One of the largest areas of growth in on-farm processing and sales has been in the production of
\npastured poultry. Pastured poultry is a production model where broiler chickens are raised
\npredominantly on pasture in some form of movable structure. Due to the relatively small
\nnumbers of birds per farm and the seasonality of this production system, it can be difficult to find
\npoultry processors to handle these birds. Additionally, almost all USDA poultry plants in New
\nYork are operated by private packers who do not slaughter or process birds for other farmers
\nregardless of the season or volume.<\/p>\n
1. Mobile Facilities for Marketing Under the 1000 Bird Exemption<\/p>\n
Starting in the mid 1990\u2019s several Mobile (Poultry) Processing Units have been designed and
\nbuilt for use in New York State by poultry farmers marketing their own birds under the 1000 bird
\nexemption from federal inspection. These units are basically open trailers with poultry
\nprocessing equipment mounted onto them. The operational concept is similar to that of an
\nindividual going to an equipment rental store and renting whatever equipment was needed to do
\nthe particular job on the farm. The trailers can be pulled by small pickup trucks either belonging
\nto the poultry farm or the actual owner of the unit – which is often a non-profit agency providing
\nservices to farmers. Rental prices are based on the volume of birds to be processed or on a per
\nbird price. In addition, there is usually a transportation fee depending on the distance the unit has
\nto travel between the farm and its storage area. In most cases, farmers must replenish the
\nscalder\u2019s propane tank after use.<\/p>\n
The units are usually intended to assist first year poultry producers with processing while they
\nsave up money to invest in their own stationary processing equipment and become proficient at
\nsafe and sanitary slaughtering and processing procedures. Participating farmers usually go
\nthrough a training program on sanitary poultry slaughtering and processing. Many inexperienced
\nprocessors will assist an experienced farmer operating the unit before they are able to rent the
\nunit for use on their own farms.<\/p>\n
One of the first mobile units was manufactured by the South Central New York Resource
\nConservation and Development Agency (SCNY RC&D). The unit was made by stripping a
\ncamper trailer to its frame, welding expanded metal to the frame and reinforcing it with
\nadditional angle iron. The processing components were then attached. These components
\nincluded 5 poultry crates for containing live birds, 5 poultry kill cones to ensure correct bleeding,
\na propane fired scalder (capable of handling 3 to 4 birds at a time), a 3 to 4 bird barrel-type
\nfeather picker, a stainless steel evisceration table, chill tanks for processed birds, knives and
\nscales. A 20-foot long tarp was included to provide shade and protection from the elements.
\nThere were also hookups for 110-volt electricity and water. Approximate construction cost for
\nthe MPU in 1995 was $3000 not including the 70 hours of labor required to assemble the unit.<\/p>\n
2. Mobile Units for Custom Slaughter\/Processing<\/p>\n
Mobile units are allowed for custom processing of poultry under the same limitations as any
\nother custom transaction, i.e. the slaughtered or processed birds must be for the personal use of
\nthe owner. The unit would need to be inspected by the state (under contract with USDA FSIS)
\nfor prior approval.<\/p>\n
3. Mobile Units for NY 5-A Poultry Plants<\/p>\n
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has interpreted the definition of
\nplaces and establishments where animal or poultry are butchered for food in the NY Agriculture
\n& Markets (NYAM) Law to include mobile slaughter units. Therefore, New York State is
\nwilling to accept the operation of 5-A mobile poultry plants under Article 5-A of the NYAM
\nLaw. Such mobile units must satisfy the requirements of poultry farmers operating under the
\nProducer\/Grower \u2013 20,000 bird exemption from federal inspection. In addition, farmers
\noperating under the Producer\/Grower \u2013 1,000 bird exemption (only processing 1000 birds or less
\nper calendar year to be marketed direct to consumers), may also rent the services of these mobile
\nunits but would not need to apply for a 5-A license.<\/p>\n
The units are often fully enclosed trailers with similar design and equipment to stationary 5-A
\npoultry plants. One such mobile unit, approved in New York and intended to operate in the
\nHudson Valley region, is owned by Wildcraft Farms. The farm\u2019s owner, Ed Leonardi, plans for
\nindividual poultry farmers to go through a certification training program so that they could
\nsupply the labor when the mobile unit is on their farm. He estimates that it would take 6 to 8
\npeople to process 500 chickens per day – with most farms only being able to supply enough labor
\nto process 250 chickens per day. The farms would supply the propane, electricity, and potable
\nwater for the unit on-site and their own air compressor for operating the onboard dunker-scalder.
