Farm News 24 Feb

INTRODUCTION:

Spring is here for sure and we love it. It has been nice hearing from many of our customers from last year asking about CSA and spring farm visits. You can visit our farm anytime we are here. Unlike some factory farms we have nothing to hide.

LOCAL FARMER'S MARKETS:

In past years we sold farm products at five different farmer's markets. We've had a lot of good experiences and made good friends, as well as profitable sales. However, for the last two years table sales at the Farmer's Markets have been falling off drastically. In my view the continued financial viability of the markets is in doubt. We are very thankful to the CSA program and our other loyal repeat customers from past years. Otherwise we would not have been able to continue being a vendor at local markets!

In my view there are numerous reasons for the downturn:

• The economy has forced many consumers to be thriftier and preferences to buy healthier, fresher, and local food products have been compromised by many to save funds.

• The National Organic Program has made it possible for the giant corporate factory farms to produce so called ‘organic certified’ products in mass production, often at overseas locations, and ship them in vast quantities all over the country.

• More folks are opting to grow their own gardens; as was done in the past, and if they have the knowledge, time, and space, I feel it is a good thing. The same for Community Gardens which are also on the upswing. Soon, all but the most avid gardeners will appreciate the local small farmers a lot more for what they do.

• The physical sites for the markets have been threatened. For the past two years the Washington Department of Revenue has decided to put a special real estate tax on community farmer's markets located on church properties. Others have been displaced by construction and traffic problems. For some reason local government support of farmer’s markets is minimal in this area. In many other communities around the world market facilities are sponsored as a public service by local governments.

• A vast array of special permit and insurance fees has also added to the burdens of the market vendors.

• Sponsorship of the Farmer's Market WIC and Senior Nutrition Program funding has substantially declined from their levels a few years ago.

Much more could be said about all these issues but my point is if small farms are to survive in the present economy your support of Farmer's Markets is needed now more than ever! We plan to continue being a vendor at Farmer's Markets again this year for social reasons more than financial.

CSA NEWS:

So far we are thankful that nearly half the Membership spaces have been filled. One very nice person heard about us and signed up from Hamburg, Germany! He paid in advance for a whole season for both the Produce and the Meat CSA programs and his family will be moving to Spokane this Spring. "SO" has already planted three of the hoop houses, cleared all the old vegetation from half the garden, and started planting potted plants. We have been encouraged to apply for a new 30 x 70 ft High Tunnel Hoophouse under a grant program sponsored by USDA. It is our belief that this program was influenced by the First Lady's White House Garden's example of Hoop House Uses. If this happens, we plan to add more CSA Members in the future. Next month we will be opening up CSA Membership to new customers.

LIVESTOCK:

One more sweet little baby calf was born a few days ago, but unfortunately we also lost another to a coyote attack during the night. Coyotes seem to have really been on the increase this spring. We think it’s because of all the field mice left over from the last two years that were protected by the snow cover and the mild weather this year giving the coyotes an advantage. We will be moving the cows with the spring calves onto new fresh spring native green pastures this week. I'm in the market for a guard Lama as they’re great at protecting little calves from predators.

The Gilt that "SO" saved from the butcher last Fall now has a nice litter of 8 great little Berkshire piglets. Now she's officially a Sow! Chalk it up to a woman's intuition! I’ll be taking some fully grown feeder pigs for processing this week and that leaves all the pigs sold through June. We will then have many more available. All of this goes back to when the Boar broke down the gate between him and the Sows I was holding for later. Now we'll have a little overproduction for June and July, and I just fixed that gate a few days ago. The Pigs are all enjoying fresh spring grass.

Our early season grass is considered a noxious weed by our neighboring wheat farmers. It's commonly called cheat grass and grows in first and then last during years of cold conditions. If it is not grazed later the seed has little stickers that cause problems. If you've lived around here for awhile I’m sure you have had the joy of picking it out of your socks after a summer hike. Soon another native weed grass called bulbes blue grass joins the cheat grass. By the way, they are both very nutritious.

Starting another batch of pullets, ‘baby hens’ my wife calls them. She's almost as bad as a mother hen while taking care of them. Our egg production and shell quality have improved since the laying hens have been able to enjoy this great weather. They’re gleefully running around fighting over every worm they can find but, sorry, there are still not enough eggs to supply everyone who wants them. However, we have another 100 or so pullets that should start laying next month. More pee wee and small eggs for awhile soon.

During a trip to CostCo today I saw a seasoned and rotisserie cooked chicken for a price less than we charge for a pound for our meat chickens. Also the cost was for less than the feed costs me to grow a chicken. I can only imagine what they feed them! No wonder a guy called me the other day and insulted me with negative words about my integrity when I told him our price. They call them "Kirkland" chickens but used to call them "Tyson" chickens. We call ours "Lobster Chickens" because of how good we think they taste. But I'm sorry to say that because of slow sales we will only grow meat birds for those who pre-order from now on. May have a few left over now and then but market sales are to slow to grow them without pre-orders.

