Pastured Poultry for Meat in Central Texas Report of the Local - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Pastured Poultry for Meat in Central Texas Report of the Local Meats W orking Group Presented to the Austin Sustainable Food Policy Board February 9, 2015 Presented by Sue Beckwith, City of Elgin and Erin Flynn, Green Gate Farms Pastured
Report of the Local Meats W
Presented to the Austin Sustainable Food Policy Board February 9, 2015 Presented by Sue Beckwith, City of Elgin and Erin Flynn, Green Gate Farms
Report of the Local Meats W
Presented to the Austin Sustainable Food Policy Board February 9, 2015
Background Challenges Opportunities Action!
2007
2 pastured poultry farms; no organic Coyote Creek Organic Feed Mill opens in Elgin Estimated 2,000 birds/year for meat; 3,000 layers
2014
40+ pastured poultry farms; 20 organic Estimated 31,000 birds/year for meat; 45,000 layers Confinement organic laying hens 220,000 City of Elgin holds 1st Pastured Poultry Summit
2016
50+ pastured poultry farms; 20 organic Estimated 92,000 birds/year for meat; 90,000 layers Confinement organic laying hens 400,000 Regional 2nd Pastured Poultry Summit?
No inspected processing facilities Hidden cost of cheap chicken Unfavorable property taxes
Animals treated very badly Labor justice poor pay, bad conditions Environmentally unsustainable feed, grain Negative nutritional & health impacts $1.4B Texas agriculture subsidies in 2014 supports cheap food
Shades of Green Farm (2009)
4 lb chicken
Chick
$1.00
Organic Feed
$14.44
Processing
$4.00
Label, transportation
$1.50
Labor
$4.10
Total Hard Cost
$25.10
Infrastructure, utilities, marketing
??
Farms pay lower property taxes when they hold an Agricultural Valuation. An agricultural valuation is usually NOT available for: small farms including urban farms,
new farms.
Bastrop County 20 acre farm - Year
Tax Bill Paid
2006
$475 $475
2007
$2,700 $500
2008
$500 $500
2009
$3,000 $500
2010
$3,200 $500
2011
$700 $700
Growing industry
Unmet demand for processing
New facilities being built
Dewberry Hills expanding New players entering
Increasing consumer demand?
Educate consumers Conduct a regional food study
What is the demand? 17 million people within 200 miles
Support the pastured meat industry
Fund annual poultry summit Elgin will host; partner
Promote positive policy Join FARFA
Pastured Poultry for Meat in Central Texas, February 9, 2015 This presentation online at: ElginLocalFoodNetwork.org