Market Farming

[CAVM AT aol.com]

Holly,'

My thinking is that diversification on a small farm can make a year around 
profitable opportunity for the "family farm" as an alternative to factory 
farming (although I don't like that term).

I know that the general focus of this newsgroup is not on animal production 
but if it fits into a general farming atmosphere, it may have a place.  But 
animal production is limited by the processing requirements.  Carrots and cut 
flowers don't have the USDA demands on their processing that dressed rabbits 
or ducks do.

It seems to me that if a few independent producers could interest a processor 
in taking their birds or rabbits or even fish, they could better participate 
in the marketing instead of only selling to the live market.

I know when I raised sheep and fish I wished for a local processor so that I 
could sell directly to the consumer and have more control over my revenue.

Cornelius A. Van Milligen