Project Overview
FNE05-540
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2005: $9,419.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Northeast
State: Maine
Project Leader:
Catherine Albert
Jalko Farm
Annual Reports
Commodities
- Agronomic: sunflower
- Animals: poultry
Practices
- Animal Production: feed/forage, feed formulation, feed rations
- Education and Training: on-farm/ranch research
- Farm Business Management: whole farm planning, feasibility study
- Sustainable Communities: sustainability measures
Proposal summary:
Starting in October 2005, synthetic methionine will no longer be allowed in organic poultry feeds. Methionine is the limiting amino acid for poultry; without it, egg and meat production is severely compromised. This project will test whether sunflowers are the most reasonable solution to the organic methionine problem by conducting a sunflower variety trial, identifying efficient ways to de-hull sunflowers, and conducting a feeding trial to determine the merit of using sunflowers as an organic source of methionine. Outreach will be via pamphlets, presentations, farm tours, and articles.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.