\nFarms would need a level pad to park the unit and sufficient driveway clearance for an 8.5 x 28
\nft. trailer. The unit was made by retrofitting a new 2-car transport trailer with steel rather than
\naluminum walls. The unit is outfitted with a shackle system, killing tunnel, dunker-scalder,
\npicker, hand wash sink, double sink, evisceration table, quality assurance table, bagging table
\nand two chill tanks on wheels. Additional equipment includes an on-demand hot water heater,
\npressure pump, space heaters, and air conditioner. The unit obtained a waiver from the 5-A
\nrequirement for separate rooms for kill and evisceration in part because of the use of a killing
\ntunnel.<\/p>\n
Kentucky State University uses a refitted gooseneck trailer to provide slaughter\/processing
\nfacilities to poultry farmers operating under the 20,000 bird exemption. The unit does not go
\nfrom farm to farm. Instead, it was granted an exemption by the USDA FSIS Administrator from
\nthe requirement that a facility operating under a 20,000 bird exemption be limited to slaughtering
\nfor only one poultry owner at a given location. The trailer is docked at one of two centralized
\ndocking stations that are tied-in to septic, potable water and 220-volt electrical systems. The
\ndocking stations operate as fully enclosed kill floors and the trailer operates as the evisceration
\nroom. Rather than renting the services of mobile unit employees for the days, farmers are
\nrequired to undergo rigorous training in the plant\u2019s HACCP plans and standard operating
\nprocedures in order to operate as facility manager on their scheduled slaughter\/processing days.<\/p>\n
There are several steps a New York farmer needs to go through to use a poultry mobile
\nslaughtering unit (PMSU) under an Article 5-A license. The farmer must 1) consult with local
\nzoning officials for an approved plan for operating a PMSU, 2) consult with zoning officials for
\nan approved plan to dispose of inedible waste, 3) develop a NYSDAM approved floor plan for
\nthe PMSU \u2013 the operator\/owner of the PMSU usually provides this, 4) have the water which will
\nsupply the PMSU, tested for potability, and 5) submit documentation of the above to the
\nNYSDAM FSI (Food Safety and Inspection) Region Chief Inspector for approval. An Article 5
\nA License application can then be forwarded upon approval of documents. After review of the
\nestablishment\/farm\u2019s facilities, including access to a toilet facility, the Department may consider
\na facility variance from certain requirements; provided that the mobile unit has met Department
\napproval and the establishment \/farm acknowledges the unit\u2019s operator as an employee of the
\nestablishment\/farm as so stated pursuant to Article 5-A of Agriculture and Markets Law. Please
\nnote, the Article 5-A License is issued to the poultry farmer\u2019s premises; not to the PMSU.<\/p>\n
Establishments\/farms employing a PMSU must maintain compliance with the NYSDAM PMSU
\nProtocol, and are responsible for ensuring the mobile unit is clean and sanitized before it enters
\nthe premises and, cleaned and sanitized before the unit leaves the premises.<\/p>\n
The NYSDAM Division of Food Safety Inspection developed an easy-to-read protocol for the
\nlicensing of PMSUs in 2009. This protocol is reproduced verbatim below.<\/p>\n
(FSI-1120A 10\/09)<\/p>\n
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
\nDivision of Food Safety & Inspection
\n10B Airline Drive
\nAlbany, NY 12235<\/p>\n
Poultry Mobile Slaughtering Unit Protocol<\/p>\n
Establishments intending to utilize a Poultry Mobile Slaughtering Unit (PMSU) must adhere to
\nthe following guidelines:<\/p>\n
1. The operator of the Poultry Mobile Slaughtering Unit shall arrange to meet with the Zone
\nSupervising Inspector or Regional Chief Inspector to discuss their plans for their poultry
\nmobile slaughtering unit. The operator shall submit a floor plan of their proposed operations
\nto the Meat and Poultry Supervisor and\/or the Zone Supervisor prior to the meeting. The unit
\nfloor plan shall include but not be limited to the following:<\/p>\n
\uf063 Dimensions of the unit.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Location of the hand wash sink, and equipment washing and sanitizing sinks within the
\nunit.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Location of refrigeration equipment.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Location of hot water and potable water supply.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Location of water storage facilities or outlet.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Location of entrance\/exit.<\/p>\n
\uf063 License number of vehicle(s).
