1 In t his issue: Building a Reliable Brand Wat er Qualit y Redefined - Tunnel Fan Covers - Poult ry Farm er Spot light Tw o fam ilies band t oget her t o answ er t he call t o farm How a farm er built a com pany based on com m it m ent How a com pany's t urn key solut ion is im pact ing poult ry Making an im pact t o fuel, lit t er, and bird healt h Poultry Farmer American Commercial Poultry Farming News & Lifestyle Magazine Issue No. 7 Fall 2022 Cover Photo Courtesy of Followell Fotography
2 American Poultry Farmer Magazine c/o American Poultry Co Tel: 601-300-5320 AmericanPoultryFarmer.com Poultry Farmer American Got a product or service the poultry industry needs to know more about? Maybe you have some beautiful pictures of your operation or a great story to tell? We are always looking for poultry stories and information to share with farmers across America. Submit your information today! General Inquiries info@americanpoultryfarmer.com
3 Why We Print the Magazine Our teamat AmericanPoultry Company hasa uniqueview onpoultry farmingbecauseanaverage year putsusincontact withhundredsof farmersall over our great nation.Therearevery few professionsasrewardingasbeingafarmbroker.We not only personally helpfarmerstransitioninto retirement after alifetimeof hard work,but wealsohelpbuyers makealifestylechangethat buildsfamily bondsthat canonly bemadewhenafamily farms together. Greg Gibson Chief MarketingOfficer AmericanPoultry Company, Inc.
4 WantaFreeBinMonitorQuote? Email:info@AmericanPoultryFarmer.com OrTextBINVISIONto601-258-9857
5 Presents APartnership Between Families Two families band together to answer the call to farm Water Quality Redefined How a company's turn-key solution is impacting poultry Ask the Experts High interest rates and inflation, return of the 1980s? Tunnel Fan Covers Making an impact to fuel, litter, and bird health Building a Reliable Brand How a farmer built a company based on commitment American Poultry Farmer page 6 page 12 page 16 page 20 page 28
6 FARMERSpotlight: ?APartnership Between Families? - Twofamiliesbandtogether toanswer thecall tofarm. -
By Clay Russell
Photos Courtesy of Followell Fotography
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Eric Lovvorn and Ben Hunt, of Heflin, Alabama, who between them own and operate eight broiler houses for Pilgrim?s and live a stone?s throw from each other, came to poultry farming in different ways. Eric, who is a fifth-generation farmer, was born to the life. His folks raised cattle, expanding into poultry in the late 1980s with the construction of chicken houses on their farm With plenty of pasture land, there was certainly room to diversify. Eric embraced the family business and an entrepreneurial spirit and ran with it, buying his first heifer when he was 12, after which there was no going back. In 2005, he bought four of his uncle?s eight broiler houses and began growing for Pilgrim?s. Eric was farming full time and simultaneously studying accounting at the University of West Georgia when, while attending a University
8 of Georgia football game, he happened to meet a girl named Carrly Carrly happened to have a cousin at UGA named Ben. Eric and Ben became friends. Eric and Carrly eventually married. Ben Hunt grew up in Cedartown, Georgia, surrounded by farming of all types. He earned a degree in biological science from the University of Georgia, looking toward a career connected somehow to agriculture. While in school, Ben worked in sales with a concrete company. It was after graduation, when he was looking for something to do, that he moved to northeast Alabama to work on Eric?s farm It was there that he was introduced to the world of poultry. The introduction was apparently fruitful, because in 2015 Ben bought the four poultry houses that had been owned by Eric?s uncle. Ben and Nicole Hunt have two boys, aged five and three, with another on the way. Eric and Carrly Lovvorn have a seven year old daughter and a five-year-old son It is not yet clear whether any of the young ones intend to pursue their own farming careers, but if they do, they?ll have no shortage of examples to follow A universal aspect of poultry farming is its seven day a week nature. A poultry farmer can? t just lock the door and take off for a weekend or longer. But in the case of Ben and Eric and their families, that problem doesn? t exist. Their homes are only 75 yards apart, separated by a playground and sandbox. The families look out for each other, and for each other?s business. Those circumstances, with the help of two part time employees, mean the Hunts and Lovvorns enjoy the freedom to delve into other enterprises. Ben created a YouTube channel (YouTube.com/FarmerHunt) where he documents life on the farm, shares advice and how to tips for everything from baling hay to tractor repair to calf-birthing, and engages in friendly ribbing with Eric. The channel has over 5,000 subscribers, and most of their videos have amassed views in the thousands or tens of thousands. ?I want to show the lives of a first-generation farmer versus a fifth-generation farmer,?Ben explained. And referring to all those fix a problem videos, he said, ?I want to show people that nothing?s perfect.? The YouTube presence quickly gained a following. ?We started getting feedback,?Ben said, ?and saw
?We now have 300 head of mama-cows,?Eric explained. ?We used to send steers to feedlots,?he said, ?but then we processed a couple ourselves and they were a hit.? They now process five steers every month and ship frozen beef nationwide through their Hunt & Lovvorn Cattle Company (www.huntandlovvorncattleco.com).
