That is why the e-mail I received from Claudia about organic and alternative feeds for pigs caused me to think about so many different things. Questions like these have been running through my head all week ...
- How can I switch over to organic feed and keep my costs down?
- What plants should I be planting in my pig paddocks?
- Is non-GMO most important for me now ... or organic ... or a certain price point and doing the best that I can with the feed?
- Should organic feeds cost as much as they do?
- Why am I so confused!?!
Claudia posed a great question, and while I do have a lot of thoughts on the subject I'm not sure if I have a lot of answers. Because of that I'm including some great links below to articles and research reports about a wide variety of hog feed alternatives. In fact I saw one even mentioned potato chips ... I would strongly disagree with that option though!
- Feeding Trial: Succotash Swine from Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Alfalfa as a Feed Supplement for Finishing Hogs from Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Barley Versus Corn Based Hog Rations from Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Barley-Based Hog Ration vs. a Corn Based Ration from Practical Farmers of Iowa
- The Natural Farmer "Hog Production Alternatives"
- Alternative Feed Ingredients for Swine Rations
- Designing Feeding Programs for Natural and Organic Pork Production
- Small Scale Pastured Hog Production from GrassWorks
As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I'm thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn. If you do enjoy the show, don't forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five start rating and review (by clicking the link or the image on the right). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!
I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with The Beginning Farmer and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links ...
TBF Show 037 :: Play in a New Window | Right Click to Download
**Special Note :: A few users are experiencing issues downloading the show on iTunes. If you have any experience with podcasts and how they can play nicely with iTunes I would love some suggestions.**
(if you are interested in the music in this episode check out my brother's record label, Historic Records)
When I put up my hoop building, I found that a rented scissor lift was a huge labor saver. Ladders or scaffolding just didn't cut it.
ReplyDeleteif your structure is on a slab, a scissor life is good. if not, a manlift, like a genie lift, is good. each place where the purloins cross the rafters you'll need to put a bolt...
http://ebeyfarm.blogspot.com/2012/08/putting-up-fabric-barn.html
I was listening to another podcast about direct-marketing meat a few months ago, and heard one of the best arguments for being Certified Organic that I've ever heard.
ReplyDeleteBasically, you have a short amount of time to convince a customer to buy your product, and the quickest way to tell that potential customer about your product is for them to see that Certified Organic label.
You won't usually have to explain all your ideals and farming methods to that new customer because most people have a rough idea about what Certified Organic means.
Potential customers will see the label, will quickly figure out what you are selling, and then will make their decision about whether to buy without having to have everything about your farming techniques explained to them (supposedly the longer it takes to explain, the more likely it is that they will decide to not buy your product).
Of course, it's more complicated than that since you also have to consider all the politics, paperwork, and increased costs associated with being Certified Organic.