 05462 ph 802 434-7257; info@maplewindfarm com; www maplewindfarm com

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