Ben?s wife Nicole and Eric?s wife Carrly have their own full-time jobs? Nicole in the accounting
9 that people appreciate what we?re doing. And that motivates us.? Ben hopes to share with others a realization he came to when he moved to Alabama the summer after college. ?I?d seen farming as 5,000 acre row farmers,?he said. ?I didn? t know there were other options. But you don? t have to have 5,000 acres to be a full-time farmer. You can start small.? Just as their poultry business has thrived, their cattle enterprise has likewise grown.
10 department at Pilgrim?s and Carrly as a distribution representative at Georgia Power? but are nevertheless very involved in the beef business. Ben lavished praise on the ladies: ?Our wives are always willing to do whatever it takes, and we definitely couldn? t do it without them.? He also acknowledged the importance of the health insurance their families receive through Nicole and Carrly?s jobs. ?It would be very expensive for health benefits without that,?Ben said. It isn? t surprising that Eric, for one, would occupy himself with a range of vocations. While his parents were raising cattle, and then chickens, they held down other jobs; his dad was a lineman for an electric utility and his mom was a paralegal. In the Lovvorn clan, one job doesn? t seem to be enough. Asked if, considering all the time they spend tending their flocks, they ever tire of eating chicken, Eric said not at all. ?I only wish we could show how well we treat the chickens,?he lamented, referring to the strict rules about who may enter the houses or interact with the birds. He drew a straight line between what he and Ben do as a vocation and their broader quality of life. ?The better we treat the chickens,?he said, ?the better it is for our families.? Ben?s brother Sam Hunt is a chart-topping Country singer/songwriter, but it is not known if Sam?s musical gifts made their way to Ben One thing that is know about both Ben and Eric is they truly love their calling to farm.
11 Fall IssueCrossword
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daunting task to most, but Johnny Williams has never been a stranger to hard labor Growing up on a dairy farm in Oklahoma, hard work might as well have been the single job description for a dairy hand. ?Being raised on a farm, we built everything,?Mr. Williams commented ?We built barns, garages, whatever? we did it ?Up before sunrise and working well after it set, the experience of farming life instilled a work ethic that Mr. Williams would use for the entirety of his career. Building poultry houses in the 80s and 90s, he was well aware of the work that would go into their construction However, for this new poultry house plan he had In 1999, Johnny Williams, current CEO of Reliable Poultry, asked a question that would change his life more than anyone in his position could have realized Working as an outside salesman for Barnhill Poultry in Springdale, Arkansas, Mr. Williams sold poultry equipment that would find its way into the poultry houses of the surrounding areas Looking at the sheer amount of equipment he was selling and how it was essentially all the equipment it took to run a poultry house, Mr. Williams thought, ?Why don? t we just build the building??This thought was followed quickly by, ?We can build it!?Making the commitment to build something on the scale of a poultry house would undoubtedly seem like a
Writtenby: RustinWilson
Building a Reliable Brand
How a farmer built a company based on commitment
13 formulated, Mr Williams wanted to do something more than just construct the building He had sold all the equipment needed for poultry houses to operate for years and knew that they could perform the installation as well as the construction. This was his turn-key plan: to perform as much as possible so that the only thing the customer had to do was turn the key After convincing his employer at the time of the idea (in the year 2000) they finished construction of the first of many turn key poultry houses to come This turn-key model of construction has provided a distinct advantage customers when working with Reliable Poultry as it is a one stop shop If customers have an issue?It?s just one company they?re working with, so they are not having to chase down four or five other companies if there are problems. For the next seven years, Johnny Williams continued to work at Barnhill Poultry until he and another employee, Timothy Momont, purchased the company Renaming their company Reliable Poultry to reflect the service they wanted to perform, they continued to expand on the business model Mr Williams had initially developed Providing turn key construction to their customers, Mr Williams knew that quality and reliable service was the key to success. In his own words: ?Provide excellent customer service and a product that?s competitive in price? Service is ReliablePoultryreceivingtheChore-TimeTitanium award last year.
