Proper business planning and understanding risks are important considerations for any business says Hal Pepper, financial analysis specialist with the University of Tennessee Extension Center for Profitable Agriculture. “Poultry farmers who understand the exemptions and regulations associated with processing poultry are in a better position when it comes to evaluating value-added opportunities.”
In January, Pepper along with Irene Hanning from the UT Department of Food Science and Technology and others will present a full-day workshop designed to help poultry farmers learn about processing poultry safely and assessing the costs and opportunities associated with on-farm poultry processing.
The workshop, “Managing Risks of Small Scale Poultry Processing,” will present information about USDA poultry exemptions, considerations for getting started and handling/processing wastewater, food safety, marketing and labeling requirements, business management, expanding a value-added business through the Tennessee Ag Enhancement Program and humane handling during catch and transport of birds. Speakers from UT, USDA, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) will make presentations. The workshop is designed for small poultry farmers who are considering processing their birds and direct marketing the meat.
“Managing Risks of Small Scale Poultry Processing” will be held on the following 2015 dates in the following locations: Jan 27–Cleveland, Tenn.; Jan 28–Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and Jan 29–Lexington, Tenn.
The workshop will begin at 9:30 a.m. (local time) and end by 4 p.m. Check-in and networking will start at 9 a.m. The pre-registration deadline is January 22, and pre-registration is required as space is limited.
There is a $20 registration fee for these workshops and a meal is included. Pre-registration information for the workshop is available on the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s website at http://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa. Click the top link “Educational Events” for a list of workshops and more details. For more information you may also contact Hal Pepper at 931-486-2777 or by email hal.pepper@utk.edu. This workshop fulfills a TAEP requirement only in Value-Added sectors with farm- fresh meat projects.
The “Managing Risks of Small Scale Poultry Processing” was developed by the UT Center for Profitable Agriculture through funding provided by the Southern Risk Management Education Center.
The Center for Profitable Agriculture is a joint effort of University of Tennessee Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the UT Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every Tennessee county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-based information to citizens throughout the state. In cooperation with Tennessee State University, UT Extension works with farmers, families, youth and communities to improve lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state and national levels.
Source:ag.tennessee.edu