FIELD WORK:

I started servicing cultivation and seeding equipment this week. Ever wonder how machinery can quit working or break when just sitting for a year? Every Spring I plant what I call a ‘Salad Bar’ forage mix. Typically it is comprised of Oats, Peas, Sunflowers, Flax, Turnips, Canola, and a few other annuals. It’s great for maintaining cattle condition through the summer after the range grasses get dry and brittle. The first time I did this other farmers said your cattle will bloat up and die if they eat something like that. It has never happened, but it produces some awfully good beef! Pigs get to eat some too.

Well as usual things a little busy around here so I better get ready for another day.

Gary

Spring 2010 - Farm News

Introduction:

If you have been wondering why there hasn't been an update since last Christmas its because we've sort of been hibernating. But we can't stand it any longer. The beautiful early Spring has ended our Cabin Fever and pulled us outside to do some early Spring chores to start getting ready for the new season.

I figure this year we're going to have to do spring work at least a month early to take advantage of the moisture while its here. I expect a hot dry Summer but one thing I've learned farming here for the past three decades is that the weather is always unpredictable.

Garden News:

"SO" plans to plant the first hoop house with cool weather veggies next week and after that she'll start on the indoor potted plant starts. The seed catalogs have started to arrive along with the poultry catalogs for baby chicks. Somebody else must be thinking the same as me. "SO" has been enjoying watching her Korean TV programs all Winter.

They have a small farms documentary everyday that is one of her favorites. She's been getting all kinds of ideas to keep me busy helping her in the garden setting up new things. I've watched some of the programs and hoop houses are real hi-tech over there.

The project I like best is a set up to grow strawberries out of holes in vertical tubes set up in the hoop house. Promises to deliver more berries for a longer season. If it works for us I won't have to feel so guilty when I eat the Lion's share of our berries every week.

CSA Information:

We sent out a CSA Newsletter earlier this week to alert folks to sign up early to make sure they have a subscription share available again this season. We already have ten Members signed up. This year we also plan to offer a CSA for a variety of beef, pork, poultry, and misc meat portions. It will offer the advantage of fresh local healthy meat for a price more economical than retail. It'll be delivered in portions weekly so storage space in most refrigerators should be able to handle it. Both programs will offer a half-share for those with small families. If you haven't been a member before just send me an e-mail requesting to go on the Standby List.

Poultry News:

Demand for our eggs has exceeded our supply all Winter. Good thing we started new Layer Pullets last Fall that will be laying soon. Plan to start more chicks for pullets next month and we have actually had some folks drive out here in the muddy conditions to make sure they get some of our eggs.

Because of demand last Fall we plan to raise twice as many Turkey's, more Geese, and some Meat Ducks for the Holidays. Some of the turkeys will be ordered early for those who want really big ones. We still have a small flock of egg laying ducks and we will still grow some Broiler/Fryers for those who pre-order but plan to minimize those we sell at market. Unfortunately we've had to raise the prices to keep up with feed costs.

Beef Happenings:

Had the first Spring calf born three days ago. One of the young heifers we saved last year was the mother and she did a very good job of mothering with no help. The new calf is a nice big girl, got on her feet in minutes and down to business to get that milk. Hope the rest goes as well.

Because of the drought and high hay prices last Fall I had to retire most of my older cows so we kept all the young heifers for Spring calves. We also kept all the steers for Fall sales but have less to sell this year. I noticed in the classifieds that a lot of local growers are trying to sell direct now and also and for rock bottom prices. I can only say, "Buyer Beware!"

I will not be lowering my prices because I want to try to weather this economy and stay in business growing quality and healthy beef for my loyal customers. Besides, the day I have to stop growing cows is when my wanta-be dreams of being a Cowboy will be dashed. If that happens, I'll be kicking off my boots and retiring.

Berkshire Pigs:

They have been eating me out of house and home. Hope sales go well because our budget has been maxed out feeding all the new piglets. Just finished selling and processing 12 hogs last month. Some of the orders we're from the West Coast so my wife got to go visit the Korean Mall at Federal Way where I made the pork deliveries over there.

Also visited two of our boys and grand daughters. Then "SO" made a pig out of herself buying a truck load of Korean ethnic food stuffs. She said I could consider it her Anniversary gift . We just had our 32nd anniversary!

Most of the feeder pigs are sold until June so things seem to be going well. Did two hogs for retail at the market and over half the cuts are already gone. The pork quality has just been fantastic and we have received a lot of great comments. Have enough other feeder pigs to fill orders till Fall. I'm doing my best to keep "Rex" and his buddy away from the sows till I get more orders for the rest of the Summer.

At two years old his back is 44 inches high. Could weigh over 800 Lbs. He still chases after me when he sees me in the pasture. Its a little intimidating! But he just still wants his ears scratched.

Went to the WA State Annual Pig Growers Conference Yesterday. It is sponsored by WSU. I must say it is strongly biased in favor of industrial growing methods . There was a local group of 4-h and FFA kids brought in for a class on raising Project Pigs. The Instructor spent half the class telling the kids how to use a hormone on the pigs to speed up growth. This same hormone has been banned in Europe and many other states. I just go to see what the other side is up to and shake my head in disappointment.

We've had our calamities this Winter dealing with the snow and mud but we've been thankful because of memories of how miserable it was last year. Besides the bright Sun outside the last few days has us looking forward to another season of farming. We thank our customers that make it possible to keep doing it!