We have begun using FarmRaise tracks for managing our farm. In our prior business ventures, we used Quickbooks and Quicken. These are great programs and have their place. Unfortunately, their place is not on a farm. Schedule F does not populate properly in Quicken. There is not the ability to manage livestock or farmland. FarmRaise offers a great solution to manage the business end of the farm with ease. Inventory, products, expenses, assets, and liabilties are all extremely intuitive to set up initially and to use day to day. This is the first program I have used that makes mileage tracking easy in real time. With the phone app, we can add mileage and purpose when we arrive at the destination. Everything is labelled according to Schedule F if applicable. The tutorial videos they have on youtube are excellent! FarmRaise has been a game changer. We are still learning the system but so far it is more helpful than the other accounting software we have tried. At this time, the only thing we need to figure out is field locations. When you watch Farmraise youtube videos, they show how to move your four cows from one field to another. That is simple. What is not clearly explained is how to create your field locations to begin with. What I was hoping would be the case is a tab to add locations to your farm. The best I have figured out to date is that you need to create locations for each type of animal in your inventory. This would probably make sense for larger farms. We are not a large farm. We are ultimately a micro farm with only 3.5 acres, four paddocks, three poultry enclosures, and one mix-use pen that currently holds our two boars. Still not a problem...let me add a detail. We mix our animals together. Sheep, Pigs, and a goat all use the same fields. For example, we currently have five piglets, our ram, and a goat in our front field. We have the three kune pigs in our lower field with three lambs. We created the field locations for our pigs and assigned the correct animals to the fields. We then went into our sheep inventory and the locations that I had previously created are not visible. This does not allow for a complete picture of our field rotations. We would really benefit from having the locations as s separate entity in the Tracks. Update I began writing this post in August of 2024. I had stopped writing to get in touch with the team at FarmRaise and see what they had to say. It is now November of 2024 and I happened to find this in draft form. At some point between then and now, I did chat with a FarmRaise associate. That nice lady stated that this is a known impediment and their developers are working on it. At this point, it is mute for us at Farm Life Farm. We had to add the fields to each animal in our inventory. I don't like duplicating efforts, and I really loath sitting in front of a computer. Still, over the past few months, we had to rotate our livestock and therefore had to create locations. We have the following animals in our inventory right now: 5 Kunekune piglets (6 months old) 2 Kunekune pigs (12 months old) 1 Kune sow 1 Yorkshire Boar 4 Ewes 3 Lambs 1 Ram 10 Laying ducks 8 Meat ducks 15 Laying hens 10 Meat chickens 6 Chicks The above list is how we classify our livestock in FarmRaise Tracks. The reason for this is based on how we track our expenses and sales. Putting all the ducks in the same group would conflict when parsing out revenues and expenses. We do not want to assess grain costs for our egg layers that our meat birds ate. When it comes time to sell a meat bird, the costs of raising it has to guide the selling price. At the same time, we need to know if the cost of raising and keeping the egg layers so we can see if our selling price of $4.00/dz for chicken and $6.00/dz for Duck eggs is tuning a profit, breaking even, or running a loss. The same thing applies to livestock. Fencing costs, grain, hay, etc all must be tracked to know what profit or loss you are running. All of this led to how we broke down our livestock for proper tracking of expense and income. As much as I dislike computers, it is really neat to run a profit loss statement and see that your pig sales are up this year and actually made a profit. Our farm has three grazing fields. Top Field Front Field Lower Field One mix use pen currently holding two boars Boar Pen And three poultry pens. Laying birds Meat Birds Brooder Pen As Mentioned above, being able to create these 7 locations would be the most efficient. In our case, we had to create the four paddocks that ewes can live in, four that the lambs can be in, and four for the ram. Then we had to do it again...Five paddocks for yearling Kunes, and five paddocks for the older Kunes. That is 22 locations we had to create for a 4 acre farm with 17 animals. Keep in mind that the above math is not for all our animals, meaning in the end we created more than 22 locations This was not as bad as I make it sound. We ultimately created the locations as we rotated animals to different fields. It worked out to just a few extra minutes of typing every few weeks. This really isn't such an inconvenience. Unfortunately I am a libra and nothing is ever quite good enough. This is my only critique which I must admit is an amazing achievement for this sort of software. Adding mileage is also a 20 second task. Over twenty years of some sort of business, I never tracked my mileage. Farmraise Tracks has made this pain free. Seeing our mileage add up over the past 11 months has made it clear what a mistake I had made over the past two decades not tracking mileage. At one point in our twenties, we were travelling the country with a show jumper barn she worked for. I was following along working as a logistics coordinator and equipment operator for the Horse Shows her barn was showing at. I had called a car insurance company for a quote and when asked my yearly driving I told the truth; 24,000 miles a year. the sales rep laughed and would not believe me or knew that the cost would have been astronomical based on that much driving. Not a single mile had been documented and therefore the deductions at tax time were not realized. Fun fact: 24,000 miles at an average speed of 50mph works out to 20 days of driving or 480 hours a year I sat behind the wheel. I loved it. I still love driving. And it was me. My darling beloved can drive for a few hours and then she falls asleep. Tracks also creates a very professional invoice with little effort. At the onset of use, you can upload your logo and business information. The program does the rest. All you have to do once your info is in is tap the invoicing tab and put in the customer, what you sold, and the program creates an invoice that you can print or email. It also allows you to classify the sale according to your schedule F. In quicken and quickbooks, the tax classification had to be done seperately after the invoice was created. I had created invoices with quicken and quickbooks in the past. Those programs are labor intensive. You have to build the invoice form from a template, adding text boxes and choosing columns. Going back in to change anything you created wrong is also a chore. Tracks has this simplified. (screenshot of the Transaction screen) Few of our customers want invoices however and in those situations the process is just as easy. Click on add revenue and enter the customer name, amount of money, and the date. That is all you have to enter. You then have the option of classifying the revenue by tax category and product. You can also split an expense or revenue. Ex: I sold a dozen eggs and a pig. We can split the total revenue of $900. $4.00 for eggs and $896 for the pig. You are also able to classify each separately when you do the split. This has been invaluable when going to the grain store. One receipt for $250.00 that you can split for each item purchased and assign the, lets say $28 in pig food to the pigs and the $30 worth of chicken grain to the chickens. You can also take a picture of the receipt and save it to the expense. I tend to sit in the parking lot after buying and enter it all into my phone app. Again, an amazing program for a farmer! Above I had mentioned a profit loss statement. This is one place that this program excels. Adding revenue and expenses is easy and intuitive as described above. This all culminates with three or four key strokes to create reports. All your effort is worthwhile when your wife asks if her wooden signs are worth making. Pull up a report for your expenses and sales associated with your sign making and your answer is clear...charge ten dollars more per sign and it is worth it. One other function that we do not use is banking connectivity. Tracks allows you to link your farming bank accounts and download your transactions just like Quicken and Quickbooks. I cannot critique this as we don't use it. I must admit, we did not demo other software for farm management. We did do a bunch of research and did not find anything to compare to FarmRaise Tracks. There are other programs out there but those we looked at were clearly for corporate level agribusiness with a price tag to match. FarmRaise offers virtually everything a small family farm needs. It certainly offers everything we need. Though I remain soar over the location topic, I cannot find any other failures of this software.