Reliable Poultry Supply 2974 E. Emma Springdale, AR 72764 Phone : 479 751 7511
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number one.?With this successful business model and philosophy, Mr Williams was able to grow the company and create more jobs b Starting with 20 employees and three locations, Reliable Poultry now employs over 120 people and has ten locations
Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, Reliable Poultry is at the forefront of the poultry industry in the five states of Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Reliable Poultry constructs the entirety of new poultry houses, fits them with the necessary equipment, along with performing counter sales for other poultry house parts that might be needed. Holding the distributorship for Chore-Time poultry equipment in their territory, Reliable Poultry has all the equipment necessary to fully equip every poultry house they build The only services not provided are dirt work and well installation. Reliable Poultry is known as a superior builder of poultry houses. Along with constructing the poultry houses and outfitting them with the latest technology in the business, they also retrofit existing houses Customers are impressed with the quality as well as the timeliness of the work that is done. Their customers are typically contract poultry growers who have been given a contract to grow chickens or raise eggs Reliable Poultry lives up to their name by providing dependable services to their customers from start to finish, and as they continue to grow even more customers can rely on their reliable services Purchasing Mr Momont?s share in the company in 2021, Johnny Williams now operates the company with his daughter Lisa and her husband, making it a family business. By adhering to the principle of providing the best service, Reliable Poultry has been able to form strong relationships with their clientele, and sees the continuation of these fruitful relationships as the foundation of their success as well as the key to their continued growth. Reliable has experienced exponential growth over the years of its operation, and with the poultry business showing no signs of slowing down, they plan to grow with it providing sales and construction to all their future customers, with the highest level of service and quality.
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Ask the Exper ts are eating farm profitability Between 2020 and today, poultry farm interest rates have risen from 5.25 to 7.5%. If the Federal Reserve continues its plan, those rates are predicted to hit 9.5-12%by early 2023. If the USis to stop inflation, the price of loans must rise until fewer borrowers purchase farms, which brings down farm prices and thus halts inflation This process is not In the 1980s, the financial sector suffered through a period of distress that greatly impacted many of the nation?s regional banks. One of the hardest hit was the agricultural banking sector, our family farm did not survive this collapse. Sometimes it helps to look at the past to predict the future, as all things are cyclical Recent economic conditions and the financial health of the agricultural sector have raised concerns among stakeholders. Farm sector net income has declined with farm debt continuing to rise Farm values are stalling as interest rates and inflation
Federal Funds Rate & Consumer Price Index Inflation
High Interest Rates and Inflation Returning to the 1980s?
17 singular to agriculture but in fact will impact all purchasing of goods and services until inflation is halted The last cycle required interest rates to remain elevated for more than 10 years to rein in inflationary pressure From 1980-1990 high input costs, inflation, and high interest rates, made it more difficult for some farmers to meet their loan obligations or pay rising farm expenses As a comparative, our family farm operation during this time period was paying interest rates as high as 18%. Farmers who made large investments in equipment or who had farm equity less than 50%of value, faced elevated risks of financial insolvency Many times potential purchasers are frustrated by bank policies requiring the borrower to have 30%in down payment for farms While that down payment can be in excess of $750k on an 8-10 house broiler operation, it sometimes is the only thing that keeps the farmer from going under in a down market. Said differently, if farm values drop by 25%, the farmer still has a 5%equity position in the operation. That 5%equity during the 1980s was the only reason some farmers didn? t get their loan called and their banks didn? t become insolvent As a banker put it, ?We don? t want farms, we want loans,? and many farm loans went through restructuring or foreclosure. At the time, hundreds of community banks around the nation became insolvent. In the case of our family farm, we were ultimately not able to make it. During the years before the crash we noticed farm income dropping but we did what farm families do; we tightened our budget, we all pitched in and worked the farm, we expanded our garden, and did without the extras As they say, ?hindsight is 20/20 ?If we had realized the state of the market in 1978 we could have sold out and reinvested in 1983 which would have tripled our farming operation! This may sound like a sad ending; it is by far not the end of the Gibsons?s story. My father, with a background in agriculture and the experience of market cycles, transitioned into the real estate business, now happily retired Additionally, all of his children, four sons, picked up the family trade in one way or another and are all in the real estate business. God is Good! When my brother and I started American Poultry Company, one of the agreements we made was to remain unbiased and share information, whether good or bad, as both can help other families make informed decisions. As with all markets and cycles, positioning is everything. At a time when farm prices were depressed, many farmers were able to expand their operation with the availability of quality assets at a reduced price. In a down market, cash is king.
