PFI Field Day: Lamb Production and Wholesale Marketing
Event Details
2990 260th Ave.
Williams, IA 50271
Contact Name: Practical Farmers of Iowa
Email: info@practicalfarmers.org
Phone: 5152325661
Website: http://practicalfarmers.org/
Event Description
Description:
Three Sisters Farm raises 600 lambs a year for Superior Farms, a national distributor of American lamb. Ortrude keeps 80 replacement ewe lambs each year, and she’ll teach us a lesson on sheep production and health. The sheep are fed home-grown non-GMO grain, and Ortrude will discuss her future plans regarding non-GMO certification and the ability to sell to different markets such as Whole Foods. Mark Tjernagel, a lamb buyer, will speak on lamb supply and demand for nationwide markets. The discussion will include pasture management, organic row crops, cover crops, small grain production and conservation practices Ortrude has incorporated. The farm tour will be followed by an antique tractor hayrack ride, a potluck dinner and a barn dance lead by David and Mary Losure of Flying Pig Fiddle and Banjo!
Topics:
• Sheep health
• Lamb production & marketing
• Organic and non-GMO row crop production
• Small grains
• Cover crops
• Conservation
Speakers:
Mark Tjernagel, Tjernagel Family Livestock, lamb marketing
The Farm:
Three Sisters Farm was started in 2003 with 25 Polypay ewes. The Dials now have 400 ewes and 700 acres at the headwaters of the Skunk River; 330 acres in row crops and the remainder in pasture. They rotationally graze and grow all their own hay and grain using a 4-year rotation of corn, soy, oats and legumes.
Directions:
From I-35: take Exit 139. Take County Road B-41 west for half a mile, turn on Underwood Road (first gravel road on the right). Travel north 1 mile, then take a left on 260th Avenue. You’ll go down a hill and up the next hill, and it’s the first farm on the left.
Stay for a potluck, with pork donated by Trubridge Foods. Bring a side dish or dessert to share. BYOB for dinner and dance following if you want alcohol. No RSVP needed.
Sponsored by: Superior Farms
