5. Get educated.
Check with the state extension service in your area and look for training and articles related to poultry farming. Most extension offices have a wide array of information available on their websites related to poultry farming. Also, check to see if your state has a poultry association. These organizations provide grower meetings and trainings to help with issues unique to poultry farmers. No need to wait to purchase or construct a farm to attend meetings. Contact them to get dates and times and get a jumpstart on your poultry education.
6. Start looking.
If you are interested in purchasing an existing farm, there are a few places to look. Most farms, whether listed with a realtor or for sale by owner, are advertised on line. This is also a good way to see an overview of what’s available in your area and market pricing – even if you’re just looking at your neighbor’s farm. Look for the type of poultry house you desire – broiler, breeder hen, pullet, or commercial egg. Note the age of the houses, update requirements, acreage, and extras.
Additionally, you can contact a realtor to help find a farm or contact the poultry integrator(s) to see if they know of any farms for sale. Lenders that specialize in poultry lending may also know farmers that are interested in selling. As you begin your search, keep in mind there’s a big difference between types of poultry houses, and some are more labor intensive than others.
7. New construction.
Looking to build brand new? Get in touch with poultry integrators in the area to see if they’re willing to give a contract on new construction. Remember, the poultry company has to approve the land where houses will be constructed. The poultry integrator will be the information source for projected income information and building specifications. They’ll also have a list of contractors that construct poultry houses. vendors who sell/install poultry equipment, or do grading work and make pads. Additional bids to obtain might be for wells, freezers, incinerators. etc.
8. Environmental.
When you’re ready to buy or build, you may need to obtain a Certified Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP), also known as a waste management plan, by contacting the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The NCRS representative will need all pertinent information about the farm including location, size and number of poultry houses, and number of birds to be placed. NRCS does not handle permitting and registrations, but they can provide contact information for finding out if any permits or registrations are required. Remember to give NRCS permission to share your information with your lender for the loan file. Typically. all of this needs to be completed before financing can be finalized. All paperwork can take some time to complete, so getting started early is a great idea.
Conclusion
From cleaning up your credit to environmental permits, there’s a lot to be done prior to purchasing or constructing a poultry farm. Rely on the poultry integrator to give you important information on projected income, upgrades, specifications and other pertinent instructions. Get ready for financing by checking your credit and compiling all your personal information Also, remember to get started on the environmental matters early since both the poultry company and your lender will want these handled before you begin construction or decide to purchase.