by GregGibson Chief Marketing Officer AmericanPoultry Company
IOWA FARMBUYERS OKLAHOMA FARMBUYERS
Southwest, 8+ broiler, $1,500,000 Central, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 8+ broiler, $4,500,000 Statewide, 2 4 breeder, $ 900,000 Southwest, 4 6 broiler, $Negotiable Barry Co , 6 broiler, $1,300,000 Southwest, 10 12 Broiler, $3,250,000
MS, AL, & GA www AmericanPoultryCompany com American Poultry Company, Inc 601-300-5320 215 State St , McComb,
ARKANSAS FARMBUYERS
18 Northwest, 8 16 broiler, $4,250,000 Statewide, 12 20 broiler, $5,000,000+ Batesville area, 4 6 broiler, $1,750,000 Yell Co , 2 breeder, $900,000 West, 4 6 broiler, $1,775,000 Washington County, 4 pullet, $1,300,000 Southwest, 6 broiler, $1,100,000 Statewide, 8 12 broiler, $3,750,000 Northeast, 4 6 broiler, $1,500,000 Pocahontas, 6 8 broiler, $1,900,000 Statewide, 20+ broiler, $Negotiable Northwest, 6 8 broiler, $2,000,000 Pocahontas, 4 breeder, $1,600,000 MISSISSIPP I
MISSOUR I FARMBUYERS
Northwest, 2 3 breeder, $1,000,000 Central, 4 6 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 6+ broiler, $Negotiable Statewide, 2 4 layer, $1,000,000 Sioux County, any egg, $4,000,000 Southwest, 2 4 broiler, $750,000
Northeast, 16+ broiler, $7,300,000 Heard County, 4 6 broiler, $1,200,000 Central, 8 12 broiler, $2,000,000 Gilmer County, 8 12 broiler, $2,000,000 Southeast, 2 4 broiler, $750,000 Royston, 2 3 breeder, $1,000,000 Central, 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Statewide, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Central, 6+ broiler, $1,500,000 Murray Co , 4 6 broiler, $1,200,000 Statewide, 4 6 broiler, $1,500,000 Carroll County, 6+ broiler, $1,300,000
FARMBUYERS
OK,
Walthall County, 4 6 broiler, $1,500,000 Marion County, 2 4 pullet, $1,400,000 Collins, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 South, 8 12, broiler, $3,000,000 Central, 8 12 broiler, $2,750,000 McComb, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 Greene County, 8 10, broiler, $1,775,000 Jones County, 2 4 broiler, $900,000 Statewide, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 I 55 Corridor, 4 6 broiler, $900,000 Seminary, 6 broiler, $1,500,000 Laurel area, 8+ broiler, $1,900,000 East Central, 8 12 broiler, $3,500,000 Southeast, 4+ breeder, $2,000,000 Ruston area, 6 8 broiler, $1,750,000 North Central, 10+ broiler, $2,700,000 North, 8 16 broiler, $5,250,000 Dubach area, 8 broiler, $1,900,000 West central, 4 8 broiler, $1,250,000 Statewide, 2 4 pullet, $1,300,000 Statewide,18+ broiler, $Negotiable
Dodge area, 10 16 broiler, $7,000,000 East, 6 broiler, $1,200,000 Statewide, 8 12 broiler, $2,500,000 East, 4 broiler, $1,000,000 MO, AR, LA, MS39648
LOUISIANA FARMBUYERS
Licensed Brokers in: IA,
Southwest, 16+ broiler, $6,500,000 Northwest, 2 4 breeder, $1,000,000 Southeast, 10 12 broiler, $2,775,000 Southeast, 6 12 boiler, $2,300,000 Statewide, 6+ broiler, $1,500,000
Our buyers are financially qualified and searching for the following farm types:
Guntersville area, 4 broiler, $1,300,000 Dothan area, 6 8 broiler, $1,800,000 North, 16+ broiler, $Negotiable Statewide, 12 broiler, $4,500,000 South, 4 breeder, $1,775,000 Statewide, 20+ broiler, $Negotiable Blount Co , 6 broiler, $Negotiable Cullman Co , 6 8 broiler, $Negotiable Cullman Co , 12+ broiler, $3,800,000 Cullman Co , 4 breeder, $1,500,000 Statewide, 2 4 pullet, $1,200,000 ALABAMA FARMBUYERS
OwnaFarm? We'vegot Buyers!
