Social Good

Chickens, Farmers & Partners

By Tom Piper

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Recently, chickens have been in the news, and not always for great reasons, such as with bird flu and the attention inhumane practices have received after California passed Proposition 2, forbidding the use of battery cages for producing eggs.

Another news story about chickens that we’ve noticed is about farmers who work under contract for big meat poultry companies. The arrangement works like this: the farmer owns the land, structures and equipment. The poultry company sends them chickens and the feed necessary to raise them. The problem comes when the company continually demands that they modify their facilities in various expensive ways, but do not support that with higher payments to the farmers. Furthermore, they apply a “tournament system” whereby if your birds don’t grow as fat on the same feed as a neighboring contract farm, your payments will be cut and you can even be terminated as a contractor with little notice. Finally, if a farmer requests a change to their facility to improve the quality of life for the birds, they will often be told no and can be subject to additional sanctions, inspections, or pay cuts. This is a fairly ruthless, but still quite common, course of business in the industry.

Nellie’s Free Range Eggs also works with independent, small family farms to produce our eggs. But there are some very significant differences with how we do business with our farmer partners.

First of all, our farmers are partners, in every sense of the word. They are offered guaranteed prices to follow the strict guidelines for Certified Humane farming.

Second, we do not use a tournament system to constantly weed out our less efficient farmers. Instead we sign long-term contracts and do not penalize them for production issues that are not in their control, and will instead lend them a hand. We send our farm technicians to their homes to help them with issues that affect production like lighting, airflow, and temperature in the barn. We never pressure them to increase production by doing something that impairs the welfare of the hens, or the family that tends to them.

Third, instead of cutting corners, we continually work to improve conditions, such as our recent accomplishment of getting 100% of our farm partners on a Certified Humane Free Range standard. This is the opposite of the approach some of these other companies take. We are a Certified B-Corp, which means that we seek to meet a triple bottom line of financial, social welfare and environmental standards.

In the past decade of farming under our current partnership system, we have never terminated a farmer for poor financial performance and we have never had a farmer sue us, or leave us because they were unhappy with the partnership. That’s something we’re very proud of.

Comments

Matthew CooperMay 16, 2023

Hi, Are you looking for farms in the South Carolina area?

Nellie's

Hi Matthew, we'd love to get you some information about becoming a partner farmer with us! Please send us an email: kindness[email protected], and we'll get right back to you!

SammyApril 11, 2023

Do y’all Partner with People in Mississippi

Nellie's

Hi Sammy, we'd be happy to answer your questions if you'd like to email us: [email protected]

Juan Jesus MorenoMarch 15, 2023

I really want to start my own free range farm...

Nellie's

We wish you the best of luck! Make sure you check out our backyard flock resources we have linked.

Bonnie Palanti February 22, 2023

Hello - I am free ranging in Orient Ohio. Are you needing any eggs from this region?

Nellie's

Thanks for checking in, Bonnie! We're all set on partner farmers in that area for now, but you can always email us at [email protected] with any questions about our free range farms!

Mitch BrownNovember 18, 2022

Would you be looking to partner up with me ? I am in Stewart county TN. My zip code is 37023. I am 8 miles from the TN Ky line

Nellie's

Hi Mitch, if you're willing to reach out by email, we can chat with you some more about the partner farmer process! [email protected]

Tracie Reinhart October 22, 2022

Are you looking for partners in Rocky Mount Va area? I have been raising organic free range chickens for 15 years.

Nellie's

Hi Tracie! We'd love to hear from you. Feel free to email us at: [email protected] Thanks!

Ronda UmbelAugust 21, 2022

Do you partner with farmers near 15459? Looking to get started with a good partner.

Nellie's

Hi Ronda, we'd love to hear from you at [email protected]! If you shoot us an email, we'd be happy to get you started in the process!

