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Your Help Is Needed - Time Sensitive

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

February 1, 2018

Farm Update – It has been an interesting week. As you know, I communicated last week that the Senate Ag Committee voted unanimously for SB2060 that would require the MS Department of AG to change their regulations to be the same as the Federal Law vs. more restrictive. This means a farm could process up to 20,000 chickens per year and sell into retail business. 

Since then. strong opposition from Cindy Hyde Smith, poultry lobbyist, etc. have surfaced. I spoke with Senator Hudson Friday afternoon and he said opposition is pressuring the Senate Public Health Committee to "KILL" the bill. Let me encourage you to read my letter to all MS Senators & Representatives    CLICK HERE

The next hurdle is to pass the Public Health Committee. The committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon. I am asking for you to please contact the committee chairman and let your voice be heard in support of SB2060. This will not only help small farmers but will give Mississippians "choice" in their food purchases. Contact Public Health and Welfare Dean Kirby, Chairman dkirby@senate.ms.gov and Brice Wiggins, Vice-Chairman bwiggins@senate.ms.gov 

Valentine's Day - is just around the corner. Now is a good time to get your steak orders placed to ensure availability (we pickup more from the processor Friday). February delivery dates are less than 2-weeks away - and are the week prior to February 14th. Check our these premium steak selections:

Filet

PorterHouse

Rib-Eye, Boneless

New York Strip

Rib-Eye, Bone-In

T-Bone

Sirloin

Customer Feedback- 

Just received my first purchase and am very pleased with everything thank you for having a great product. B Hamilton.

Quote Worth Re-Quoting –  "A farm includes the passion of the farmer's heart, the interest of the farm's customers, the biological activity in the soil, the pleasantness of the air about the farm--it's everything touching, emanating from, and supplying that piece of landscape. A farm is virtually a living organism. The tragedy of our time is that cultural philosophies and market realities are squeezing life's vitality out of most farms. And that is why the average farmer is now 60 years old. Serfdom just doesn't attract the best and brightest." --Joel Salatin

As always, thank you for supporting our regenerative, local farm.

Ben & Beth

More from the blog

MS Ag Commissioner Visits NGF

Commissioner Andy Gipson Visits NGF - Monday, Commissioner Gipson (Andy) visited our farm for the third time. First, was after he was appointed and Senator Hill and I were working to increase the poultry exemption for Mississippi. The second time was after we built the USDA poultry processing plant that Andy supported our LWT Grant which helped fund about 50% of the cost. This visit was to support Andy’s efforts to both support existing farmers as well as encourage more people to farm and help feed our citizens.

Amazing Recognition

Amazing Recognition 2025 #12 Best Blogger! – A site titled FeedSpot recently released what they describe as the best Regenerative Agriculture blogs from thousands of blogs on the web and ranked by relevancy, authority, social media followers & freshness. We are amazed that Nature’s Gourmet Farm blog ranked #12 out of the top 30 blogs recognized.

Farm Improvements

Farm Improvements – Fresh water is a necessity for raising healthy animals on pasture. Until recently, we used an ICB tote on a small tralier that we would refill from our well. During the summer the frequency greatly increases in order to keep the chickens hydrated. So, I called my buddy at Southern Pipe and ordered pipe, fittings, etc. and then rented a trencher for May 16th to install 2,700 feet of 1.25 inch PVC pipe. Along the line we added 15 Plasson Quick Coupler Valves that we will hook to as we move the animals through our pastures.