KUNA, Idaho — Running an egg farm isn’t easy. Just ask a farmer.
A fire about two years ago at Vogel Farms’ cage-free egg operation killed the most productive group of laying hens.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm“%92E H2D 2 =@DD[” @H?6C s63: t?86=92C5E\'@86= D2:5] “xE C62==J E@@< 2 =:EE=6 @G6C 2 J62C E@ 86E E9:?8D 324< FA E@ H96C6 H6 ?66565]”k^Am
Maria McIntyre restocks eggs at McIntyre Pastures’ on-farm store west of Caldwell, Idaho.
Brad Carlson/Capital Press file
kAmp?@E96C x529@ 688 AC@5F46C[ |2C:2 |4x?EJC6[ D2:5 72>:=J >6>36CD 2?5 6>A=@J66D 2E |4x?EJC6 !2DEFC6D 2E @?6 A@:?E 925 E@ A2EC@= E96 7:6=5 6G6CJ ?:89E :? =2E6 DF>>6C E@ >2<6 DFC6 E96:C 7C66\C2?86 49:4<6?D H6C6 962565 E@ 4@@AD 2?5 D276 7C@> E96 C2AE@CD E92E 4@F=5 2EE24< E96>]k^Am
kAm“}@ @?6 6G6C D66D E92E[ 2?5 E92E’D 2 =@E @7 H@C<[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm}62C !6E2=F>2[ r2=:7][ (636C u2>:=J u2C>D 92D 4286\7C66 688 AC@5F4E:@? =2C86=J 5:2=65 :? D:?46 3C@E96CD 2?5 4@\@H?6CD |:<6 2?5 $4@EE (636C 4@?G6CE65 E@ E92E >@56 H6== 367@C6 E96 DE2E6 >2?52E65 :E :? a_aa]k^Am
kAmp AC@3=6> A@AD FA @442D:@?2==J]k^Am
kAm“$@>6E:>6D :E’D 3642FD6 H6 >256 2 =:EE=6 >:DE2<6 2?5 D@>6E:>6D :E’D ;FDE 325 =F4<[” |:<6 (636C D2:5]k^Am
kAmr286\7C66 >2?52E6D :? D@>6 DE2E6D[ 2 4@?E:?F:?8 @FE3C62< @7 5625=J 2G:2? :?7=F6?K2 2?5 @E96C AC@3=6>D =2C86 2?5 D>2== 92G6 82?865 FA @? &]$] 688 AC@5F46CD 5FC:?8 E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD[ 5C:G:?8 FA E96 4@DE @7 AC@5F4E:@? 2?5[ 4@?D6BF6?E=J[ C6E2:= AC:46D]k^Am
kAm!C:46 DH:?8D 92G6 366? H:=5] t88 AC:46D DA:<65 :? 62C=J u63CF2CJ[ >@C6 E92? 5@F3=:?8 :? r2=:7@C?:2 7C@> Sa]e_ :? >:5\s646>36C E@ Sd]bh 7@C 2 5@K6? ;F>3@ @C 6IEC2 =2C86 688D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &$sp]k^Am
kAm}2E:@?H:56[ C6E2:= 688 AC:46D A62<65 2E Sc]ga 2 5@K6? :? u63CF2CJ a_ab 2D 2G:2? 7=F DAC625 :? E96 |:5H6DE[ H96C6 >@DE AC@5F4E:@? :D 46?E6C65] %92E’D FA 7C@> S`]bb 2 5@K6? E9C66 J62CD 62C=:6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] qFC62F @7 {23@C $E2E:DE:4D]k^Am
kAm$62D@?2=:EJ :>A24ED DFAA=J 2?5 56>2?5[ 2?5 AC:46D EC6?5 9:896C 5FC:?8 E96 H:?E6C 9@=:52J D62D@? 2?5 t2DE6C]k^Am
k9bmq:C5 7=F 4@?E:?F6Dk^9bm
kAm“%96 3:8 :DDF6 ?@H :D 3:C5 7=F[” D2:5 q:== |2EE@D[ AC6D:56?E @7 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 !@F=ECJ u656C2E:@? 2?5 }@CE9H6DE r9:4<6? r@F?4:=] q:@D64FC:EJ 2?5 BF2=:EJ 2DDFC2?46 2C6 2>@?8 9:D @C82?:K2E:@?D’ AC:@C:E:6D]k^Am