Our Tractors are extremely useful with so many implements and configurations. In our last post I discussed tractor history 101 and additional lighting. Today's post is about our 3-point hitch parts. Our Mahindra 2536 came with a bracket on the tow tongue that supports the lift rods while the backhoe is mounted. We lost that the first week of getting this machine. I made a new one with some flat steel from an old swing set. When we use the 3-point, we put that bracket in the tool box so we don't lose it again. Now when the backhoe is in service, the lift rods have to be secured and the hitch-lift arms must be removed. The amount of time I have spent looking for the hitch-lift arms is immense. I often left them laying outside wherever I had removed them. In an effort to avoid this, I began placing them between the seat and the PTO lever. They would invariably fall forward and get under the brake pedal or slide off the tractor entirely. After a bit of trial and error, I decided on making a bracket for them on the left rear fender. The bracket is about 10 inches of flat hurricane strapping That I bent into a rectangle. It is secured to the fender with the fuel tank cover mounting bolt. This is a close-up of the inside of the bracket with the bolt There was a pre-drilled hole in front of the signal light that fit the hitch pin. Initially the hitch pin could wiggle through the hitch-lift arms. I cut a 2 1/2 inch piece of flat stock and drilled a hole through the center 1/16th smaller than the hitch pin and hammered it into place perpendicular to the hitch pin handle. Now it can rotate with vibration and not wiggle through the lift arms. This is a photo of the underside of the fender. A Lynch pin keeps the hitch pin in place. Application and removal can be done by feel or by bending and looking at it. I initially considered cutting down the hitch pin a few inches but there is plenty of clearance between the pin and wheel. In the interests of time I chose to try it at full length and have had no issues at all. Now the lift arms are always on board and do not pose a safety issue. I have not had to search for an arm since. On my old tractor, I would have also placed the top link in this bracket, but the Mahindra has enough room to keep the top link attached while using the backhoe. About an hour of fabrication and tinkering will save me many more hours of searching!

Farm Life Farm is located in the Northwest Hills of CT. Between the private land and nature preserve our farm is surrounded by, we have about 3,000 acres of wildland. Though humans respect property lines, animals do not. To date, we have had the following animals invade our farm. Ravens Lynx Bobcat Coyote Opossum Fox Black Bear Our two farm dogs protect our animals for the most part. We let the dogs out in the morning when we open the chicken pens. The dogs stand vigil over our farm with great success. However, they are not always successful. Fox and bobcat are excellent at learning our habits and invading when they are least likely to be opposed. Our poultry is the biggest loser on our farm. We hatch chickens, ducks, and turkeys. There comes a point where you cannot keep your chicks in a box anymore. Our chick pen was not covered when we first built it. Everything seemed to be safe and secure. Their pen was sandwiched between the meat bird pen and the laying hen pen. They were safe until they were not! On a balmy spring morning, our turkey chicks were playing in their pen and we were all home. A kill of Ravens began carrying our Turkey chicks out of the pen one at a time. Our dogs and our 8 year old daughter watched the birds flying into the pen. She did not see them carrying out the birds. It wasn't until the last chick that I saw a raven carrying an obviously dead turkey into a nearby tree. By the time I got out there, there was nothing left...Just a few feathers. That afternoon we covered the pen with bits of netting and fencing. I would have never believed this. I did not know crows or ravens to be hunters. Also, this is not what this post is all about. It is about the animals that come out at night. That lurk in the shadows looking for a way into an easy meal. Netting protects the chicks. Dogs protect the birds during the day and chase away anything that does not belong. A fox had taken three laying hens over the coarse of six days. It walked right down the driveway, took a chicken, and walked back down the driveway. Nana had been bringing the dogs inside due to the heat of the summer. She did not seem to realize that we have dogs for the farm, not just as pets. The fox lives because it has learned the dogs are there. A bobcat was our issue two years ago. It stalked our birds for weeks and we managed to be there just in time on several occasions. This culminated with one shot from a 9 mil glock that just grazed its left front leg below the knee. I admit I was aiming for a kill shot, but at 40 yards, I was happy to make contact. We see sign of the bobcats moving on our property but no sign past the point where I shot it. We do know it is well as it immediately began stalking our neighbors chickens. There remains one animal that shows up periodically and our dogs are afraid of: Coyote. Bear pose no threat. 500 pounds of black fur and the dogs charge. The bear runs away and does not return. We did have to run electric along the top of our field fencing to keep the bears away. They were pushing down the fence and walking right in. Meanwhile the sheep would run out. Electric wire has ended that issue. Still the coyotes remain undaunted. They actually have not taken any of our livestock yet and they don't come around often, but about once a month, the pack invades the hayfield adjacent to our poultry and sheep fields. They roam the fence line looking for a way in. The dogs wont go out and we have little to defend against them at night. Many have recommended a night vision scope. For $300-$2,000 we can do that, yet with our bank account in its current condition, we cannot. Next I looked at gun lights. Unfortunately they are either ridiculously expensive or underpowered for this job. My mini-14 can kill out to about 150 yards with me shooting it, but the infrared and standard gun lights just don't reach out that far. Not to mention that I like to use what I have and make things myself. Also what I created gives me light out far enough to reach the coyote while being easily removeable. When I purchased the mini-14 at the ripe age of 20, I wanted to build the A-team rifle. Anyone in their 40's will remember this show. I loved the show and adored their rifles. I found a collapsible stock with a wire frame in a small gun store in northern Florida. This stock is actually illegal in my home state of CT. This makes sense given that the more intimidating a rifle looks, the more dangerous it is. We all know that it is the gun that hurts people. It has nothing to do with the human commanding the weapon. O.k., this is not true, but it is the basic thought that guides gun law in my state. It was legal when I brought it home...not anymore. Luckily this is my farm rifle and does not travel very far. As I have mentioned in past posts, I make things to be functional, not beautiful. I had all this stuff kicking around the farm. I had an old weaver rail. I drilled and tapped the stock and used wide thread screws to attach it. This allows for fast removal and attachment, though I have not removed it more than once, it remains an option. The tube was probably a patio umbrella or something...it was a metal tube that perfectly fits my streamlight stinger flashlight. The most noticeable drawback to my design is weight. The tube is 4mm metal and 6 inches long. Add the 13.6oz of flashlight and it is a hefty package. I tend to shoot from the kneeling position. With the weight of the gun resting on my bent knee. it remains manageable for an extended period. Standing, my shoulders can only handle one or two shots. This is ok as one shot is all I need.

