Small-Scale Poultry Production: Sustainability Training

Project Overview

ES05-080
Project Type: Professional Development Program
Funds awarded in 2005: $129,530.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Southern
State: Kentucky
Principal Investigator:
Steven Muntz
Heifer International

Annual Reports

Information Products

Commodities

  • Animals: poultry

Practices

  • Animal Production: housing, free-range, manure management, grazing - multispecies, pasture fertility
  • Education and Training: workshop
  • Farm Business Management: new enterprise development

    Proposal abstract:

    Small-scale commercial poultry production with outdoor access or “pastured” is an emerging alternative farm enterprise in many southern states. Traditionally, most poultry information has been aimed at either large-scale production or backyard production. Information geared for “in between” operations--small commercial flock production--has been scarce. Through this project, key leaders in sustainable poultry production, including farmers, Heifer International, the National Center for Appropriate Technology, the University of Arkansas, and Kentucky State University will plan and carry out three train-the-trainer events in three southern states (Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi) covering the many facets of sustainable poultry production, processing and marketing. Trainings will be conducted for extension personnel, USDA, and other agricultural educators. Training facilitators will utilize materials developed through previous SSARE Research and Education projects as well as newly developed information. Educator trainees will share their new knowledge at local trainings set up for farmers in Kentucky, Texas, and Mississippi. The educator and local farmer trainings and the training materials will be evaluated by participants. In addition, web-based educational modules on small-scale, sustainable poultry production will be developed for trainers and farmers and posted on the internet to help sustain post-project learning.

    Project objectives from proposal:

    Objective 1: Design a training program in sustainable poultry production for use in training educators in small commercial poultry production.

    Objective 2: Increase agricultural educator knowledge and skills to train small-scale poultry producers by providing sustainable poultry production training and encourages supportive attitudes towards small poultry growers.

    Objective 3: Develop web-based sustainable poultry production education modules as an ongoing resource for educators in order to add small-scale poultry to their programs.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.