Adil mehdi June 25, 2022

Hi guys,are you guys offering free range egg farm partners in Kansas City Mo.area

Nellie's

Hi there! We're so grateful for our small family farm partners. While we may not be looking for partner farms in your area at this moment, we're most happy to pass your information on to our team should anything change. Feel free to drop us a line at: [email protected] if of interest. Thank you!

Kristopher A AyersMay 09, 2022

Looking for information about becoming a meat production partner in NW Alachua County in FL to help with shortages and less than ideal conditions. My personal flock are rare breeds with dual purpose and I'm not really cut out for big box industries. I also practice sustainable landscape design for the flock on the property incorporating natural wild scratch producers like stretch berry bushes. (For example)

Nellie's

Hi Kristopher! Thanks for your inquiry. Feel free to drop us a line to kindnesscrew@nelliesfreerange.com and we're happy to put you in touch!

Tim RhodesJanuary 21, 2022

Do you have any contracts available? I am in Vanceboro, NC

Nellie's

Hi Tim, at the moment, we’re unfortunately not looking for partner farmers in your particular area, but we invite you to check back from time to time for updates as they become available.

LukeDecember 09, 2021

Are you currently adding farms in mid-Missouri?

Nellie's

Hi Luke, we would be happy to answer this question better over email. Could you write to us at [email protected]?

BrandonJuly 03, 2021

Do you have contracts available in North Carolina?

Nellie's

Hey there Brandon! Send us an email at [email protected] and we'll send you a quick form to fill out regarding what it takes to be a partner farmer.

Kelly CoxFebruary 03, 2021

I have a family farm in Arkansas. I saw from earlier comments that you didn’t have any contracts in Arkansas. Is there any chance this may change in the future? If so, I would be interested in more information.

Nellie's

Hi Kelly! While we don't have any immediate plans for farms in Arkansas, we'd love to hear from you and get a bit more information. We're happy to get your name on our contact list. If you're interested, please feel free to reach out to us at: [email protected] Thank you!

Steve Waldrip December 30, 2020

Do y’all partner with anyone in Georgia?

Nellie's

Hi Steve, We partner with small family farms across the country. Right now, we are primarily located in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Mid-West, but we are continuing to expand our reach to other parts of the country.

Donya TalleyOctober 19, 2020

Do you happen to partners with farms in Arkansas?

Nellie's

We don't currently partner with any farms in Arkansas, but that's not to say we won't be looking to partner with any in the future. If you or someone you know might be interested in working with us, we recommend sending us an email at [email protected].

Anthony RobertsOctober 06, 2020

Do you partner with farms in North Carolina? If so, are you currently looking for more partners? Thank you.

Nellie's

We don't currently have any partner farms in North Carolina and I'm not sure that we are actively looking at the moment, but please send us an email at [email protected] with some information about you and your farm and we'd be happy to pass along to our team!

Harry GraySeptember 07, 2020

I live in Maine. Are your eggs from chickens raised in Maine.

Nellie's

Hi Harry! We partner with 45 small family farms in 7 states, one of which is Maine. So your eggs could come from a combination of any of those states. To learn more about our partnership model and see where our small family farms are located, we invite you to check out our website: https://www.nelliesfreerange.com/our-hens/free-range-farms.

Claude MostellerSeptember 01, 2020

Hello my name is Claude, and I have been looking for information on becoming a free range chicken egg farmer! i have some facilities in place. I am in Georgia

Nellie's

Hi Claude! Thank you for reaching out to us. We'd love to chat. Would you mind sending us an email? [email protected] is our best method of contact for inquiries about becoming a partner farmer. Looking forward to speaking to you soon!

AlonsoJuly 27, 2020

Hello I have been looking for information on becoming a free range chicken egg farmer! I am in Arkansas

Nellie's

Hi Alonso! Thank you for reaching out to us. We'd love to chat. Would you mind sending us an email? [email protected] is our best method of contact for inquiries about becoming a partner farmer. Looking forward to speaking to you soon!

maryJune 14, 2020

Hello I have been looking for information on becoming a free range chicken egg farmer! I am in the North West Florida area.