One of the largest expenses for a livestock farm is feed. Our ruminants (sheep) will devour a field quickly. Field rotations is paramount to success. Our farm currently has three fenced paddocks all possessing a mix of pasture and woodland sections. This provides a great deal of variety in their diets. We find there are many plants and trees that fulfill almost all the nutrient requirements for our ruminants. We find that most summer days, our sheep do not want grain as they are well fed with the forage available. How do we know when to move animals around? What factors affect the decisions? What animals are in the field and where are they going next? These are just some of the questions we ask when making decisions on movement . Then there are a few other factors that must be taken into account. For example, we mix our animals together. Example: Field 1 currently has three ewes (breeding female sheep) Field 2 has 4 Kune Piglets, one Ram, and one wether (castrated male goat) Field 3 has 3 teen kune's, one Kune Sow, and three lambs Earlier this week, we created a new pig pen. We are raising a kune boar for family member who has not yet erected his fences. We also took delivery of a Yorkshire Boar three months ago for a cross breed project I will explain in a separate post. Those two boars were in field 2 with the other piglets. As they approach maturity, we must limit their access to females. So a new boar specific pen was necessary. Not to mention how much easier it is to heard a 70Lbs pig than a 200Lbs pig. Field one is currently short on snacks for the pigs and not enough grass for the lambs. We had the ewes and lambs in field one until weaning time. At that point, the lambs were moved to field 3 where we currently have an abundance of grass and plants that the lambs love. Field two has a grub problem and a tremendous amount of briars, prickers, and other scrub as it hadn't been used for anything but a horse over the last 25 years. Now we have the goat and ram eating the briars, prickers, and other brush, while the kune piglets devour the grubs and other creepy crawlies. I must point out some time discrepancies. Our home page shows that we established our farm this year. That is partly true, as we incorporated as a farm this year. We have actually been raising livestock here for more than a decade. Though our paddock rotations were based solely on husbandry, as our flocks have grown, we have needed to become much more studious in our land usage. It is with great pride that we report having three healthy, useful fields. Why have I shared all that with you? The main reason is to get your head around the importance of forage for your livestock. The more plant life available to your ruminants, the less you will need to feed them grain. The less grain you feed, the better the margins will be at the other end. That is the fiscal reason, which is of course very important. My personal motivation is flavor. The grass fed animal will taste different than grain fed. They tend to have less overall fat with better fat distribution. You know the contents of your field and can better control what man-made contaminants than with a bag of grain. Grass fed animals have better coloring as well...BPI pork is gray with just a hint of pink color and virtually no marbling. Our pork and lamb have deep color and good fat distribution. Unfortunately, however, we live in Connecticut. How much do you know about nutrient content in our soil? Let me teach you real fast...its not that good. New England soils tend to lack necessary trace minerals which cause our forage to be deficient. We must balance our animals diets with grain feeds to make up the difference. Another source of salts and trace minerals is salt blocks. We ensure there is always a mineral block available to our livestock. Monitoring the salt block is a great way to know if your animals are deficient...if they are, they will eat the mineral block. Few people understand that animals will seek out the nutrients they are lacking. When humans are taken from our first world societies they will actually do the same things. People who find themselves stranded on an island with abundant fish will begin by eating the flesh as we would expect. As time goes on those humans become deficient in all the nutrients and minerals not in the fish meat. That human will begin to seek out sources of those nutrients. The stranded human will have a sudden desire to eat the entrails, eyeballs, and other bits that disgust you as you read this. Those bits contain the nutrients that the body needs. Your subconscious will convince you they are the most delicious things ever...our children wont eat anything because they are well fed since birth. Give them bread and water for a week and see how open their appetites become. Meanwhile, our animals do not need to get to that point. So we feed small amounts of grain throughout the year with increases during gestation and lactation and winter. One of the signs it is time to rotate animals is when they lap up every last morsel of grain...most days all our animals leave a portion of their grain for the mice and birds.

I just spent over two hours watching a Tucker Carlson interview: https://rumble.com/v5b73od-calley-and-casey-means-the-truth-about-ozempic-the-pill-and-how-big-pharma-.html#:~:text=Calley%20%26%20Casey%20Means%3A%20The%20Truth%20About%20Ozempic%2C%20the%20Pill%2C%20and%20How%20Big%20Pharma%20Keeps%20You%20Sick Calley and Casey Means I love food. All kinds of food. From Tofu to sweetbreads and everything in between. I am also obese according to my doctor and the BMI charts. The body mass index is another hoax that you should learn about. But not right now. Understand that I am not lazy, nor do I lead a sedentary lifestyle. I am up by 6am and begin the day with morning farm chores. I can get help, but I enjoy this time with our animals. After that, with a mason jar of coffee, I head back out and begin projects. Since we began in earnest building our farm, we have been busy. Sarah did not ride her horse at all in 2023 as every free moment was spent on farm building projects. Many days, we would not eat till dinner, and then it would be leftovers or a pizza. Sounds pretty typical for an American middle class family, right? Now lets back up a bit. In 2009, we had our first child. As our son grew, baby food became a conversation. We bought Gerber and Beach Nut. We read their ingredients list. We looked at their processing process. We tasted them. We should have tasted them first. That is all it took. We then had one of those magical moments in a marriage when both partners have the same thought at the same time...."I don't want to feed him this garbage." It was, and I assume, still is disgusting. What to do? We were not wealthy. Actually we have been just barely holding it together like most of you. Still we had to do something that would provide actual nutrients and taste good. I had been a sous chef in my late teens and early twenties at some very fine restaurants. As a side note, I worked at a little deli two doors down from the West St Grill, a rather famous 5 star restaurant. The grill was short staffed and my boss asked me to go and help them. James O'shea, the proprietor, expected the perfection from me that day as he had from every chef he had ever hired. Never being able to hold my tongue, I quickly made it clear that I was not a five star professional, but I was eager to do better and felt honored to be screamed at by him; but only once. Apparently, he was impressed with my confidence and "bullocks" ( I had to look that up and given it was the 90's and I did not know it was British slang, it took a while) I was asked to help out there a few more times over that summer. Unfortunately, the owner just couldn't not scream. I again explained my stance that his environment was not worth the culinary experience, but I sure would appreciate a reference if I went for another kitchen job. I was addicted to cooking since I was standing in my high chair stirring and skimming gramma's sauce. I was definitely going to be a chef! The next restaurant I went to apply at had a sous position. A 17 year old is not a sous chef; the Exec's