Massive incoming grain and food shortages

[Tinypahomestead]

THIS administration? I hope you know this has been going on since the 1930s.
It is increasingly clear to me that some younger Americans need to learn some history, especially those who absorb only ultra right wing media who will relentlessly lie because they are counting on you to not know the truth.
The CRP was originally begun to address soil erosion and create more stable watersheds. Conservation efforts faded during World War II with a focus on production, but congress brought the program back to the fore afterward. Conservation efforts again took a back seat with expanded production efforts during the Nixon and Ford administrations. That led to the '80s farm crisis and renewed soil erosion concerns.
My family participated in the program from the '50s to the 80s. That spanned a lot of administrations: Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan.
The CRP program was alive and well through most of those administrations - and it works.
It isn't a program spawned by any administration; congresses have included it in every farm bill.

I'm not one of the "younger generation " and I know this has been going on for awhile. I'm merely stating that to pull MORE farmland out of production during looming food shortages is not a wise decision.
I also don't believe the federal government should be making farming decisions or subsidizing ANY industry, particularly farmers, but that is a separate issue...
I don't subscribe to whatever "right wing" media you refer to. I'm a very independent thinker who looks at facts before making a decision or forming an opinion.

 

[Tinypahomestead]

Will you store the entire pea plant, or just the pods? Or cut the small tendrils off to dry them?

I hang the entire plant to dry once it is done for the season. The buns love them dried.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Went to local TSC and the shelves were nearly bare!!! all they have is DuMor 16% layer pellets and medicated chick starter. I feed 20% all flock crumble. I have 13 mixed breed birds, 11-21 weeks with 3 cockerels.
I am in a pinch, heading out of town for two weeks and stocking up for chicken sitter.
I have about 20lbs of their usual feed left. If I start adding the 16% layer pellets do you think they will be ok with the change from crumble, and will my cockerels be ok on layer for a a few weeks? They will not be free ranging while I’m gone.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Went to local TSC and the shelves were nearly bare!!! all they have is DuMor 16% layer pellets and medicated chick starter. I feed 20% all flock crumble. I have 13 mixed breed birds, 11-21 weeks with 3 cockerels.
I am in a pinch, heading out of town for two weeks and stocking up for chicken sitter.
I have about 20lbs of their usual feed left. If I start adding the 16% layer pellets do you think they will be ok with the change from crumble, and will my cockerels be ok on layer for a a few weeks? They will not be free ranging while I’m gone.

Healthy birds will not willingly starve themself for long. They may turn their nose up for a few days, chickens do not like change. Adult birds are much less sensitive to excess calcium then hatchlings and juveniles. A few weeks is fine in any case. Don't worry about it.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Healthy birds will not willingly starve themself for long. They may turn their nose up for a few days, chickens do not like change. Adult birds are much less sensitive to excess calcium then hatchlings and juveniles. A few weeks is fine in any case. Don't worry about it.

thank you!

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

So we’re globally in a bad way in terms of grain and food supplies and it is only getting worse.
Been preparing for not being able to buy feed and thought some people may like to know what that looks like.

Is there anyone else worrying/watching what is happening, and do you have any suggestions On keeping a healthy flock in times of crisis?

Def a neophyte chicken mamma here. Crunching to learn all that I can. Really I am late to the game in all this. Do you listen to/have you heard Appalachian Homestead (Patera) on You Tube? Very informative on these subjects.

For now my efforts include purchasing chicks mid-summer. I am hoping they will be laying by February (those that will during winter). We are in SE Georgia so it is usually mild. Permaculture is heavily on my radar. I planted comfrey yesterday and have more coming. Rose of Sharon is in my window sill. I plan on getting it outside within the next few days (hopefully tomorrow). From what I understand both are prolific growers and easy to propogate (here's hoping).

Specifically for the chicks I want to do the whole chicken pasture thing. I am looking at cover crop seeds from True Leaf Market. Meanwhile, I have begun composting and the chickens can work the material in the compost. I want to make the whole backyard full of cover crops. The suggestion is multi-crops vs. mono.

