My name is Katharine and I am not killing the planet…
My name is Katharine and I am NOT killing the planet despite what the The New York Times or @nytopinion decides to publish. I am a farmer, but I am also a mama that cares about feeding the population safely including my own family.
My husband and I raise organic poultry on a large scale - what some might consider to be a factory, intensive or CAFO farm. Bigger doesn't always mean bad, despite what some news outlets may say. We produce over a million chickens per year and feed families all across the nation
An advantage to larger farms is the ability to specialize, which is exactly what we do. Our primary focus is the day-to-day care of our birds.
Compared to 25 years ago, today's chickens now require 7% less feed per pound to grow.
Growout houses like ours are equipped with computer systems that measure and monitor water usage. We are able to watch for abnormal patterns to identify any issues such as water leaks rather quickly. The houses are also equipped with nipple watering systems that are pin activated. When the chickens press on the pin, water is released. These technologic advancements allow us to save water
Poultry litter is an organic fertilizer for crops that is carefully applied to the land. We follow a Nutrient Management plan that specifies how much fertilizer, manure and other nutrient sources can be applied to our crops of corn, soybeans, hay and wheat. In our state anyone handling litter is required to take a special class and obtain a certification. Continuing education courses are required to maintain that certification.
Many poultry farms like ours have limited energy usage by switching to LED lighting or investing in solar energy. Our farm utilizes both, not only to offset costs, but to reduce our carbon footprint.
According to the EPA, producing chicken, turkey and eggs only account for 0.08% of the total U.S. GHG emissions.
Sources - Animal Agriculture Alliance and @chickencheckin
#agriculture #aglife #farming #farmlifestyle #farmlife #farmher #womeninbusiness #womeninag #womeninfarming #sustainableagriculture #knowyourfarmer #poultry #poultryfarming #chicken #chickenfarming #chickencheckin
