9/05/00

Contacts:
Tom Olsen, ISU Extension, (712) 732-5056
Mark Honeyman, Research and Demonstration Farms, (515) 294-4621
Melea Reicks Licht, Communications Service, (515) 294-2957

ALLEE FARM TO HOLD FREE-RANGE ORGANIC CHICKEN FIELD DAY

NEWELL, Iowa -- Iowa State University's Allee Demonstration Farm will feature organic chicken production at a field day Sept. 13.

Mark Honeyman, coordinator of the ISU research and demonstration farms, says this is the first poultry field day in many years.

"This project and field day is in response to the growing interest in niche markets and organic agriculture. The feed the chickens are fed is grown on the farm and is certified organic. This idea grew out of deciding whether to market the organic crops or to add value to them," Honeyman says.

ISU is showcasing a demonstration project comparing free-range organic chickens to coop-raised organic chickens on the basis of consumer taste tests. The two types also will be compared to broilers raised in large-scale facilities. Tom Olsen, ISU Extension farm management specialist, is coordinating the project.

"Our chickens are all raised organically in two different production styles. One is in the 'chicken tractor,' which is really a pen on wheels. The other is in a traditional coop, where the chickens have access to the outdoors," Olsen says.

Visitors will be able to view brooder-house and range chicken tractor production. Comparisons of the environments, growth rates and feed consumption information will be presented. Producers also can learn the organic certification guidelines of poultry production, such as feed and on-farm processing. A timeline of developing a certified chicken from the egg to the consumer's freezer will be presented.

Tours of the organic gardens and the Allee Mansion also will be available.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. at 2030 640th St., which is one and one half miles west on the gravel road that intersects Highway 7 at the curve southeast of Newell.

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