March 17, 2023
Chickens 101
The chicks are available in all of the feed stores, so be sure to tell your friends about our Chickens 101 online class coming up on March 18th. There is no charge for ECAA members and a $15 fee for non-members. To register go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chickens-101-tickets-431891558277.
Chicks Available Now
If you’ve tried to get chicks at the feed stores you have likely found they have waiting lists. Today 40 Mile Feed in Kiowa received an unexpected order including: Rhode Island Red, Easter Eggers, Buff Orpingtons, White Leghorns, Golden Sexlinks, Golden Wyandotte, and Cream Legbar.
This Week’s Trivia Question
According to the USDA Annual report on table and hatching eggs what was the total egg production in the United States in 2022? How many hens laid them?
The State of the Rural Economy
The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) has been trending down and bankers are tightening standards on farm loans as the overall economy slows and interest rates rise. Check out the full report on the rural economic outlook at: https://www.agweb.com/news/business/taxes-and-finance/slowing-rural-economy-creates-negative-outlook. Time to start retooling your marketing efforts.
Sell Your Trees
A1 Tree Transplanters is looking for healthy evergreen trees 6-20+ feet to purchase. Call (303) 646-5006 if interested
Making a Big Impact with Microbusinesses
This year the Elbert County Agricultural Alliance has provided educational and marketing opportunities to our members and our community. We’ve created events and educational programs that build up the community in our county and open the door to business partnerships. If you support these efforts we hope you will consider volunteering. ECAA is truly one of those organizations where you get out what you put in. Now is a great time to get involved in the supportive ag family that is ECAA. You can help with upcoming programs, teach a class, join the board, update the website, contribute to the Roundup, or join the the Homestead Fair Committee. Your volunteer time can be short and sweet or an ongoing project. Contact sheila.zuschek@elbertcountyagalliance.org to talk about your interests.
Animal Handling Course
The USDA will host an educational in-person event at the JBS Global Food Innovation Center in Fort Collins on March 28-30, 2023. This event will focus on animal handling and its effects on quality and yield factors, with several live cattle demonstrations. Guest speakers include representatives from USDA, CSU, CME Group, CattleFax, Cattlemen’s Beef Board and producers. Dr. Temple Grandin will provide keynote remarks. Registration is free on a first come first served basis for up to 75 people. To register go to: https://www.ams.usda.gov/event/animal-handling-effect-quality-yield-short-course.
More Events Coming Up
- Saturday, March 18, 1:00 PM – Chickens 101 (Online Class). Cost is $15 for non-members and free to members. Register on Eventbrite
- Sunday, April 23, 2:00 PM – ECAA Member Meeting, Potluck and Ask a Farmer Panel (location TBD). Register on Eventbrite. (Online Ask a Farmer event begins at 3:00 PM).
- Saturday, June 3 — Meet ECAA at Elizabash on Main Street in Elizabeth. Dues paid members who volunteer may hand out promotional literature for their own business in addition to providing information about ECAA and its programs.
- Friday, June 23-Saturday, June 24 — Meet ECAA at Cowboy Up in Kiowa. Dues paid members who volunteer may hand out promotional literature for their own business in addition to providing information about ECAA and its programs.
- Saturday, July 8 — Meet ECAA at Elbert Day. Dues paid members who volunteer may hand out promotional literature for their own business in addition to providing information about ECAA and its programs.
- Friday, August 4 – Sunday, August 6 — Meet ECAA at the Elbert County Fair. Dues paid members who volunteer may hand out promotional literature for their own business in addition to providing information about ECAA and its programs.
- Saturday, December 2 — Join ECAA in supporting the community by baking and serving free cookies at the Elizabeth Mayor’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
If you have announcements or classifieds that should be included in the next Roundup? Send them to news@elbertcountyagalliance.org.
Trivia Answer: The total number of eggs laid in the United States in 2022 was 109,514,100,000 laid by 379,304,000,000 hens. Flocks with over 30,000 layer hens account for 81% of the layers in the United States.