assistant takes years to learn. Well as they looked at me clearly not believing a word, the chef asked, "where have you worked and do you have references?" I started with the deli, which was also a well respected catering and specialty food store and butcher shop. Yes the chefs there, the owner, and the butcher were all willing to provide references. I then mentioned the grill and a private golf club. I quickly stated that I would not get any reference from the golf club as I had been fired for horsing around on a golf cart. The part I had left out is that I only did menial tasks at that club. Looking back, I don't remember ever working in their kitchen. But that did not matter. This chef and the owner heard me say the West St Grill in a way one would mention working at a Subway sandwich shop. They questioned me and I acted cool and pointed out that I was not impressed with the management and parted ways. "Your telling me you quit and O'shea will give a reference? He doesn't give references. Everyone knew that once you left the grill's kitchen, you were a bad person and a horrible cook." I looked at him and explained my leaving. Of course I left out the part about me only moonlighting there a handful of times but did vividly describe me telling the grill's owner that he was an evil prick that should be arrested for employee abuse. Then in the same breath asked if he would offer a reference? Yes he would...because of those bullocks. (still no idea what they were) To this day, I do not know if he would have or if my new boss ever actually called him. Any which way, I was hired. All that to say: I know food. I also understood basic human nutrition. Macro and micro nutrients. Good fats and bad fats. How hard could it be. So we went to local farms for vegetables and purchased the best quality meats and fish we could afford. We would steam or bake virtually everything and then run it through the food processor with whatever pan juices and scrapings we could save. This continued for our other two kids. During this time, we would garden as much as possible and buy the most natural foods we could. This grew into a mission. We began buying raw ingredients. Wheat berries directly from a Minnesota farm. Raw milk from the horse barn/ dairy farm Sarah worked at. (one time a two gallon jug of fresh milk spilt in the truck on her commute home. Cleaning that is a story worth telling) We would make butter, mozzarella, and buttermilk. Grass fed beef from another local farm. As time went on, this whole food lifestyle continued. We began raising rabbits first. I am Italian and rabbit was a staple. We could not afford to buy them at $10/Lbs but raising them is very low cost. Then we added chickens, then ducks. When learned about BPI pork and Smithfield being purchased by a Chinese company that changed their old ways into "modern" farming that would produce more profit, we knew that store bought pork was no longer safe. Smithfield went communist on May 29. 2013. BPI was already Chinese. This terrified us. Raising pigs was an obvious next step. Unfortunately we were not set up for such a strong and intelligent animal. (One of the truest statements I ever heard from a pig farmer selling me piglets was this..."don't let it get out. You'll never catch em. You'll hafta shoot em. And that'll be one expensive sucklin pig on the spit") So pigs had to wait, but sheep are dumb and easier to contain. (we were wrong by the way) The pigs followed closely once our enclosure was complete. After our first harvest of meat, we realized how different the meat we raised tasted. It made us feel better. Cholesterol levels decreased. Energy levels increased and my weight...nope still fat. The issue we have as a nation is the quality of our food supply. Big farming intends to make as much money as possible. Our animals roam and graze with grain more as a supplement than their staple food. Their animals live in small cages suffering stress-induced cortisol levels through the roof. MMM, cortisol! These animals are being fed a grain containing genetically modified sugars and grains and antibiotics. Prophylactic antibiotics mind you. More if they actually are ill. The past two years have been difficult. Nana has been living with us due to the slow onset of dementia which is currently becoming an unspoken epidemic. Covid has nothing on diabetes and dementia. Nana is part of the processed foods craze of the 60's. She found the convenience wonderful. She believed the Food Pyramid and that seed oils were better than animal fats. She embraced the center grocery store aisles and never looked back. She loves to bring processed foods home from the store. She brings our kids to the store and lets them pick out cookies and cakes and chips. Then the children will sneak these snacks right before dinner and again at bedtime. One bag of chips leads to a cookie. Processed sugars are addictive. As addictive as heroin. In 1950, the average American consumed 5 pounds of sugar a year. Now that number is closer to 100 pounds of sugar. High fructose corn syrup was developed as a less expensive option to cane sugar. The Farm bills every year since the 70's, when high fructose corn syrup was invented, has tax paid subsidies to big corn farms like Monsanto. Such commercial farms get huge cash payments for their corn from the department of agriculture. They are then able to undercut real sugar suppliers. Our government has been paying for private companies to poison our food supply for more than 50 years. High Fructose Corn Syrup is a science experiment. The results have been reproduced with worsening results each generation. It is poison. Lets look at a soda. 39 grams of sugar in a 12 oz can of coke. 9 grams of sugar in an orange. So you can drink that soda or eat 5 oranges. (both contain a form of Fructose: Low fructose in the fruit. High in the soda) I bet you can drink 5 cans of soda before you can eat 5 oranges. Why? Fiber. That is why. The orange has fiber. Fiber takes up space in your digestive system. Fiber feeds your gut bacteria. soluble fiber enters your cells, attaches to waste products/toxins and removes the waste from the cells. Insoluble fiber scrubs the walls of your stomach and intestines, expelling the sludge there. Hi-Colonic anyone? In 1964, Surgeon General, Luther Terry, MD stated publicly that smoking cigarettes led to cancer and chronic bronchitis. At this time, R.J. Reynolds and Phillip Morris were the largest cigarette companies in the world. They were making millions in 1960 dollars. They also had more lobbyists than any other industry at the time. An article for the University of Michigan LSA states, " In the 1980s, tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds acquired the major food companies Kraft, General Foods and Nabisco, allowing tobacco firms to dominate America’s food supply and reap billions in sales from popular brands such as Oreo cookies, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and Lunchables." This article ends with: "The findings suggest that tobacco companies engineered processed foods to hit what is known as our “bliss” point and elicit cravings, said Ashley Gearhardt, a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan who studies food addiction." This year, Kraft is lobbying to have lunchables added to the USDA school food program. We must understand that big tobacco had an army of scientists working to make cigarettes more addictive. As they realized that the new surgeon general's warning was going to decrease sales, they moved almost all of their "research" divisions to food. They created flavor enhancers, highly refined sugars, and new preservatives. They lobbied the FDA to classify many man made ingredients as "natural flavors." They created the food pyramid to make their "new foods" the base for our diets. How has this worked? Simple answer: We believed. We believed our scientists and doctors. We believed in our governmental agencies. We believed! Ex: The Surgeon General's warning in 1964 was listened to and smoking decreased by 20% virtually overnight. While researching this article, I came across the following blog: https://myserenitykids.com/blogs/news/seed-oil-alternatives#:~:text=In%20the%20grand%20scheme%20of,supply%20in%20the%20early%201900s . This is an excellent article that I would recommend to you. One particularly interesting excerpt: Hillary Bennets quotes an issue of Popular Science from the era that sums up the evolution of cottonseed with the following sentiment: "What was garbage in 1860 was fertilizer in 1870, cattle feed in 1880, and table food and many things else in 1890."   