Enterprise Company

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

12/16/2023

Tough decisions...

Say what you will about holistic management, but it is by far the best decision making tool I have run into. We've had chicken for 2 years. The girls randomly decided to not like eggs as much as last year, and our new puppy, Bell, simply wouldn't leave them alone the last 2 months. With another puppy coming in the summer, the farm picking up on workload, and the change in egg needs, it made no sense for us to keep them, regardless of how much I wanted them. So they went off to the farm where they'll provide eggs for a family that eats them every day.

12/15/2023

Simple pork chop recipe

1.Wash and pat dry your chops
2. Add cork flakes and seasoning (I'm using my rub mix for my smoked pulled pork) to a bag and mix breaking up the corn flakes. Throw the chops in and cover thoroughly.
3. While you're doing all that, heat up a cast iron pan hot with whatever oil you want (I'm using bacon fat 🥰) get it to smoking temp. Pre heat the oven to 350
4. Once the pan and oil are hot, add the chops SLOWLY. Sear 90 seconds on the first side and flip.
5. Once flipped, put in the oven and cook to 145. Remove and cover letting rest for 5 minutes.
6. Give a chunk to the official taste tester for approval (this step is optional)

12/07/2023

That's too much....

I hear this all the time from customers. $4/lb plus processing, which mine came to a total of $7/lb, IS a lot of a hog. When you look at the market, it's even worse because I'd only get $0.79/lb at the sale barn from a major packer. So why such a huge difference?

First it is the how. Raising hogs on pasture takes time, effort, and work. Second it's the risk. I don't qualify for government subsidies. If I lose a hog I'm out $600+ for that animal. I also don't sell commodities. That is what this figure shows. The farmer gives up his product to companies to make the other $0.92 on his dollar. That cancels a lot of risk on his part (see above about losing an animal). I assume that risk for my customer.

So how much do I make? Using this graphic I gross about $0.82 per dollar with the rest going to my butcher. These dollars stay in SE SD. They don't go to Hong Kong (looking at you Smithfield) or Brazil (AHEM.. JBS). And the kicker is you also get the most flavorful, healthy pork you've ever had and know how and who raised it.

12/02/2023

Tools of the trade...

Just finished picking up the pasture for winter. In case anyone was wondering why I drive a jalopy Fiat it's because these supplies cost about the same amount as the car....

11/29/2023

Over the holiday weekend I hunkered down and completed my farm website. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Located in southeast South Dakota, Toomey Farms raises pasture based protein for the local community. By respecting the land, the people and the animal, we believe our products are Simply Raised Better. Learn More Ethically Raised & Delicious Pastured Pork $4/lb, Wholes and Halves. Fed a No Corn/No....

11/27/2023

I mean... In her defence, this is how I feel when I can't have bacon till it's dinner time 🤷‍♂️

11/23/2023

11/14/2023

Fence line across the creek. This area is almost always wet and pretty badly pocked with huge divots and hummocks of grass. By encouraging them to cross with protein and salt and increasing the stock density, I used cattle hooves and animal impact to smooth out where they naturally cross the creek.

Now because I'm a grazer, neighbors, agency, and outside observers see this and think "bad" management, but if I was a farmer and did this with a tractor I'm a good steward of the land ..... 🤷‍♂️

11/01/2023

When you're in the wrong pasture by about a half mile but you pose for the camera.....

10/28/2023

Had some help moving cows before the snow last night.