Eastern Plains Natural Foods raises heritage breed ducks, geese and egg laying hens in Bennett, Colorado. Dallas Gilbert has been raising free-range heritage poultry since the 1980s. He first began raising poultry for personal use because he only wanted to eat animals that had been raised naturally and humanely. When his operation grew he started giving extra birds to his friends-this later became a small business that has been growing ever since. Dallas also raises donkeys, which play an important role as livestock guardians. His birds “follow the donkeys around and fly up on their backs. Everyone gets along and they keep predators away.”

A recent audit of the USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) revealed that cows from Canada have been entering the country without being properly inspected. Consequently, concerns have been raised that mad cow disease may have been imported along with the undocumented cows. And because the Bush Administration does not want [...]

Dogwood Nursery and Farms are truly an example to other farmers in the region, winning the North Carolina Small Farmers of the Year award in 2006 and 2008 in recognition of their extensive outreach efforts and their promotion of sustainable farming techniques.

Read about a recent research study confirming that consumers like the taste of 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef.
Study Shows Consumers Find Grass-Fed Beef Acceptable
By Jeff Muhollem
PSU Ag Science News
July 28, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK – High feed-grain prices and the growing interest in “natural” foods have spurred both consumers and farmers to consider grass-fed beef, and a recent [...]

The Stuart Family has a long history of farming dating back to 1926. The entire Stuart family – Bill and Deb and their two sons Will and Christian – are currently raising 150 100% grassfed crossbred Angus and Hereford beef cattle. The Stuarts distribute their beef to several outlets including a small store located on their farm. They also sell their beef to local Connecticut restaurants including the Boxcar Cantina in Greenwich, CT and The Elms in Ritchfield, CT. Their Animal Welfare Approved beef is even available at the New Milford Hospital in New Milford, CT – making it the first hospital to put Animal Welfare Approved beef on the menu!

On November 4, 2008, Californians will vote on the “Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.” The purpose of this act, as cited by the Attorney General, is to “prohibit the cruel confinement of farm animals in a manner that does not allow them to turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend [...]

Washington, DC-President of the Animal Welfare Institute Cathy Liss and Director of the Animal Welfare Approved program Andrew Gunther are pleased to announce a new grant initiative that will offer funds of up to $10,000 for the sole pur­pose of improving animal welfare on farms. Current Animal Welfare Approved farmers and those who have sub­mitted [...]

Cutting Out the Middlemen, Shoppers Buy Slices of Farms
by Susan Saulny
New York Times
Thursday, July 10, 2008
This recent article in the New York Times confirms the skyrocking popularity of Community Supported Agriculture or CSAs. We expect the number of CSAs to grow exponentially over the next few years and encourage everyone to look into [...]

You’ll want to read San Francisco-based journalist Kate Cheney Davidson’s recent interview with Michael Pollan on alternet.org.
“…there’s a direct connection between the health of the soil, the health of the plants, the health of the animals, and you as eater. We’re not just eating piles of chemicals that we can get from anywhere. All [...]

High Meadows Farm was the first farm in New York to join the Animal Welfare Approved program. John Hussey, Laura Hussey, Ann Van Arsdale and her daughter work together to raise the Tamworth piglets on the farm. According to Ann, John and Laura have always been interested in conserving rare breeds.