kAm|@C6 E92? ga >:==:@? A@F=ECJ 92G6 5:65 :? cg DE2E6D D:?46 y2?F2CJ a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] r6?E6CD 7@C s:D62D6 r@?EC@= 2?5 !C6G6?E:@?] q642FD6 E96C6 :D ?@ 4FC6 7@C 2G:2? 7=F[ 7=@4<D E92E 364@>6 :?764E65 >FDE 36 <:==65]k^Am
kAm%96 688\AC@5F4E:@? @FE=@@< :D “F?46CE2:? 3642FD6 H6 2C6 D66:?8 2G:2? :?7=F6?K2 4@?E:?F:?8 E@ A@A FA 2?5 H6 5@?’E 92G6 2 A=2? 7@C E92E 2D 2 ?2E:@?[” D2:5 |:<6 (636C[ H9@D6 72>:=J’D 72C> 6IA6C:6?465 2? @FE3C62< =2DE s646>36C]k^Am
kAm(636C u2>:=J u2C>D[ H9:49 ?@C>2==J AC@5F46D 23@FE `h >:==:@? 5@K6? 688D 2 J62C[ =@DE 2== dd_[___ 3:C5D 2E :ED >2:? D:E6] p 72C> :? H9:49 :E :D 2 A2CE?6C =@DE E96 3:886DE @7 :ED E9C66 AC@5F4E:@? D:E6D[ 23@FE gd[___ 3:C5D]k^Am
kAmq:C5 7=F :D “F?36=:6G23=J 9@CC:3=6[” (636C D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 42CC:6D 2 3FC56? 2?5 766=D E96 EC2F>2 7C@> :E]”k^Am
kAm%96 72C> DE:== 92D BF2C2?E:?65 D:E6D 36:?8 4=62?65 2?5 C625:65 7@C C6A@AF=2E:@?[ H9:49 C6BF:C6D A2DD:?8 E6DED 2?5 “2 H9@=6 3F?49 @7 @E96C 492==6?86D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 &$sp[ 72C>6CD 2C6 :?56>?:7:65 7@C E96 ?2E:@?2= 2G6C286 72:C >2C<6E G2=F6 @7 2?J =:G6 3:C5D 2?5 688D 27E6C 2 7=@4< :D 7@F?5 E@ 36 :?764E65 H:E9 9:89=J A2E9@86?:4 2G:2? :?7=F6?K2] %96 7=F :D EC2?D>:EE65 3J H:=5 3:C5D]k^Am
k9bmt88 56>2?5 DEC@?8k^9bm
kAms6DA:E6 E96 492==6?86D[ 4@?DF>6C 56>2?5 7@C 688D C6>2:?D DEC@?8[ 2? :?5FDECJ C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“t88D 2C6 =2C86=J 2? :?6=2DE:4 AC@5F4E 7C@> 2 56>2?5 DE2?5A@:?E[” p>6C:42? t88 q@2C5 DA@<6D>2? |2C4 sC6D?6C D2:5] “(96? AC:46D 8@ FA[ D2=6D 5@?’E D:8?:7:42?E=J 492?86]”k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 24FE6=J 2H2C6 @7 E96 A2:? D9@AA6CD 92G6 366? :? 7C@> :?7=2E:@? 2D 2 H9@=6[ ?@E ;FDE 688D[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 4964<@77\7F?565 t88 q@2C5 6>A92D:K65 E96 688’D 36?67:ED — 7C@> :ED 9:89 ?FEC:E:@?2= G2=F6 2D 2 DE2?52=@?6 7@@5 E@ :ED H:56DAC625 FD6 2D 2? :?8C65:6?E — :? 2 DF446DD7F= 5:8:E2= 42>A2:8? :? E96 D64@?5 92=7 @7 =2DE J62C[ sC6D?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 3@2C5 :D ?@H 7:?2=:K:?8 4@?46AED 7@C 2 42>A2:8? E@ E2C86E J@F?86C 4@?DF>6CD 2?5 6>A92D:K6 E96 688’D G6CD2E:=:EJ 2?5 G2=F6]k^Am