Proctor and Gamble had a tremendous amount of cottonseed oil which was a waste product of cotton production. I cannot blame a company for trying to find a way to make more money from their waste products. On our farm we do the same. We use the scrap cuts from our sawmill to make signs. We use the extra lard from our slaughters to make soap. We use our animal manure to fertilize gardens. I can blame our governmental agencies for allowing this to happen. This is very similar to the fluoride scam. If you did not know, fluoride is a toxic biohazardous waste product of Aluminum production. The National Institute of Health, has a glowing report on their website about how conclusive their study on fluoridation of drinking water was. "The architect of these first fluoride studies was Dr. H. Trendley Dean, head of the Dental Hygiene Unit at the National Institute of Health (NIH)...Dean wondered whether adding fluoride to drinking water at physically and cosmetically safe levels would help fight tooth decay. This hypothesis, Dean told his colleagues, would need to be tested. In 1944, Dean got his wish. That year, the City Commission of Grand Rapids, Michigan-after numerous discussions with researchers from the PHS, the Michigan Department of Health, and other public health organizations-voted to add fluoride to its public water supply the following year. In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city in the world to fluoridate its drinking water. The Grand Rapids water fluoridation study was originally sponsored by the U.S. Surgeon General, but was taken over by the NIDR shortly after the Institute's inception in 1948. During the 15-year project, researchers monitored the rate of tooth decay among Grand Rapids' almost 30,000 schoolchildren. After just 11 years, Dean- who was now director of the NIDR-announced an amazing finding. The caries ( pretty sure this is a typo that should read Cavity) rate among Grand Rapids children born after fluoride was added to the water supply dropped more than 60 percent." Nothing in the one and only study on fluoridation tested fluoride levels in the body; it only measured how many cavities they saw. It did not factor in that fluoride is a persistent heavy metal. Persistent refers to the fact that fluoride, lead, mercury, etc, settle in our cells and stay there. These metals continue to build up in our bodies and will travel through the blood-brain-barrier. The difference between our farm using "waste products" and these large corporations is the moral factor. Farm Life Farm considers how our decisions will affect our customers and our family. The corporations only factor in how much money will be made or lost. This would not be a problem if we had governmental agencies actually doing what is right for our people. Unfortunately what we have are protection agencies like the FDA that are filled with corporate actors working for the benefit of the companies, not the American people.

At Farm Life Farm, we have a unique opportunity to share more than just farming knowledge.  We also offer medical training with an emphasis on First Aid Training that pertains to the farming lifestyle.                   Troy earned his Emergency Medical Technician Certification in 1999.  Sarah followed in 2006.  Troy Became an EMS Instructor and American Heart Instructor in 2018.  Sarah earned her AHA and Stop the Bleed Instructor Certifications in 2020.  She also holds a Safe Sitter Instructor Certification.                    We have both worked in Commercial Emergency Medical Services for many years while also serving our town as volunteer Firefighters and EMT’s and farming our land.  This life experience allows us to provide real-world experience to our training programs.    Get your hand cut off trying to clear a log out of your brush hog?  We will show you how to sew it back on one vessel at a time with nothing more than needle, thread, and whiskey.   O.k., I am Joking...that would be a time to ask for help from an actual doctor, and maybe, a helicopter.                    One of our goals here is to increase the knowledge base of everyone when it comes to farming and first aid.                    As an example, what is tetanus, how do you get it, and what preventatives are available?  When I pose this question during our first aid classes, the most common answer we get is that it is in rusty metal, but nobody has ever told us that it is a bacteria.    Yes, tetanus is a bacterium that lives in soil, not on rusty metal.  What generally happens is that a human is playing in the dirt and finds a jagged piece of rusty metal in the dirt that cuts you.  The dirt that gets into the wound has tetanus in it.  The bacteria finds your warm moist flesh much better than the cold ground and moves in.   Where would you rather live?  Now let’s think of our body as a home.  If a troublesome person you have dealt with before walks up to your porch.  You see them and immediately tell them to go away.  You had been exposed to this threat and wont let it happen again.  However, the first time that troubled soul interacted with you, there was no way to know they were a threat.                    Luckily we have a vaccine for this...a real vaccine, tried and true, with possible side effects being acute and mild.  The Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) is an old school dead (deactivated) Bacterial Vaccine.  This means that the bacteria is in there but it has been paralyzed.  This allows our white blood cells to recognize the intruder and develop antibodies for that bacterium.  Next time you get cut in the dirt, the tetanus in the soil will still get into the wound but now the body is ready.                    Whenever contagion enters our bodies, they immediately begin to reproduce/replicate.  Some contagions that have never been in that human before will be recognized as an invader quickly.  The immune system sends fluid with white blood cells to the area of infection and creates an antibody to destroy the bacteria or virus.                    We are now in a race.  Will the contagion replicate faster than the body can produce antibodies.  If the body can, the swelling dissipates and the problem is gone.  If the contagion can reproduce faster than antibodies can be created, that human gets sick.                   I have just spent the last 500 words praising the Tdap vaccine.  This is one of the few I believe in.  In the 60's a new type of medication therapy was created called MrNA.                            I need to stop for a moment and mention the gas lighting we now experience on the internet.   In November of 2020, Sarah and I were working commercial EMS.  We were on 24 hour shifts at about 50 hours a week.  We both became sick with what seemed like an upper airway viral infection.  It lasted about a week and then we were fine.  The pandemic began in earnest with heavy "advertising" (some called it news coverage) in December of 2020.  We helped some seriously sick people...Oxygen saturations in the 80's was the most common symptom that all our patients had.  By April, the world was terrified and began lapping up the "cool aid" about all of us dying.  However, anecdotally, we were seeing a decrease in seriously sick patients.  Our patients were suffering more psychosomatic symptoms that would subside as we calmed them and explained that it was mutating to a less virulent infection.  Again anecdotally, those of our patients that stayed home and refused transport got better.  Those that went to the hospital did not.                   As an instructor, I spend a great deal of time researching for presentations.  I spent most of my free time researching the sars-covi-2 (covid 19).  The summer of 2020, the internet still held answers and truth.  