1. Name of farm: The Shire Farm
2. Farmer’s/Farm Family name: Figgins-Fahler
3. Street address: 3327 E. Boyer Rd.
4. City: Sheridan
5. State (2-letter abbreviation): MI
6. Zip: 48884
7. Phone number: 989-533-8292
8. Email: shirefarmmi@gmail.com
9. Website: www.WeAreHobbits.com
Type of Farm/Farm Practices
10. Are you Certified Organic? No
11. Are you Certified Biodynamic? No
12. If you are not Certified Organic, do you use organic production methods? Yes
13. Do you use synthetic fertilizers? No
14. Do you use any of the following: nonorganic pesticides, herbicides, parasiticides, or fungicides? No
Animal Husbandry
15. Do you keep livestock? Yes
16. What animals do you keep?
Chickens (list breeds): Our Egg-laying breeds are: Ameraucana, Silver-Laced Wyandotte, Golden-Laced Wyandotte, and Welsummer Chickens. We will also be offering pasture-raised whole chicken this summer, and they will be Cornish Crosses.
Ducks (list breeds):
Turkeys (list breeds):
Other Poultry (list type and breeds):
Cows (list breeds):
Goats (list breeds):
Pigs (list breeds): We will also be offering pasture-raised hogs this fall. They are a mix of Berkshire, Berkshire crossed with Duroc, and Berkshire crossed with Yorkshire.
Sheep (list breeds):
Other Animals (list type and breeds):
17. Do you use antibiotics? No
18. Are the animals pasture-fed? Yes
19. How much and for how long: From April-November
20. Do you practice managed grazing? Yes
21. Do you apply compost or compost tea? Yes
22. Do you apply other soil amendments? No
23. Do you use supplemental feed?
For poultry (list type): We use a non-medicated feed from our local mill, Harveys, in Carson City, MI.
For cows, sheep, and/or goats (list type):
For pigs (list type):
Raw Milk
24. Do you supply raw milk? No
25. Do you keep your barn and milk room clean?
26. Do you keep the cows clean/teats washed?
27. Do you thoroughly wash your milking equipment after every milking?
28. Are cows with mastitis or other health problems excluded from milking?
29. Are cows tested for disease?
Which tests, and how often:
30. Is the milk routinely tested for pathogens, coliform count?
Which tests, and how often:
31. Is the farm water routinely tested?
32. Are milk and milk products kept well chilled?
33. Other/Explain (list any other routine practices, or explain any of your answers above?
Butchering Practices
34. Do you sell milk? No
35. Meat butchered at a USDA-certified or state-certified abattoir? Yes
36. Meat butchered on the farm? Yes
37. Describe or explain any butchering practices: Our Pasture-Raised Whole Chickens are butchered on the farm. The chickens are placed head down with their head and some neck poking out of the bottom of a ”killing cone.” The neck is cut and they are bled out. Next they are rinsed off and then scalded in a pot of hot water, then are plucked clean. Next we do the chicken ”processing” on a stainless steel table, removing the head and feet. Their insides are removed then in the evisceration process. From there they cool down in an ice bath, then get another rinse, to rest in another ice bath while they wait to be vacuum sealed. Your whole chickens can be picked up on processing days on the farm, and if you feel so inclined you can come early and see the process for yourself!
Farm Products
38. Please check off the products you sell and list current prices
Raw whole milk:
Raw butter:
Raw cream:
Raw ice cream:
Raw sour cream:
Raw yogurt:
Raw kefir:
Raw cottage cheese:
Whey:
Cheese (list types):
Other dairy (list):
Beef/veal:
Pork: We will be offering a few pasture raised hogs this fall, they will be processed and picked up at a USDA registered butcher.
Goat/kid:
Mutton/lamb:
Other meat:
Chicken: Cornish Cross Whole Chicken Raised on pasture and non-medicated feed from our local mill, Harveys, in Carson City.
Duck:
Turkey:
Other poultry:
Eggs (list type, chicken, duck, etc) : Chicken eggs.
Honey:
Produce (list typical offerings):
Prepared foods (list typical offerings):
Other:
Additional Information
39. Do you only sell animals that are raised on your farm at the address listed?
Yes
40. Are the animals born on your farm at the address listed? No
40a. Details:
Our hogs are from Hinz Hogs in South Haven, MI. Our chickens are from Welp Hatchery.
41. Do you ever purchase animals from auctions or from your processor or do you ever buy parts from your processor (whole pork bellies…)? No
42. Do you personally attend to your animals at least once a day or do you hire help or farmers to do that for you? Personally Attend
43. Do you purchase pre-mixed feed from an elevator or do you grind your own? Purchase
