The following assignments will assist in increasing your understanding of organic livestock production and how feasible it may be for your farm. Completion of these assignments is optional and is not needed to complete this module.

Assignment 1 – Visit and Collect Information from the websites listed in the text.

Visit one or more of the following websites and review information of interest to you. At each site, write down specific information that was helpful in increasing your understanding of organic livestock production.

• The USDA’s NOP website, www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
• The Alternative Farming System Information Center, U.S. National Standards on Organic Animal Production and Handling, www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/ofp/7cfrtoc.htm
• The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service website: Organic Farming www.attra.org/organic.html
• The department of agriculture in your home state or look at the example from the State of Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry website www.oda.state.ok.us/food-formshome.htm.

Assignment 2 – Evaluate your Individual Meat Goat Operation to Determine the Feasibility and Economics of Converting to a Organic Certified Program

Developing an organic certified meat goat program may not be for every meat goat producer. However such a program might prove to be economical and beneficial to some producers. The purpose of this assignment sheet is to encourage you to personally evaluate your individual meat goat program to explore the feasibility and economics of converting your production program to a certified program. To assist you with this evaluation complete each of the questions posted below.

1. What is the demand for organic certified goat meat in your market area? Is the demand high, low or marginal?
2. What population group or groups are asking for organic certified goat meat?
3. What is the current market price being paid for organic certified goat meat?
4. What specific resources do you currently have that would apply or contribute to an organic certified meat goat program? List those resources and be very specific.
5. What is your current production cost of producing a 40 pound goat kid?
6. What is the market price that you can receive for the 40 pound goat kid?
7. What would your production cost be if you converted your existing meat goat program to an organic certified program? Be very specific and list each of those costs.
8. Incorporating your production cost computed in question 7 above, what would it cost you to produce a 40 pound goat kid in an organic certified program?
9. What do you believe the market in your area would pay for a 40 pound goat kid that was raised in an organic certified meat program?
10. What would your profit return be on producing a 40 pound goat kid in an organic certified meat program?
11. What would be specific advantages of converting your meat goat program to an organic certified meat goat program?
12. What would be specific disadvantages of converting your meat goat program to an organic certified meat goat program?

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