Nellie's

Hi Mary! Thank you for reaching out to us. We'd love to chat. Would you mind sending us an email? [email protected] is our best method of contact for inquiries about becoming a partner farmer. Looking forward to speaking to you soon!

KevinSeptember 26, 2019

We have a two barn operation in sw missouri. Do you have or need farm in my area?

Nellie's

Hi Kevin! Thank you for reaching out. While we're not adding any new farmers at this time, please don't hesitate to reach out to us any time via our email: [email protected] and we'd be glad to give you an update this winter. Thank you for being a farmer, we could not do what we do without our farmers.

Daphne PendleyAugust 12, 2019

I live in crandall Ga and I have 4 43x 500 foot houses. Our lease has been terminated with Pilgrim’s farms. I am hoping to find another avenue in making what I have worked all my life for a once again productive farm. If there is anyway we could grow free range chickens or produce eggs I would love to do so.

Nellie's

Hi Daphne, thank you for reaching out. While we're not adding any new farmers at the this summer, please don't hesitate to reach out to us any time via our email: [email protected] and we'd be glad to give you an update this fall or winter. Thank you for being a farmer, we could not do what we do without our farmers.

Lisa ScurryJuly 21, 2019

Small egg producing chicken farmer in Manning SC. Any partnership offers for my area?

Nellie's

Hi Lisa! We unfortunately aren't looking to add any partner farmers in your area to our network at the moment, but that may change. We invite you to send us an email at [email protected] in the coming months to see if there are any opportunities.

Kodi BJune 26, 2019

Hi, I am located in the Central Florida area and am wondering if there are any partner opportunities in my area ?

Nellie's

Hi Kodi! We unfortunately aren't searching for partner farmers in your area at this time, but that may change, so please feel free to check back in the coming months by sending us an email at [email protected].

Adam kridlerMay 22, 2019

I have a 100 hen flock but I’m wanting to increase the size of my flock and business. I would love to sign on with you guys please let me know if you are interested im in north west Missouri

Nellie's

Thanks for your interest, Adam! At the moment, we’re unfortunately not looking for partner farmers in your particular area, but we invite you to check back from time to time for updates as they become available and we wish you the best of luck on your farming adventures!

Chris LumpkinApril 13, 2019

I have about 1000 laying hen On Pasture Free Range. I was wondering would you guys contract to buy my eggs. Or would i have to raise you chickens? And also im in the SW Florida area.

Nellie's

Hi Chris! Thanks for reaching out to us. It sounds like you might be interested in finding out more about becoming a partner farmer? We'd be glad to get your information to a member of our team if you would be interested in sending us an email at: [email protected] Thanks!

Jonathan Hinkle March 14, 2019

I live about 60 miles south of OKC, I’m interested in starting some laying houses along with a few of my church friends and family! Don’t know if y’all have a need for them in my area but if so please contact me thanks.

Nellie's

Hi Jonathan, we aren't looking for new partners in your area at this time unfortunately, but we'll pass your kind message along to our farm operations team and have them reach out if our needs change in the future.

Brad CaudleFebruary 16, 2019

Hello, I have been looking around at becoming an egg producer. Was wondering how your operation works and if you have any plans in Missouri.

Nellie's

Hi Brad, do you mind sending us an email at [email protected]? We're not looking for partner farmers in Missouri at the moment, but we'd love to get your contact information in case our plans change in the future.

Debbie February 10, 2019

I am interested in becoming a free range Poultry farmer I am interesting information what all is involved I have bromine ordinary poultry houses for over 25 years

Nellie's

Hi Debbie, do you mind sending us an email at [email protected] with your location? We aren't looking for partner farmers in all states, but there might be some availability in your area. Hope to hear from you soon!

Don BrowerDecember 28, 2018

I would be interested in becoming a producer we currently have about 500 free range chickens

Nellie's

Hi Don! Thanks for reaching out! We'd be glad to chat with you. Would you mind sending us an email to: [email protected] ? Thanks for reaching out!