kAm“%96 688 :D DE:== 2? :?4C65:3=J 8@@5 562=[” sC6D?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm!C@5F4E:@? ?2E:@?H:56 6I466565 ``_ 3:==:@? 688D :? a_ab[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &$sp]k^Am
kAm%96 t88 q@2C5 :D 2=D@ 5@:?8 DF3DE2?E:2= H@C< @? 962=E9J 7@@5 567:?:E:@?D 2?5 =236=:?8[ ?FEC:E:@? 65F42E:@?[ DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 2?5 E96 EC2?D:E:@? E@ >@C6 4286\7C66 688D[ sC6D?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 =2HD >2?52E:?8 =2C86C[ 4286\7C66 6?4=@DFC6D 7@C =2J:?8 49:4<6?D 2C6 @?6 @7 E96 >2;@C 5C:G6CD @7 E96 4@DE @7 AC@5F4E:@? 7@C 72C>6CD] r286\7C66 96?D 42? >@G6 G6CE:42==J 2?5 9@C:K@?E2==J :? :?5@@C 9@FD6D[ 2446DD 7C6D9 7@@5 2?5 H2E6C 2?5 6I9:3:E ?2EFC2= 3692G:@CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &$sp’D p8C:4F=EFC2= |2C<6E:?8 $6CG:46]k^Am
kAmr286\7C66 >2?52E6D E@@< 67764E :? y2?F2CJ :? ~C68@?[ (2D9:?8E@? 2?5 }6G252] %6? DE2E6D 92G6 >2?52E6D[ D@>6 @7 H9:49 C6BF:C6 E96 EC2?D:E:@? 3J y2?] `[ a_ae]k^Am
kAmx? 255:E:@?[ D6G6C2= ?2E:@?2= C6E2:=6CD 2?5 C6DE2FC2?E 492:?D 92G6 A=65865 E@ 3FJ @?=J 4286\7C66 688D 3J E96 DE2CE @7 a_ae]k^Am
kAm%C2?D:E:@?:?8 E@ 4286\7C66 AC@5F4E:@? “:D ;FDE 23@FE E96 3:886DE :?G6DE>6?E 2?J 688 72C>6C H:== >2<6[” E96 t88 q@2C5’D sC6D?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmp u63CF2CJ a_ab DEF5J[ 32D65 @? 72C>6C DFCG6JD[ 7@F?5 E96 4@DED @7 4286\7C66 AC@5F4E:@? 2C6 2E =62DE g\`hT 9:896C[ 56A6?5:?8 @? E96 6IA6?D6 42E68@CJ]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 9:896C 4@DED 2C6 ?@E @77D6E 3J 9:896C AC:46D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 DEF5J] r286\7C66 DJDE6>D 86?6C2E6 gT >@C6 C6G6?F6 E92? 4@?G6?E:@?2= DJDE6>D]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF5J[ H9:49 :?G@=G65 D6G6C2= F?:G6CD:E:6D 2?5 :?5FDECJ 8C@FAD[ 7@F?5 E92E 4286\7C66 DJDE6>D C6BF:C6 2E =62DE EH:46 2D >F49 42A:E2= 2D 42865 724:=:E:6D[ EH@ E@ E9C66 E:>6D >@C6 =23@C 2?5 7665[ :?4C62D6 5:D62D6 C:D< 2?5 42FD6 =@H6C A6C46?E286D @7 vC256\p 688D 5F6 E@ DE2:?D 2?5 4C24<D]k^Am
kAm~E96C 7:?5:?8D :?4=F565ik^Am
kAm• !C@5F46CD 36=:6G6 4286\7C66 AC@5F4E:@? H:== 8C@H E@ d`T @7 E@E2= AC@5F4E:@? 3J a_ae]k^Am
kAm• ~G6C 92=7 @7 4@?DF>6CD 2C6 AC:>2C:=J >@E:G2E65 3J AC:46 6G6? E9@F89 D@>6 D9@AA6CD 2C6 H:==:?8 E@ A2J >@C6 7@C 4286\7C66 688D]k^Am