GEORGIA FARMBUYERS
SELLWITHUS
DON'TBOTHERWITHLONG-TERMLISTINGS... WHYMOREFARMERS TRUSTUSTHANANY OTHERBROKERAGE OURPROCESS 1 Tell us some details on your farming operation 2 We tell you the maximum amount your farm should be listed 3 Listing documents are executed 4 We sell the farm and handle all steps from contract to closing - Farm Sales are Private - Fully Funded Buyers Accurate Farm Values Poultry Industry Experts American Poultry Company, Inc 601-300-5320 215 State St , McComb, MS39648 Licensed Brokers in: IA, MO, OK, AR, LA, MS, AL, & GA www AmericanPoultryCompany com
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Poultry farms are expensive complicated transactions. You should never entrust a multi million dollar transaction to anyone that isn? t a specialist Any local real estate agent can quote you a price and say they have a buyer It takesan expert to make sure you price the farm accurately and actually close the transaction Our team of professionals didn't become an industry leader by attempting to be an expert in every type of real estate Our company has a single focus we sell commercial poultry farms. We do not require long term listings, and the entire transaction can be private so as not to alarm farm help or the integrator during negotiations All of our buyers are required to be prequalified, and our team is extensively experienced in pricing, negotiating, and selling poultry operations It?s all we do, and we are without a doubt, the best in the business.
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Chickens need water, too, and farmers draw it from the same sources as the water they themselves drink: municipal water supplies or their own wells And although that water might be palatable and safe for humans and chickens alike, that isn? t to say it can? t be improved upon. Some integrators require their growers to submit to an approval process for treatment of the water they give their birds This might involve certification by a veterinarian or nutritionist that a particular water supply is safe and sufficient to meet the integrator?s standards. But even if such an approval isn? t required, there are dollars and cents benefits to providing poultry with the best possible water
W ater Quality Redefined
How a company'sturn key solution is impacting poultry Given the ease with which we humans obtain water, it is something we might take for granted With the tap of a finger on a faucet handle, water that?s safe to drink flows forth And in just about every retail establishment you?ll find a refrigerator with bottles and bottles of cold water? often a dozen or more brands and varieties? for sale Water, except of course in areas experiencing drought, is seemingly everywhere.
Greg Valikonis, of Gonzales, Texas based Aquapproach, explains that the water growers give their birds, though it might be safe, might not always be the most conducive to avian health, meat production, or egg quality Factors such as mineral content and pH values can have a bearing on all these aspects of poultry farming.
Aquapproach provides a variety of solutions to remediate problems with poultry farmers?water or, even if the water supply is already adequate, to improve on it The company came into being in by Clay Russell:
best approach While similar in name to liquid chlorine, chlorine dioxide is a gas, making it far more soluble, meaning the beneficial chemicals diffuse themselves into water far more efficiently than when combined in liquid form
A goal with Aquapproach was to create new and more cost efficient ways to deliver the benefits of chlorine dioxide. The chemical itself had already been used in the world of pulp and paper. It also had large scale applications, including in water treatment plants and in boilers in hotels and office buildings
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In exposing farmers to the possibilities of the Aquapproach solutions, the company met some initial reluctance. Many farmers had prior experience with water treatment of some form but without the results they expected Aquapproach?s systems fall under three major umbrellas: sanitation, filtration and pH Sanitation means making sure water is safe? that is, free from harmful levels of disease-causing germs. ?There?s always bacteria present in any given water source,? Valikonis explained ?A chicken house is a perfect
2018 Its founder/owner, Taylor Davis, had married into a South Texas poultry-farming family, and after his immersion into the industry he launched his own company providing services for poultry farmers to manage insects and rodents, and to apply litter amendment. Davis began hearing from some of his clients about water-related issues. Water would be off-color, create filtering issues, or smell bad, and from those kernels of information, Aquapproach was born Water treatment systems, whether for humans or birds, come in a wide range They can be as simple as a canister filter available at home improvement superstores, to be installed in residential basements or under kitchen sinks, or in the world of poultry for the entire farm?s water supply Davis explored alternatives, such as chlorine. It?s a common treatment, whether for municipal water systems or for swimming pools, though in different concentrations. But after a period of trial and error with chlorine and many other alternative chemistries, he settled on chlorine dioxide as the
Greg Valikonis explained that, for all the science behind the systems they offer, ?Our biggest opportunity was with service.?The Aquapproach systems are designed to be ?out of sight, out of mind ?
