Prospective, beginner or intermediate farmers interested in raising poultry flocks on pasture or free-range are invited to attend poultry workshops. The lessons will apply to both egg-laying hens and broilers. UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the Farmer Veteran Coalition are partnering to provide training for military veterans who are embarking on careers in farming, but all farmers are welcome to the workshops.
“California has the largest number of farmer veterans in the country, with over 1,000,” said Michael O’Gorman, executive director of Farmer Veteran Coalition, which supports military veterans with the resources they need to launch successful farm businesses. “Pastured poultry operations are a growing and profitable sector of California agriculture, and FVC is excited to partner with the University of California to provide trainings on this burgeoning field!”
Workshops Planned for 2018
A series of one-day workshops are planned in several locations throughout 2018. More information will be available here.
Be a Citizen Scientist: Participate in the California Poultry Census
To better communicate with backyard poultry enthusiasts and to protect flocks from disease outbreaks, people who raise backyard poultry are encouraged to participate in a voluntary survey for the UCCE California Poultry Census. If there is an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, for example, UCCE will notify participants by email and warn them to keep their birds indoors.
Editor’s Note: UC Agriculture and Natural Resources researchers and educators draw on local expertise to conduct agricultural, environmental, economic, youth development and nutrition research that helps California thrive. Learn more here. Need some background about California poultry? Read our Q&A with UC Davis/UC ANR poultry specialist Dr. Maurice Pitesky.