I was able to find the Liquid nano-particle, covi-1 & 2, and MrNA patents.  Dr McCullough's research and warnings as well as all of Dr Zelenko’s warnings about the virus and the treatments.  It was all there.  Amazing information for somebody that has spent most of their lives treating and transporting people in the American healthcare system.  Sarah and I were true believers:  Until 2020.  Today, I search for these things and cannot find them.  At the time, as a believer in our system, I did not bother to save copies.  Now it is all gone.  Scrubbed from the interwebs.  The sheeple must remain fleeced.                   The Tdap is a vaccine.  The Covid shot is not.  The covid shot is a therapeutic medication.  Did you know the definition of “vaccine” changed in 2020?  It used to state that a vaccine was a prophylactic that stopped the transmission of a contagion.  Now it is defined as a preparation that stimulates an immune response.  The MrNA based covid shot is exactly that.  It stimulates an immune response.  For some people this may present as a new allergy to peanuts (one of my ambulance partners).  It may be a continually stuffy nose (this is my burden)  Do you remember the news touting it as “safe and effective”?  Then they said it “stops the transmission”, and then they said we will all still get the virus but “it won’t be so bad”.                  Just for fun, lets look at the national vaccination schedule from 1970 and the 2024 Connecticut schedule                 I n the 1970s, the following vaccines were routinely recommended for children born between 1963 and 1971 in the United States:  Smallpox: Although smallpox vaccination was routinely given in the early 1950s, it was no longer recommended after 1972 due to successful eradication efforts. The last reported case of naturally-acquired smallpox was in Africa in 1979, and in 1980 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated.  DTP: A combination of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis  Polio: An oral live attenuated poliovirus vaccine  Measles: A routine vaccination in the 1970s  Rubella: Also known as German measles, a vaccine was introduced in 1970. In 1972, a combined measles-rubella vaccine (MR) became available.  Mumps: A vaccine was developed in 1967, and in 1975 a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine came into general use in Canada. Dr. Maurice Hilleman combined the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines into a single vaccination in 1971.  A total of 6 Vaccines in 1971.  Nothing given at birth!!!   STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ENROLLED STUDENTS IN CONNECTICUT SCHOOLS 2024–2025 SCHOOL YEAR Hepatitis B: 3 doses, last one on or after 24 weeks of age  ( First shot at 2 hours old  along with erythromycin ointment on the eyes for chlamydia prevention.  Heb B and Chlamydia are Sexually Transmitted Diseases that are tested for prior to birth.  Why are we giving these medications to our babies??? )  DTaP: 4 doses (by 18 months for programs with children 18 months of age) Polio: 3 doses (by 18 months for programs with children 18 months of age) MMR: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday Varicella: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday or verification of disease Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Hib: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday Pneumococcal: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday Influenza: 1 dose administered each year between August 1st-December 31st (2 doses separated by at least 28 days required for those receiving flu for the first time) KINDERGARTEN Hepatitis B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age DTaP: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months-1 st dose on or after 1stbirthday; or verification of disease. 28 days between doses is acceptable if the doses have already been administered. Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Hib: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday for children less than 5 years old Pneumococcal: 1 dose on or after 1st birthday for children less than 5 years old GRADES 1-6 Hepatitis B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age DTaP/Td: At least 4 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday. Students who start the series at age 7 or older only need a total of 3 doses. Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months-1 st dose on or after 1stbirthday; or verification of disease. 28 days between doses is acceptable if the doses have already been administered. Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1stbirthday GRADE 7-12 Hepatitis B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age Tdap/Td: 1 dose for students who have completed their primary DTaP series. Students who start the series at age 7 or older only need 3 doses of tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine, one of which must be Tdap Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months-1 st dose on or after 1stbirthday; or verification of disease. 28 days between doses is acceptable if the doses have already been administered. Hepatitis A: 2 doses given six calendar months apart, 1st dose on or after 1st birthday Meningococcal: 1 dose Revised 1/3/2024 • DTaP vaccine is not administered on or after the 7th birthday. • Tdap can be given in lieu of Td vaccine for children 7 years and older unless contraindicated. • Hib is NOT required once a student turns 5 years of age. • Pneumococcal conjugate is NOT required once a student turns 5 years of age. • Influenza is NOT required once a student turns 5 years of age. • HepA requirement for school year 2024–2025 applies to all Pre-K through 12 th graders born 1/1/07 orlater. • HepB requirement for school year 2024–2025 applies to all students in grades K–12. Spacing intervals for a valid HepB series: at least 4 weeks between doses 1 and 2; 8 weeks between doses 2 and 3; at least 16 weeks between doses 1 and 3; dose 3 must be administered at 24 weeks of age or later. • Second MMR for school year 2024–2025 applies to all students in grades K–12. • Meningococcal conjugate requirement for school year 2024–25 applies to all students in grades 7–12. • Tdap requirement for school year 2024–2025 applies to all students in grades 7–12. • If two live virus vaccines (MMR, varicella, MMRV, intranasal influenza) are not administered on the same day, they must be separated by at least 28 days (there is no 4 day grace period for live virus vaccines). If they arenot separated by at least 28 days, the vaccine administered second must be repeated. • Lab confirmation of immunity is only acceptable for HepA, HepB, measles, mumps, rubella, andvaricella. • VERIFICATION OF VARICELLA DISEASE: confirmation in writing by a MD, PA, or APRN that the child has a previous history of disease, based on family or medical history.     We had given 15 shots to 70’s era kids.  We give 72 shots to today’s kids. We do not have a choice.  If your child will be going to a public school, you will inject your child 72 times by 18 years of age.  College adds more such as the human pamploma virus.  Every internet search clearly states that HPV’s are completely treatable and most are eradicated by the immune system on its own.                  Why do so many vaccines now appear on the schedule?  Money…the answer is not the wellbeing of our children.  It is that once your medication appears on the vaccine schedule, your pharmaceutical company is guaranteed to make lots and lots of money.  The vaccines that have made it onto the schedule will be paid for by Medicaid and by private insurance alike.  Billions of dollars.                 At the moment Novo Nordisk, a Danish pharmaceutical company, manufactures Ozempic.  Ozempic is currently being looked at for some severe side effects such as stomach paralysis.  It lowers blood sugar by paralyzing your Gastrointestinal system.  One of the things I teach in EMT classes is that the body empties the G.I. system when in crisis.  The digestive system uses as much energy as our brain…20% respectively.  When we are in shock, the body shunts blood from our extremities to our core organs.  