Another factor in avian health is the acidity of the water the birds consume, known as ?pH level ??It makes a difference in a bird?s development,? Valikonis explained. He described scientific studies equating pH level and water quality overall to a chicken?s digestion Aquapproach is called in by individual growers and big companies alike In either case, the client seeks improvements in the performance of their flocks
The benefits derived from water quality extend not only to broiler houses but to turkeys and egg farms as well, where water quality tends to equate to superior eggshell quality.
Filtration removes minerals like iron and manganese from the water; these minerals might impede the flow of water, affect its taste, or alter its chemical composition. ?The less that goes through the filter, the better,?Valikonis said. ?And when those minerals and pathogens are removed, the vast majority of the time we see consumption increase ? By that he means water consumption by the birds, which is viewed as a good indicator of flock health ?If they drink more, the thought is they should eat more,?Valikonis said ?And as the bird gets bigger it drinks more ?
Greg Valikonis /Aquapproach Business Development Manager (830) 857-3222 www.aquapproach.com/
22 environment for bacterial growth, with water moving very slowly at times combined with higher temperatures What we do is mitigate the harmful effects of that and reduce that bacterial population ?
And once installed, the burden falls on the company to maintain the hardware and check chemicals They generally conduct site visits once per broiler flock to make sure the system is running properly, chemical levels are sufficient, and that the water is receiving the correct treatment.
Just as poultry food is formulated for maximum benefit, good water can make the difference between good production and great production.
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25 GIVEAWAY ToentertheYETIgiveawayvisit ourfacebookpage. Facebook.com/AmericanPoultryCompany
1 medium sweet onion, diced - 2 clovesgarlic, minced 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp ground pepper (to taste) - 1/2 tsp paprika (to taste)
INGREDIENTS: - 1 tbsp + 4 tbsps unsalted butter
Transfer to bowls, garnish with cheese and bacon Serve immediately
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2 cups half and half 3 cups broccoli florets, diced - 1 cup broccoli stems, diced 2 large carrots, peeled and cut into thin rounds 4 slices bacon (for garnish) - 1 tsp salt (to taste)
Servings: 8 Prep Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 1 hour
Allow mixture to simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes or until it hasreduced and thickened some Whisk occasionally to re-incorporate the "skin" that forms naturally While mixture is simmering, chop the broccoli and carrots. After simmering for 15-20 minutes, add broccoli, carrots, and the onion and garlic you set aside earlier Add spices and stir to combine.
26 Jay'sComfort Broccoli CheeseSoup
After simmering for 15-20 minutes, add most of the cheese, reserving a small amount for garnish. Stir in the cheese until melted and incorporated fully, less than 1 minute.
a pinch cayenne pepper (to taste, doesn't make soup spicy but enhances flavor) - 8 ouncesextra sharp grated cheese (use a block and grate yourself, it melts better - reserve a small amount for garnish)
Allow soup to simmer over low heat for 20 25 minutes. Whisk occasionally to re incorporate the "skin." While soup simmers, grate your cheese. Use a high quality cheese for better flavor. Pre grated cheese is resistant to melting and won't incorporate well.
1/2 tsp dry mustard powder (to taste)
Slowly add the chicken stock, whisking constantly Slowly add the half and half, whisking constantly.
In a large heavy-bottom pot (I use a cast iron dutch oven) add 4 tablespoons butter, flour, and cook over medium heat for 3 5 minutes, whisking constantly, until flour is thickened. You are making a roux and it'simportant the mixture is thick or your soup will not thicken properly.
