Project Overview
Commodities
- Animals: fish
Practices
- Animal Production: general animal production
- Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, display, on-farm/ranch research, participatory research, study circle
- Farm Business Management: new enterprise development, cooperatives
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
- Production Systems: holistic management
- Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, partnerships, public participation, sustainability measures
Summary:
Beef cattle ranches are experiencing a rise in production expenses and low calf prices. Diversity is needed to subsidize decreasing cash flow.
An abundance of surface and ground water is available for yellow perch production. These fish are acclimated to the North Central Region, a high quality food product and in high market demand in the Great Lakes region.
Objectives: 1) To create additional revenue on farm and ranch operations, using or enhancing existing resources, such as lakes and ponds, and 2) to develop a producer-owned coop to facilitate the fish farm.
The producer formed a cooperative of 30 ranchers with suitable habitat for yellow perch production. Total lake area is approximately 3,699 acres. Other producers have constructed tanks in former hog confinement buildings and sand pits.
Results: Cooperative by-laws are complete and awaiting anonymous acceptance. Ranchers need to resolve production and processing issues, including settling on a marketable size.