Now I am going to have to take a look at your list and see how any of it may be incorporated in our plan(s). In addition to feeding the chickens we want to feed ourselves. So much to learn, so little time.

P.S. I work at a grocery store. Will be interesting to see how that pans out seeing as what's coming.

 

[Iluveggers]

Def a neophyte chicken mamma here. Crunching to learn all that I can. Really I am late to the game in all this. Do you listen to/have you heard Appalachian Homestead (Patera) on You Tube? Very informative on these subjects.

For now my efforts include purchasing chicks mid-summer. I am hoping they will be laying by February (those that will during winter). We are in SE Georgia so it is usually mild. Permaculture is heavily on my radar. I planted comfrey yesterday and have more coming. Rose of Sharon is in my window sill. I plan on getting it outside within the next few days (hopefully tomorrow). From what I understand both are prolific growers and easy to propogate (here's hoping).

Specifically for the chicks I want to do the whole chicken pasture thing. I am looking at cover crop seeds from True Leaf Market. Meanwhile, I have begun composting and the chickens can work the material in the compost. I want to make the whole backyard full of cover crops. The suggestion is multi-crops vs. mono.

Now I am going to have to take a look at your list and see how any of it may be incorporated in our plan(s). In addition to feeding the chickens we want to feed ourselves. So much to learn, so little time.

P.S. I work at a grocery store. Will be interesting to see how that pans out seeing as what's coming.

I have been taking what little goes into the compost bucket and trying to get the chickens to eat all of it (minus coffee grounds, avocado & onion peel, etc). They will actually eat the stems of kale and collards if I run those through the food processor quick. Anything too large for them gets chopped up and they eat it. We eat a ton of veggies, even in the winter, so I hope I will have a large bowl of scraps available to supplement their feed all winter long, and I’ll be growing sprouts for them as well. It snows a lot here, so I have to get creative for alternative food sources here.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have been taking what little goes into the compost bucket and trying to get the chickens to eat all of it (minus coffee grounds, avocado & onion peel, etc). They will actually eat the stems of kale and collards if I run those through the food processor quick. Anything too large for them gets chopped up and they eat it. We eat a ton of veggies, even in the winter, so I hope I will have a large bowl of scraps available to supplement their feed all winter long, and I’ll be growing sprouts for them as well. It snows a lot here, so I have to get creative for alternative food sources here.

I'm using the spent coffee grounds to grow mushrooms. Or trying, anyways. Waiting for the cultures to fruit now, to see if the mushrooms I get are the mushrooms I innoculated with...

 

[Sally PB]

I'm using the spent coffee grounds to grow mushrooms. Or trying, anyways. Waiting for the cultures to fruit now, to see if the mushrooms I get are the mushrooms I innoculated with

If you need lots of coffee grounds AND have Starbucks coffee shops: Most of them will save coffee grounds for gardeners. Around here, they have a bucket in a corner near the front of the store where they put bags of used grounds. There's a sign nearby that says, "Free coffee grounds for your garden or compost."

I have one that I stop at when I'm on my way home from the chiropractor. I've gotten up to 12 (!) large bags of grounds at one time. Talk about a win-win, though. They get rid of the plastic bags the coffee comes in, and the spent grounds.

They'll stop doing this the end of September here, which is a shame. Fall/winter/early spring is the time to be building your soil for the next growing season.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

If you need lots of coffee grounds AND have Starbucks coffee shops: Most of them will save coffee grounds for gardeners. Around here, they have a bucket in a corner near the front of the store where they put bags of used grounds. There's a sign nearby that says, "Free coffee grounds for your garden or compost."

I have one that I stop at when I'm on my way home from the chiropractor. I've gotten up to 12 (!) large bags of grounds at one time. Talk about a win-win, though. They get rid of the plastic bags the coffee comes in, and the spent grounds.

They'll stop doing this the end of September here, which is a shame. Fall/winter/early spring is the time to be building your soil for the next growing season.

I'm 35-40 minutes from "civilization" in my choice of two states, neither of which has a Starbucks. Just like I like it.