A thriving poultry industry in Maryland benefits all farmers

As chicken farmers in Pocomoke, Far and Val Nasir feed their chickens with grain grown locally on the Eastern Shore. The waste from the chickens is then returned to the grain farmers where it’s used as an enriching fertilizer. With poultry being one of Maryland’s largest agricultural products, a strong poultry industry lifts up all farmers across the state.

Embracing new and emerging farming techniques, they installed benches in their poultry house, allowing the chickens to roost, perch, and play, which greatly improves the quality of life. These houses require a significant amount of energy, so they also added solar panels for sustainability and brought in grazing sheep to eliminate the need for gas-powered mowing. Despite these advancements, Far and Val never loses sight of their true purpose in farming.

“I don’t think of my farm in terms of economics,” says Far Nasir. “I think of my farm in terms of how many families we can feed with quality, affordable meals.” #MemberSpotlight

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