Selling Broilers Legally?

Jena,
Where is the USDA processor near you???

Thanks!

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In OHIO...
I can raise up to 1000 chickens for meat production and my options for processing are very clear: process on-farm or take them to a USDA federally inspected processor. Either way I have to sell them from my farm. This satisfies the state/federal requirements. I'm fortunate to have a federally inspected processor about 25 miles away (I believe there are only 3 in the state).

When I first started to doing the research and due-diligence, I ran into a very similar 'run around' about regulations. I finally got ahold of the one person (seemingly) at the state level that knew the information and could direct me to the current printed version of the actual legislation governing this and most other farming-related activities - I just had to be incredibly persistent to find the right person.

Also... I happened to be talking with a friend that is an attorney and he was kind enough to give me some advice about the letter of the law -vs- the intent of the law and how it related to your actions. [My paraphrase] If your action (for instance selling tickets redeemable for processed poultry or calling them gifts and accepting donations for the feed, labor. etc) could be interpreted by the governing authority(ies) as an attempt to circumvent the intent of the law by using a process not specifically defined in the law, then you would be considered to be in violation of the law/regulation and could be prosecuted accordingly. So beware of trying to use 'trickery' to dodge the regs.

That being said, when I sell pigs I sell them as one half or whole. I tell my customers up front that they can pick the live (whole) porker up at my farm and use the processor of their choice, or if they want to use the same processor that I do (not USDA inspected), I'll send theirs off with mine (processor picks 'em up from my property). Then they settle up with the processor for transportation, slaughter, cut/wrap, curing/smoking when THEY pick up THEIR meat at his place of business. If they have a half, they have to work out the details with the person they are splitting it with, or in the case that they aren't splitting it with anyone of their choice, they are splitting it with me and it will be processed at my processor's. At any rate, they pay me $3@lb hanging weight for the pig. SO, the only caveate to the letter of the law that I don't comply with is delivering a live pig from my property to the customer since I don't use a USDA inspected processor. But since they are being transported by the professional livestock hauler/meat processor, I don't think the 'governing agency(ies)' could make a case for me doing anything illegal, unethical, or violating the intent of the laws. Charging based on hanging weight rather than live weight could be interpreted as selling meat rather than a live animal, but my reasoning there is that it's more fair to the customer since that is basically what they will end up with, just in a different form.

HEY!! WAKE UP you guys...

I looked up my state's info and called about this. I spoke with the state guy and he said they follow the federal exemption of 1000 birds or less. Meaning I can raise up and butcher 999 birds on my farm and can only sell off of the farm (we get a bunch of people coming in buying our eggs anyway). If I were to try to go to a farmers market, I am turning into a retail store and have to get the apprioate licensing (not fun). If I want to sell red meat (his words)(i.e. cow, pig, etc) I need to have butchered at inspected facility. I can then sell that as "freezer meat" no problem as long as its in its original packaging. I can even sell the beef/pork at the farmers market so long as I keep it frozen.

I love Indiana!

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John 9:4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.* The night is coming, and then no one can work.

I know this is an old thread, but Indiana just passed a new law, goes into effect July 1. Small farms can now sell 20,000 birds. If I understood it correctly.
You can look up Indiana bill SB 179.

This is exactly what we used to do when buying grass fed beed and lamb from a farm. Bought live weight, all documented, they took it to the butcher "for free" under our name.

I have a co-worker raising broilers this year. She's taking pre-orders at a set amount per live bird, the butchering will be done by her, but 'for free'. She's only doing 50 birds to get a feel for it, so it's just a few of us getting birds and the rest are for her family.

In my state (TN) meat birds MUST be processed by a USDA processor to sell legally. Even if it is only 1 bird. The closest USDA processor for me is in Kentucky so I had to get the State Vet in TN to call the State Vet in Kentucky to give me the OK since the birds are "crossing state lines". (heaven forbid) Luckily, everything has worked out but it was a pain in the tushy to get started. And, when a customer has issues with the cost of my birds per pound, I give them the run down of what it takes to raise, transport, and store them. I drive 70 miles one way to have the birds processed. Every year I swear I am not going to do them again.....I truly hate raising the nasty things, but we love eating them and I've build enough of a customer base to support them Good luck with your venture. Working with State and Federal officials can be extremely taxing!

Most states allow for the Federal Custom Exemption PL 90-492. http://afdo.org/resources/Documents/...6.pdf?download

You will need to talk to your state dept of ag as well. In many states they have to come and check out your processing area, and then will grant you a certificate allowed to sell your birds. They check if you separate the slaughter/scalding/plucking from the eviscerating (usually a shower curtain is all that is neeeded lol!), make sure you are using food grade water hoses etc. It's not a big deal at all.

Under the federal exemption you can process up to 20,000 birds *unless your state has add'l rules* and sell them, if you raised them, to consumers, restaurants etc.