News and Events
Journey 3 - Issues and Management
Farm Visits Day 1
October 20, 2010
The Poultry industry drives the economy of the Delmarva. It is the predominant source of agriculture and the primary reason that the relatively small family farms of the Eastern Shore can continue to grow grain crops competitively. But poultry— and more specifically poultry litter- has also been identified as a major source of nutrient pollution for the Chesapeake. Chesapeake Semester students would meet with Jim Perdue in his Seaford based Agri-Recycle Plant followed by a farm tour of a poultry operation in northern Kent County.
Click to enlarge photos by CES Associate Tara Holste '07 and Chesapeake Semester Program Manager Mike Hardesty '05.
Perdue’s Agri-Recylce Plant
Students met with Jim Perdue of Perdue Chicken at their Agri-Recycle Plant to discuss how poultry litter can become a commodity for farmers.
Steve Lester, the Agri-Recycle Plant Manager, explains to students the pelletizing process, which produces uniform and consistent organic fertilizer.
One of the Agri-Recycle Plant’s biggest consumers are regional golf courses.
October 20, 2010 - Afternoon
In the afternoon, students visited the farm of Allen and Olen Davis, who manage a grain and poultry operation. The chicken houses visible in the background each hold 30,000 chickens.
The Davis brothers described how increased regulations make it difficult for some farms to stay in business.
New technologies like this tractor, equipped with GPS and other computerized controls, enable farmers to more effectively apply fertilizer and pesticides to fields.
The farm also produces grain, which will eventually be processed and brought back to the farm in the form of chicken feed.
Director of the Chesapeake Semester John Seidel speaks to Allen Davis about the farm's nutrient management plan.
Jack Wells '12, Elle O'Brien '12, and Kathy Thornton '13 pore over some of the farm's records.
Paige Sanford '12 examines a book of maps showing nutrient management efforts on the farm.