kAm|2?J DFCG6J A2CE:4:A2?ED 2=D@ D2:5 4286\7C66 EC2?D:E:@?D AC6D6?E 7:?2?4:?8 492==6?86D 2?5 6?4@FC286 72C> 4@?D@=:52E:@?]k^Am
kAm(96? 2 >2C<6E >@G6D 4=@D6C E@ >2?52E@CJ[ 7C@> G@=F?E2CJ[ “J@F 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 92G6 =@DD6D[” D2:5 v=J?? %@?D@C @7 z2?D2D $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ @?6 @7 E96 DEF5J’D 2FE9@CD]k^Am
kAm%6? J62CD 28@[ 49@:46\5C:G6? >2C<6ED 6I:DE65 7@C 4286\7C66 2?5 4@?G6?E:@?2= 688D] }@H[ 56>2?5 :D ?@E 9:89 6?@F89 E@ DF886DE 4@?G6CE:?8 E@ 4286\7C66 AC@5F4E:@? H:== A2J @77 BF:4<=J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 >2C<6E H:== 6G6?EF2==J C6249 2 DFAA=J\56>2?5 6BF:=:3C:F>[ “3FE 2D A2CE @7 E92E[ :E H:== AC:46 @FE D@>6 688 4@?DF>6CD 2?5 D@>6 AC@5F46CD[” %@?D@C D2:5] “(92E’D =67E H:== 7:?5 6BF:=:3C:F>]”k^Am
kAm“q2CC:6CD E@ 4286\7C66 DJDE6>D 2C6 A6C46:G65 E@ 36 9:896C E92? E96:C 36?67:ED[” D2:5 |:49:82? $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ’D ':?46?K:?2 r2AFE@[ H9@ =65 E96 DEF5J]k^Am
kAm|@DE 688 AC@5F46CD G:6H 4@?G6?E:@?2= 9@FD:?8 2D DFA6C:@C :? 7@@5 2?5 AC@5F4E:@? 677:4:6?4J 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :>A24E[ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? E96 DEF5J[ AC@5F46CD 2C6 D<6AE:42= E96 :?5FDECJ 42? >66E 2== @7 E96 C6E2:=6CD’ 4286\7C66 A=6586D 3J a_ae 3642FD6 @7 E96 >2?J EC2?D:E:@?\C6=2E65 492==6?86D[ 6DA64:2==J 4@DE]k^Am
kAm%9@F89 96?D 92G6 D9@CE6C C6A=246>6?E 4J4=6D E92? @E96C =:G6DE@4<[ “6IA6C:6?46D DF49 2D E96 >2DD:G6 =@DD @7 DE@4< 5FC:?8 E96 C646?E 2G:2? :?7=F6?K2 @FE3C62< 2?5 E96 DF3D6BF6?E 5:77:4F=E:6D :? >66E:?8 56>2?5 92G6 9:89=:89E65 E92E E96 :?5FDECJ :D :?5665 GF=?6C23=6 E@ DF49 6IE6C?2= E9C62ED[” r2AFE@ D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 ?F>36C @7 =2J:?8 96?D :? E96 &]$] H2D bfe >:==:@? 2D @7 u63] `[ FA D=:89E=J 7C@> 2 J62C 28@[ 244@C5:?8 E@ &$sp’D }2E:@?2= p8C:4F=EFC2= $E2E:DE:4D $6CG:46] y2?F2CJ 688 AC@5F4E:@? H2D FA aT]k^Am
kAm%96 4286\7C66 A@AF=2E:@? :D 8C@H:?8[ 3FE D=@H=J] r286\7C66 96?D :? a_ab 4@>AC:D65 beT @7 E96 7=@4< :? y2?F2CJ 2?5 bgT :? yF?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 &$sp t4@?@>:4 #6D62C49 $6CG:46]k^Am
k9bm~FE=@@< >:I65k^9bm