If the stomach contents remained in the body with no digestive energy, the food will rot.  Rotting   food creates poisons that will, well, poison you.  Now there is a medication that will cause this rotting situation by design.  Novo Nordisk is currently lobbying to have the FDA approve Ozempic for children 6 years old and up.  With the initial request being approved for study, Novo’s stock is going up, even after a multi-billion dollar buy back.  This is a $1,000.00 per month cost and it is a lifetime prescription.  So a grand a month forever, or at least until it kills you.  If our Food and Drug Administration approves it, our Medicaid dollars will pay for this for every child found to be overweight and it will be paid for forever.                  We need to be wary of our medical advice.  This is so sad.  I have been transporting patients in the American medical system for 25 years.  As I write this, I am on duty on an ambulance.  For the first 20 years of this career, I have believed in the system.  I no longer do.  There are now times that I feel downright guilty over what I do.  The FDA committees are filled with executives and scientists from big pharma.  They work for big pharma, move to the NIH or the FDA, then go back to the private drug company.  It is interlocking directorships.  Eisenhower warned of the government military complex.  We now have to worry about the government pharmaceutical complex.  95% of current “studies” held by our government agencies are funded by big pharma.  No other country allows pharma to advertise.  Whether you watch streaming or terrestrial cable, you hear and see medicine advertisements.  Those commercials list the side effects in long lists of problems including death.  We hear it and assume that if the medicine killed people, it would not be approved for use.  We then ignore the side effect warnings as being overblown.  Remdesivir is a medication that was trialed in 2018 in the Republic of Congo as an ebola treatment.  The trial also tested three other treatments.  The Remdesivir group died at a rate of over 30% and was discontinued.  The study posted on the NIH website simply states that the trial was ended due to twice as many subjects dying at 28 days as compared to 15% of the other medication subjects.  The other drug was put on a shelf and ignored until Covid.  In early 2020 Remdesivir became the only drug with an emergency use authorization for Covid-19 treatment.  You can read the initial study on the NIH website.  The study does not state morbidity rates.  It does state that symptoms went away 30% faster.  It does not state what it is 30% faster.  It does not state if those that died are included in that 30% number.  This is something they can do…a dead person does not have symptoms.  They are not lying.  They are just leaving out some details.  The study also mentions that hydroxychloroquine was also tested in their initial trial.  There is no reference to the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine.  There is absolutely not any reference to Ivermectin.  There is no indication that the study was peer reviewed at all, regardless of it being independent or not…no peer review at all.                 This would not be so bad if there was no demonizing of other treatments.  The ONLY Approved treatment during the plandemic was remdesivir.  Our EMS protocols were also changed to stop us from using nebulized medication and CPAP.  We were supposed to just give them oxygen and transport to the hospital.  The hospitals would perform rapid sequence intubation.  This is where the patient is given a sedative and a paralytic and then intubated and put on a breathing machine.  One of remdesivir’s worst side effects was kidney failure.  Patients would go in for breathing problems, die within 10 days of arrival, then be marked down as a covid death, not kidney failure or organ failure.  Then the federal government would pay the hospital thousands of dollars for each covid death.                 My father in law died of kidney failure on December 20, 2020.  He had kidney disease.  He had diabetes.  He smoked three packs a day, took 60mgs of hydromorphone every day due to diabetic neuropathy, ate nothing but processed foods, and drank 40 or more ounces of coca cola daily.  He did not interact with anyone but family in 2020.  He did not have covid.  He never did.  Yet as my wife said goodbye to her father, she had to advise the doctor that if marked it as a covid death, we would sue.  The death certificate was crumpled up and thrown away.  The certificate we hold today states kidney failure.                    What happened to  us between December of 2019 and today is criminal.  This will go down in history as the most evil, unnecessary medical crimes ever committed.  The aids epidemic of the early 80’s is the second most criminal medical crime ever committed.  Did you know that Anthony Fauci was in charge of both?    The truth is now coming out in dribbles.  We now know without a doubt that this virus was created in a lab in Wuhan China.  We know that President Obama, of all people, banned Dr. Fauci and his NIH/NAID from performing gain of function research on American soil.  We now know that the NIH continued to fund gain of function research but moved it to China and Ukraine.  We now know that one of the things that caused Russia to fully invade Ukraine was this research.  We know that the first targets Russia had in Ukraine were the bio-labs.  Every one of them was destroyed in the first week of the invasion.  Putin will go down in history as a savior, not the devil.  The only way to find anything truthful about the war in Ukraine right now is to use a vpn, go to Eastern European countries (virtually) and either read in that native language or have the ability to translate the documents you find there.  This is not the way it should be.  We should have full access to the truth.  What we have is full access to what they want you to read.  We need truth.  Without it we die.  At this time in history, there are myriad groups working day and night to cause exactly that.  Death.  Our food has been designed to poison us.  Our medications are created to manage symptoms, not cure disease.  Cures for cancer are out there.  Mostly found in foods and herbs.  A friend of mine works for a big pharma company.  He is more than happy to admit that they do not research existing cures unless they see profit at the other end.  The money is in maintenance, not cures.

Lets talk sheep. We started with a Dorset ewe and a Rambouillet Ram which made beautiful babies. Our Rambouillet ram became aggressive over time and actually killed one of our pregnant ewes. That was obviously not acceptable and we had to replace him. While searching for a new ram, we decided that wool was not desirable as we do not use it for anything. We also wanted a ram that would produce meat lambs with good temperment, good growth rates, and no wool. We landed on a katahdin ram and found one as a lamb that we were able to hand feed and raise ourselves. Our first birthing with the three dorset/rambouillet cross ewes and our katahdin ram, we had three lambs from two ewes...our youngest ewe was not ready and is now pregnant. Time will tell how they mature. We intend to cull our lambs at 7months old which will make them ready for christmas. Lets talk pork! We have a plan... In the previous post, we discussed our two breeds of pigs. The Kune grows slow but is friendly and does not root much. Yorkshires grow fast and big but are not friendly or easy to manage. After a tremendous amount of research, we found that with a few specific details, we might be able to create a hybrid that will contain the best of both animals. Now the Yorkshires produce larger piglets than the Kune. The Kune teen Gilt will most likely not work out well. To quote one old pig farmer we discussed this with, "well you'll probably kill her but they are your pigs." Many would take that advice and stop right here. That conversation continued. We do not intend to use a gilt. We have our Kune Sow that has four litters under her belt and is very large for a Kune. Our Yorkshire boar will be mature in three months. We will update posts throughout this process.

