Help support ethics in agriculture

[crperdue]

I've been working with a non-profit that promotes animal welfare and sustainable farming. The website (EthicalAgriculture.Org) officially launches on Jan 1st, but we've just started a Facebook page to help promote what we're doing. Check it out, give us a "like", and please share any posts you agree with and help us get the word out. The page is:https://www.facebook.com/ethicalagriculture

A little bit about our goals: We are NOT out to end livestock farming and convert everyone to vegans, that's PETA. We do think that livestock should be raised and slaughtered as humanely as possible. There are already great guidelines for this on animalwelfareapproved.org so there is no need to try to reinvent those. Our goals are consumer awareness, and farmer education and services. One project we'll be working on for 2014 is applying for a grant to build a mobile humane processing unit. If funded, this would provide at cost processing to pastured poultry producers. This would be in SE NC for now, but hopefully we can replicate the model as time progresses.

I've been a member here for a few years and I know we can get some great support from you ladies and gents. I'm happy to try to answer any questions I can. I know I don't have all the answers and will surely make some mistakes, but I'm determined to make a difference.

Robbie Perdue
www.waccamawpoultry.com
(SOON) www.ethicalagriculture.org


PS - Mods, If I posted this in the wrong place, please move as appropriate.

 

[hippiecowgirl]

Hi Robbie!!

Kudos to you!! I think it's extremely important for people to be aware of where their food comes from and how it comes to end up on their plate. I think most in the industry are slow to change things as it is the nature of the profession to stick to old tried and true methods, like their pa, and their pa's pa used. Anything new, especially when it has the interest of the stock animal in mind, is often seen as expensive and cumbersome, or worse some ploy from the right-wing activists. I truly beleive that ethics have a place in the livestock industry and that better care for the stock, in breeding, husbandry and processing is better for everyone in the long run. I don't think feeling this way is right-wing or extreme, just human. I will join your facebook group and look forward to the launch of your new website!!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

How does your group define humane poultry slaughter? How and where would the mobile processing unit operate?

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Nevermind. I just looked at the information at the AWA site.

 

[crperdue]

One of the biggest issues with the pastured poultry industry is the lack of processors. My nearest processor is 3 hours away in another state and it isn't Animal Welfare Approved. You could process yourself under the exemption, but that could never be Animal Welfare Approved and would cost a great deal to buy all the equipment that would be used only a few days a year. A mobile processing unit solves those problems. It could get the AWA seal of approval and disburse the costs of ownership over a number of processors. Hopefully this could make pastured poultry a more attractive enterprise and increase the number of producers in the target area.

This initial project would target southeast North Carolina. We already have a great marketing program called Down East Connect (http://www.farmersfreshmarket.org/downeast/). Local farmers advertise their meat and produce on the website and take sold items to a central drop-off point on collection days. Down East Connect then sorts the items and takes them to several drop off sites in nearby metro areas. Down East Connect handles all the payments and the farmers get a monthly check. Buyers get bags of fresh produce, meat, eggs, jam, etc. from a variety of local farms.

Another advantage of NC is a result of the tobacco buyout program. When the government stopped the price support for tobacco, they gave payouts to farmers and setup several programs to help transition them to alternative agricultural opportunities. The Golden Leaf Foundation provides grants to government entities and non-profits that help provide these alternatives. Pastured poultry could be an option if we make processing easy and cost effective.

Still lots of work to be done though:
- USDA or State approval of the processing unit
- Finding larger markets for poultry (Whole Foods etc)

Hope this answers your question.

(edited for spelling)

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Yes. Thank you. Good luck with your project(s).

 

[crperdue]

Updated the blog to help explain our focus:

http://blog.ethicalagriculture.org/2013/12/what-is-ethical-agriculture-its-farming.html