Much angst went into pricing this year. Fuel, feed, taxes all keep rising with absolutely no regard for our need to eat well. And eating well is the key to stay healthy in order to avoid the other high cost of health sic. disease care.

Chickens this year are the heirloom Plymouth Rocks. The first batch got started April 30th and I’ll grow them this year to a minimum weight of 4 pounds.

Although slower growers than the industrial Cornish-Rock cross, they are healthier, more active, and aggressive browsers on pasture. As a result, their meat is firmer, tastier, and more nutritious. They require no feed withholding as do their industrial cousins. The latter develop heart failure and leg deformities when given a natural feeding schedule. We are partnering again this year with Nelson-Shine Produce who has done an excellent job of processing. They are keeping their prices unchanged at $2.10/bird.

Beef this year includes our own Hereford-Galloway crosses. Poor quality hay this past year because of the drought required supplemental organic grains through the winter and early spring. If the pastures hold and the rains come, I plan to finish them on grass and legume pastures. Although we like to project an October harvest, we will hold them until they are well-finished. We are partnering again this year with good neighbors and friends Steve and Loretta Bye to provide beef. Their Hereford-Angus cross beeves are also finished on grass and legume pastures without chemicals or hormone implants. You can check out the health benefits of grass-fed meats at  http://www.eatwild.com .

The pastured pigs this year are Tamworth crosses out of a purebred Tamworth sow and the white “Big Bob” who is of Chester White or Landrace heritage. There was some confusion on this delicate point. Nev

Eller Family Farm

The basis of health is the soil. .

The White Tail RidgeLine

ertheless, thanks to the Langhorsts of Kettle River, we have 6 healthy, rather beautiful pigs to my eye. They are long-backed and lean, already great browsers, and very inquisitive, very fond of fresh eggs, corn, and their 17% organic protein ration. The photo has not been stretched!

 

This year’s calf crop is off to a good start with two beautiful red bulls and two heifers, one black, one red. Our Galloway Bull, Mr. Scott Bernard, is very proud and guards his youngsters well.

 

The Plymouth Rock laying hens are doing well and overjoyed to be out free-ranging during the day. Their egg yolks have turned a bright orange showing the increasing beta-carotenes from their more varied spring diet. They have been busy cleaning up the winter cow yard and weeding the flowers, although sometimes they treat the flowers the same as the “weeds”.  Their over-winter diet of alfalfa hay and squash in addition to their 17% soy-corn-oats-amaranth ration just did not keep the yolks as bright as they are now. Watch Mother Earth News for more data on the higher nutritive value of free-range eggs.

 

 

 Spring Planning