What breed of pig should you raise? What is your purpose for raising them? How much will you interact with your hogs? what type of enclosure will you have for them? There are many factors to choosing a pig breed. Lets discuss the Kune first. KuneKune's originated in Australia and spread across the world. Kune's are very docile and friendly. They are often kept as pets as well as a food source. Kune's will graze like sheep and will live comfortably with other livestock. Kune's are a smaller breed and grow slowly. Average maturity for slaughter is one year. Kune's are also considered a Lard breed. This means that they readily produce fat. This is great for anyone like us that makes soap or sells rendered lard to bakers. Kune piglets need small amounts of grain to manage how much lard they produce. They do not root much, though they will root some if there are abundant grubs or other delicious insects under the roots. Piglets will be about 100Lbs at the end of there first year. Kune's will continue to grow slowly after the first year. For example, our Kune boar was 6 years old when we slaughtered him and his hanging weight was 200Lbs. These pigs have short little legs and a compact body. Next we will describe the Yorkshire The Yorkshire pig, also known as the English Large White, originated in the county of York in England in the 18th century . The breed was developed by crossing a large white pig from North England with a smaller, white Chinese pig. Yorkshire pigs are solid white with erect ears. Yorkshires will grow up to 700Lbs for a breeding boar. Yorkshires grow fast and are normally harvested at 6 months with a weight of 200-300Lbs. These pigs are tall and long. Yorkshires are not lard pigs. Meaning that you will generally have a lower ratio of fat to meat which most Americans feel is better...I do not as fat is delicious and contains needed nutrients. Yorkshires also root. They dig like a backhoe. They will get under your fence. they will eat through your wooden fencing. Yorkshires are not very friendly either. They are big and strong and opinionated. Not to mention that your Yorkshire is most likely the smartest creature on your farm. Those are the basics of the two breeds we raise. One of the initial questions was about your pigpen. In our "field Rotations" post, we discussed how our Kune's graze like sheep. They are as happy to be eating grass and plant-life as they are grain. OK, maybe they like grain better, but still they will graze happily and need very little grain. If you do not have the ability to graze your pigs, then food scraps and grain will be constantly needed. Yorkshires will graze as well but not nearly as much. Yorkshires want the insects in the ground much more than the grass above it and they will work hard to get them. Now that sounds terrible, unless you have land that needs to be cleared. In that case, the Yorkshire is a great option. They will clear land better than goats as the Yorkshire will eat and destroy roots So, in closing, there are so many details to factor in when choosing a pig to raise. There are also several other breeds available. Each breed has its benefits. As I prepare to end this post, I began thinking about their anatomical differences. I mentioned above that the Kune is short and compact while the Yorkshire is tall and long. I am a big fan of making my own charcuterie. Capicola is quite possibly my favorite salumi. This cured meat is the Copa or neck muscle. The Kune does not have a neck...they are a giant head on shoulders. The length of the Yorkshire provides more neck and three or four more ribs than the Kune. Bacon however is better from the Kune but there is less of it than the Yorkshire will produce.

Are you looking to start or improve your livestock breeding with Farm Life Farm? Well, you've come to the right place! Here are top tips for successful livestock breeding that will help you achieve your goals. Start with Healthy Stock: When it comes to breeding livestock, it's crucial to begin with healthy animals. Make sure to select breeding stock that are free from diseases, parasites, and genetic defects. This will help ensure the health and productivity of your future generations. Proper Nutrition: Providing your livestock with a balanced diet is essential for successful breeding. Make sure they have access to high-quality feed, fresh water, minerals, and vitamins. Consult with a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to create a diet plan tailored to your animals' needs. Maintain Clean Living Conditions: Cleanliness is key when it comes to livestock breeding. Regularly clean and disinfect living areas to prevent the spread of diseases and parasites. This will help keep your animals healthy and reduce the risk of breeding complications. Keep Detailed Records: Keeping track of your breeding program is essential for monitoring progress and making informed decisions. Record important information such as breeding dates, birth outcomes, health records, and any observations. This data will help you identify patterns, track success rates, and make adjustments as needed. Implement Proper Breeding Practices: Whether you're breeding naturally or using artificial insemination, it's important to follow proper breeding practices. This includes timing breeding cycles correctly, monitoring reproductive health, and ensuring proper mating techniques. Consider seeking advice from experienced breeders or consultants to optimize your breeding program. Monitor Reproductive Health: Regularly monitor the reproductive health of your livestock to ensure successful breeding. This includes observing heat cycles, checking for signs of pregnancy, and addressing any reproductive abnormalities promptly. Work closely with a veterinarian to support breeding success and address any health issues that may arise. By following these top tips for successful livestock breeding at Farm Life Farm, you can improve the health and productivity of your animals while achieving your breeding goals. Remember, patience, dedication, and proper management are key to a successful breeding program. Good luck with your livestock breeding endeavors!

Are you looking to immerse yourself in the world of diverse agriculture and livestock farming? Look no further than Farm Life Farm, nestled in the picturesque landscape of Prospect Mountain in Bantam, CT. At Farm Life Farm, the focus is on a wide range of agricultural practices, from breeding sheep, rabbits, turkeys, ducks, and chickens to producing high-quality meat and eggs. Their commitment to sustainable farming practices is evident in every aspect of their operation. One of the standout features of Farm Life Farm is their lumber mill, where timber is milled to perfection. This additional service sets them apart from traditional farms and allows for a holistic approach to land management and utilization. Visitors to Farm Life Farm can expect a variety of services to engage with. From livestock breeding and sales to farm tours and visits, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are interested in purchasing farm-fresh meat and dairy products or looking to expand your knowledge on livestock care, Farm Life Farm has you covered. In addition to their offerings, Farm Life Farm has a comprehensive online presence, complete with an events calendar, blog, and the ability to place orders directly through their website. This seamless online experience allows visitors to stay informed about upcoming events, explore farm updates and stories, and easily make purchases. Overall, Farm Life Farm is more than just a farm – it's an educational experience waiting to be discovered. With a commitment to quality, sustainability, and excellence in all that they do, Farm Life Farm is a beacon of innovation in the world of agriculture and livestock farming. So, what are you waiting for? Plan your visit to Farm Life Farm today and immerse yourself in the diverse and enriching world of agriculture.