Busy April Weekend

Hello All,
Our weekend was very busy - with the weather this week many of our piglets had turned their pastures into mud pits extrodinaire - we decided to move everyone into the barn to keep them dry and healthy during the week of the monsoon. There is nothing worse for animals than being wet and cold -it is a sure mixture for coughing and worse - we are in the process of relocating everyone to summer pastures, but right now they are all in the barn - the stable is full!! We will be moving them to spring and summer pastures over the next couple of weeks, so it is a short time to make sure all stay dry and healthy.

If you visit our website, you may notice we have changed our prices. This does NOT affect current members. We will be honoring all prices throughout the life of your membership - it is our agreement with you. However, corn prices have skyrocketed over $100 a ton in the last month and show no signs of abating. We use grain for our laying hens, meat birds and pork, so this has had a significant impact on our business. We are competeing with ethanol producers and midwest farmers who have been paid for years to NOT grow corn unde federal farm policy. Now that the demand is rising rapidly, the supplies are not there. There have been a number of articles in various publications in the last month about the concern for world food supply, particularly third world nations with the competition for corn.

As we continue and learn the farming business, we are becoming acutely aware of the dynamics and economics of livestock farming in New England. We will always continue to price our product as reasonably as possible. We hope that by continuing to share what we learn as we go, you will have a better understanding of farming in New England.

Thank you to all of you who have signed petitions, called your represenatives and offered support for the diary farms. The diary hearings have been held regarding support for the remaining 169 dairy farmers in MA - two of whom are my neighbors and five are in Hardwick. MA farmers are competing in a global economy - much of the milk that is distributed in MA now comes from NY and the midwest with some coming from as far away as California. Shipping milk from areas in the US where land is cheap and plentiful is cheaper than raising cattle in the northeast. There are very few 1000 acre farms and larger left in New England and that is the economies of scale that many of the midwestern farms work with. Farm policy in general are made at the national level and it is a difficult thing for states to become involved in - As farmers, we certainly hope that the governement will look at the full public good offered by our dairy farmers and consider the open space and protection of the land as part of what they offer. To date there is no resolution. If you have note yet voiced your support for our dairy farmers, please send a quick word to our governor to show support, as he has been somewhat neutral.

Our spring births continue. Last Sunday Bam-bam gave birth to her second calf Panda. Panda is a little girl (hiefer) with a face that looks just like a Panda. She is our fifth generation from Maggie, our original cow. Maggie gave birth to Allie who had Bandit who then gave birth to Bam-Bam who gave birth to Panda. I feel like I know my cows family tree better than my own! Please check our website out for pictures of Panda : ) She isincredibly friendly and a great girl : )

Sam's egg birds are in full force. He has plenty of eggs for sale and I will have them with me tonght. They are local, healthy and organic. Sam and his sister Caroline worked to paint his own sign last weekend. While the tie-dye color scheme was more indicative of the leanings of the sixteen year old, we appreciated the sign and did not explain about branding or farm colors - that will come later : )

Our pigs are continuing to grow - also fifth generation of only Poulin grain fed pigs. We have a barn full of 30 piglets right now plus moms and all of our growers - it is Hog Heavan down there - I am not sure our sheep agree!!

We will be having a farm OPEN HOUSE on Sunday April 29 - we are hoping to be a bit past mud season at that point and welcome you at any time from 12 to 4 to come over, enjoy hiking through our fields, pet a baby animal or collect your own eggs. We welcome visitors any time we are here - but you may end up talking to us as we put up fencing or finding we are not home which is a disappointment for all - so please join us on our open house or call to set up an appointment. One of our favorite parts of the farm is geting to know our CSA members : )!

Take care, thank you again for your support of Chestnut Farms and for your support of locally
grown, locally harvested food. It really makes a difference.

Kim Denney
Chestnut Farms
404 Turkey St. PO 545
Hardwick, MA 01037
413-477-6656
http://www.Chestnutfarms.org