\nNote: Potable water source and discharge of wastewater must be approved in writing by the
\nappropriate county or state health department.<\/p>\n
2. The establishment\/farm leasing the poultry mobile slaughtering unit slaughtering more than
\n250 turkeys or 1,000 birds of all other species must be inspected and licensed by the
\nDepartment of Agriculture and Markets, pursuant to the regulations of Article 5-A, of the
\nAgriculture and Markets Law.<\/p>\n
3. Only after review of the establishment\/farm\u2019s facilities, including access to a toilet facility,
\nthe Department may consider a facility variance from certain requirements, provided the
\nmobile unit has met Department approval and the establishment\/farm acknowledges the
\nunit\u2019s operator as an employee of the establishment\/farm as so stated pursuant to Article 5-A
\nof the Agriculture and Markets Law.<\/p>\n
4. The operator of the poultry mobile slaughtering unit and the licensee shall be required to
\nkeep the following written records:<\/p>\n
\uf063 Names and addresses of establishments\/farms leasing the mobile slaughtering unit and
\ndates used.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Production records indicating the species and number of poultry processed for retail sale
\nand wholesale.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Standard Sanitation Operating Procedure (SSOP) log for each day processing occurs.<\/p>\n
\uf063 Water quality verification.<\/p>\n
5. Finished product (wrapped, encased) labeling shall contain the establishment\/farm\u2019s name,
\naddress and the statement \u201cExempt P.L. 90-492.\u201d<\/p>\n
6. The operator of the poultry mobile slaughtering unit will be required to fax to the appropriate
\nRegional Chief Inspector or Zone Supervising Inspector their tentative monthly slaughtering
\nschedule at the beginning of each month.<\/p>\n
7. The poultry mobile slaughtering unit operator and the licensee must consult with local zoning
\nofficials before commencing the operation of the poultry mobile slaughtering unit.<\/p>\n
For more information, contact any NYSDAM Regional Office at:<\/p>\n
Mobile Units for USDA Federal Inspected or USDA Equivalent Poultry Plants<\/p>\n
The Vermont Department of Agriculture operated a USDA equivalent state inspected mobile
\npoultry unit for use by farmers in their state for several years. This unit consisted of a completely
\nenclosed 8\u2019 x 36\u2019 trailer with separate kill and eviscerating rooms, tiny onboard bathroom and
\noffice for state inspectors (rarely if ever used), ice machine, onboard generator, and onboard
\npropane tanks for the hot water and scalder. The unit was towed with an F-550 truck. Most of the
\nequipment was purchased through Cornerstone Farm Ventures in Norwich, New York.99 The
\nunit, valued at approximately $93,000, was manufactured by Brothers Body & Equipment in
\nOhio and leased to a private operator under a two-year renewable contract with a buy-out option.
\nThe Vermont Department of Natural Resources granted a variance so that the mobile unit could
\nmanage wastewater when on-farm as a farm operation. Farmers rented the unit and the operator\u2019s
\nservices. The operator could process 100 birds per day. However, the unit was designed to
\nemploy two people processing 200 birds per day.<\/p>\n
Unlike Vermont, New York does not have provision for USDA equivalent state inspected meat
\nplants. Thus, NY farmers and funding agencies wanting to operate a similar mobile unit under
\nUSDA federal inspection would need to contact the USDA FSIS District Office in Albany to
\ndiscuss the likelihood of similar prototypes being approved as mobile USDA poultry plants in
\nNew York.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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