kAm“t88 72C>6CD 2C6 :? :E 7@C E96 =@?8 92F=[” D2:5 s633:6 |FC5@4<[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 !24:7:4 t88 2?5 !@F=ECJ pDD@4:2E:@?[ H9:49 :D 32D65 :? $24C2>6?E@[ r2=:7] %96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ 2C6 72>:=J\@H?65 72C>D[ 2?5 “E96 @FE=@@< :D 8C62E] p=>@DE 6G6CJ@?6 4@?DF>6D 688D]”k^Am
kAm$@>6 4@DED 2C6 2=D@ =@H6C E9:D J62C[ 2D 8C2:? AC:46D C64656 7C@> C646?E 9:89D]k^Am
kAm“u665 :D 4@>:?8 5@H?[” D2:5 |2EE@D[ @7 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 !@F=ECJ u656C2E:@? 2?5 }@CE9H6DE r9:4<6? r@F?4:=] “{2DE J62C[ 7665 AC:46D 7@C 4@C? H6C6 @FEC286@FD]”k^Am
k9bm}6H 492==6?86k^9bm
kAmp >62DFC6 E92E s:C64E p4E:@? tG6CJH96C6 AC@A@D6D 7@C :?4=FD:@? @? E96 }@G6>36C 6=64E:@? 32==@E :? $@?@>2 r@F?EJ[ r2=:7][ H@F=5 32? 4@?46?EC2E65 2?:>2= 7665:?8 @A6C2E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 49:4<6? 32C?D]k^Am
Dayna Ghirardelli
Derek Lapsley
kAm“(6 36=:6G6 E9:D H2D 2 5:C64E 2EE24< @? @FC =@42= 688 2?5 A@F=ECJ :?5FDECJ 3642FD6 E96J 92G6 366? C64:A:6?ED @7 2?:>2= 6IEC6>:DE 2EE24<D[” D2:5 s2J?2 v9:C2C56==:[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 4@F?EJ u2C> qFC62F] “(6 36=:6G6 :E H@F=5 27764E 2=>@DE 2== @7 @FC A@F=ECJ 2?5 52:CJ 72C>D]”k^Am
kAm“(6 H@F=5 36 @FE @7 3FD:?6DD” :7 E96 :?:E:2E:G6 :D 46CE:7:65 3J E96 4@F?EJ 2?5 A2DD65 3J G@E6CD[ (636C D2:5]k^Am
kAm“%96 2?:>2= H6=72C6 :DDF6 92D 8C@H? G6CJ DEC@?8[” |2EE@D D2:5]k^Am
kAmrpu~ 56D:8?D 7@C 49:4<6?D 92G6 25G2?465 DF3DE2?E:2==J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
k9bmr2CCJ:?8 @?k^9bm
kAms6DA:E6 E96 >2?J 492==6?86D[ 688 72C>6CD 2C@F?5 E96 (6DE 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C H2JD E@ 4@?E:?F6]k^Am
kAmx? D@FE9H6DE x529@[ |4x?EJC6 !2DEFC6D :? E96 A2DE J62C C2:D65 AC:46D 3J 23@FE `aT 2?5 3682? C64J4=:?8 42CE@?D E@ 4FE 4@DED[ D2:5 |4x?EJC6] %96 3FD:?6DD[ H9:49 CF?D 23@FE a[f__ =2J:?8 96?D 2 J62C[ FD6D 4@@AD >@G65 52:=J 2>@?8 D64E:@?D @7 A2DEFC6 :? E96 8C@H:?8 D62D@? 2?5 2 A2CE:2==J @A6? “49:4<6? A2=246” :? H:?E6C] %96 96?D AC@5F46 23@FE a[c__ 688D 2 52J]k^Am
kAm'@86=[ E96 x529@ 72C>6C H9@ 3@F?465 324< 7C@> 2 7:C6\C6=2E65 =@DD[ D2:5 D96 =:<6D E@ CF? E9C66 8C@FAD @7 =2J:?8 96?D 2?5 2 AF==6E 8C@FA E:>65 E@ @AE:>:K6 AC@5F4E:@?] '@86= u2C>D EJA:42==J CF?D a[d__ E@ b[___ 49:4<6?D :? G2C:@FD DE286D 2?5 2:>D E@ AC@5F46 23@FE b`[___ 5@K6? 688D 2??F2==J]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 2 =@E @7 688D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
