Field Day to Focus on Transitioning to Organic Poultry Production
S.D. Specialty Producers Association (SDSPA) invites you to attend a field day focused on transitioning to organic poultry production. The event will feature production considerations for transitioning to pasture-raised organic egg and broiler production. The event will take place at Prairiesun Organics in Vermillion, S.D. on Fri., June 21, 2024 from 10 a.m. —2 p.m. CDT.
Hear from Dr. Angela Jackson, owner of Prairiesun Organics, about producing pasture-raised organic eggs and broiler meat. Tour the farm and their semi-mobile poultry processing plant and enjoy an egg inspired lunch.
Dr. Jackson is an USDA TOPP Plains region farm advisor through SDSPA and has experience in organic crop and livestock production as a certified organic producer in South Dakota and a lead organic auditor for the organic food and feed sectors. She has been evaluating organic farming systems for over 15 years and brings a knowledgeable perspective of risk management for transitioning livestock producers.
The event will also feature recorded interviews with industry professionals including Mike Badger, the Executive Director of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association and David Schafer of Featherman Equipment, small scale poultry processing equipment supplier.
Badger is also a freelance author, publisher, and podcaster. He is owner of Badger’s Millside Farm in Hughesville, PA. He is an advocate for independent pastured poultry farms and will discuss start-up costs of a pasture-raised poultry operation with on-farm processing.
Schafer is also the author and creator of the ‘plant-in-a-box concept.’ He is author of the book ‘Simply the Greatest Life: Finding Myself in the Country’ and has extensive knowledge of pasture raised poultry and on-farm poultry processing. He is the owner and founder of Prairie Schooners, LLC and Plant in a Box, LLC.
Pre-registration is required for this free event.
TOPP Poultry Field Day RegistrationThis event is hosted by SDSPA through support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). TOPP is a program of the USDA Organic Transition Initiative and is administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP).
Additional field days supporting producers transitioning to organic are planned this summer. Save the date for an Aug. 12th field day at Bear Butte Gardens, Sturgis, S.D and Sept. 20th field day at Dakotas Best Seed, Platte, S.D. For a full listing of events visit SDSPA event calendar.