Great news to announce! The Pasture Program was a recent recipient of a Working Lands Enterprise Grant focused on support and expansion of profitable, environmentally beneficial and well-managed swine production.  This partnership with NOFA-VT will work on creating greater connection between existing experienced and new swine producers at all sizes and stages of growth; offering educational opportunities for producers to learn more about swine nutrition, health, housing, and value-added products; and developing further tools and options to help future expansion be successful.

To learn more about the 2014 Working Lands Enterprise Board Entrepreneur and Service Provider awards, click here.

Some of the farm partners we are very excited to continue working with are the Nottermans.  Helm, Nancy, and their son Ben (right) selling grass-fed Holstein beef and pastured pigs.  In the past three years, their pork business has grown by 900% and represent a new wave of Vermont farms using a direct-market approach to bring high quality meats to restaurants and farmers’ markets.

To learn more about the Nottermans’ Snug Valley Farm, see their Across the Fence television program from 2013, featuring Michigan State Swine Specialist Dale Rozeboom, or read this article about them in On Pasture.

The project will really get rolling in July, but if you are a swine producer (or know someone who is), feel free to visit the Pasture Program’s swine page to learn more, or contact Jenn Colby.  One of our first orders of business will be to gather a database of as many interested folks as possible for targeted outreach and educational events.

 

Tags: beef, Colby, Notterman, pasture, Snug Valley Farm, swine, Vermont, working lands

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