In a small saucepan, add 1 tablespoon butter, the diced onion, and saute over medium heat until the onion is translucent and barely browned, about 4 minutes Stir intermittently. Add the garlic and cook about 30 seconds, stirring constantly so it doesn't burn. Remove from heat and set aside.
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As winter approaches across the broiler belt, farmers are looking for low cost ways to reduce their heating bill on their poultry operations. In years past, natural gas and propane pricing has remained relatively stable, but in the last 24 months the market has had major volatility and prices have been soaring! In some regional cases, almost the entire flock payment narrowly covers the propane bill After some discussions with growers and scouring the
Tunnel Fan Covers
28 internet, I reached out to industry professionals in the market and was intrigued by a new study that was completed recently. After reading over the various metrics used in the study I decided to write an article about the results I found, as it may help farmers in the upcoming months
In a study completed by the University of Georgia, they found adding fan discharge covers, also known as caps, increases house tightness and therefore reduces heater run time. On the specific farm in the study, it reduced runtimes by as much as 50% Also included in the study was the impact the caps had on bird distribution and improved litter quality The trials conducted used fan chutes and fan caps manufactured by Southwestern Sales Co Both items can be found at most major poultry supply companies. If a farmer pays close attention during cold weather when the birds are first placed, you notice they tend to get sick
Makingan impact tofuel,litter,and bird health
"Almost a 50% reduction in Heater Runtimes"
29 cap and you won? t have to hunt them down later! The caps have a direct effect on the overall house tightness When outside air is drawn through the inlets, the caps help keep the airflow optimized and pulled in tightly against the roof of the barn This optimization allows the warm air at the roof to be pulled down, gently warming the floor without cold near the end walls Every farmer knows wet litter near the end walls signifies cold air and because cold air doesn't remove litter moisture, it tends to stay wet. Because of this cycle, the litter doesn't dry out and the ammonia concentration remains elevated. For the study, UGA selected a 13 house farm and applied both tunnel fan caps and socks to a select number of houses for a comparison. The study did a great job of illustrating the total poultry house tightness, especially around the end walls. Tunnel fan heat loss not only has an effect on fuel usage but also has an effect on litter quality and, potentially, bird health Not only do most poultry farms have excessive heat escaping from their tunnel fans but the cold air and moisture around them keep the litter from drying out and therefore increases the ammonia concentration in the barns In the event a tunnel fan accidentally comes on, the caps simply blow off So tie an extra line to the
30 air leaking in from the gaps around the tunnel fans. The tunnel fan caps were installed and a series of 6 temperature probes were placed on the water lines to create heat sampling zones. Three different temperature zones were measured for the study at 30, 20, and 10 feet from the end wall Along with temperature measurements, a series of thermal images were taken throughout the process. Using thermal imagery they were able to view not only the cold air leaking around the fans but also get a glimpse of the bird?s body temperature. It was noticed during the study that birds had a lower body temperature signature around the end walls without caps as compared to the house using caps. The bird distribution also seemed to be influenced by the more uniform heating In the case of the brooders, you notice that the brooders are not running as hard in the house with caps and also the chicks aren't piling directly under the heater In the study, houses not using caps had a temperature variation of 12° and houses with caps only had a temperature variation of 4°. Moreover, the average heat zone runtime Caps Inst Walled it hout Caps
Heating Zones, p3 p6, Tightly Grouped Caps Installed
Heating Zones, p3 p6, Wide Range of Temp Without Caps
31 of 16 out of 24 hours dropped to 8 out of 24 hours, a 50% reduction! Also taken into account was the condition of the litter during the study. Averaged litter conditions, measured across 3 zones ranging from 10-30 feet from the endwall changed from 18% moisture, considered wet, to 10% moisture, considered dry. In conclusion, the study shows a major impact across heat uniformity, reduction in litter moisture, and a much lower heater runtime schedule Further information can be found on UGA?s Poultry Housing YouTube channel @Tunnel Fan Covers or you can contact UGA's Mr. Michael Czarick directly for details Mr. Michael Czarick Department of Poultry Science The University of Georgia 706 540 9111 www Poultryventilation com
32 Don't hire just another broker. Hire anExpert! SIN GULAR FOCUSED BROKERAGE Call us for a free and privat e farm evaluat ion (60 1) 30 0 5320 Am ericanPoult ryCom pany com We ON LY Sell Poultry Farms Licensed in IA, M O, OK, AR, LA, M S, AL, & GA
