Food for Thought Poultry Edition-March 2024

Solving the Puzzle of Poultry Farm Financing

Are you considering buying a poultry farm or expanding your existing one? What are the best practices to build into your plans that can help you optimize your yield?

As a commercial poultry farmer, maximizing yield and minimizing loss is imperative for running a profitable operation. However, the well-being of the birds themselves directly impacts outcomes. Poultry farmers can reduce mortality rates and increase productivity by creating optimal environments and preventative healthcare.

Keeping pace with production research allows farmers to maximize yields without sacrificing bird welfare in unsafe, overly demanding environments. If you are looking to buy or build a poultry house, you want to create excellent living conditions that are conducive to vitality and efficient processing. Poultry farmers should plan to focus on implementing the latest science-based best practices for elements like proper ventilation, friable litter, biosecurity, and temperature regulation throughout the full growth cycle. Attentive husbandry aligned with integrators’ contractual standards protects operators from losing entire flocks to preventable disasters like contagious illness or heat stress.

Poultry Lending

Supporting almost 500,000 jobs in the US, the poultry and egg industry is a vital part of the national economy.

For almost 30 years, First Financial Bank has offered financial resources and personal service to poultry growers across the Country. You do not become one of the nation's leading poultry lenders by sitting in your office. We will come to you. And we will bring a solution with us to help you succeed.

Get in touch with a lender near you

Creamy Jalapeno Skillet Chicken

Ingredients

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon salt
4 chicken cutlets (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons avocado oil or other neutral oil, divided
½ cup finely chopped onion
2 large jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped (1/2 cup)
½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes
½ cup shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
Chopped cilantro for garnish (Optional)

Directions

Stir cumin, chili powder and salt together in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with the spice mixture.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken; cook, turning once, until browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, onion and jalapeños to the pan. Cook, stirring, until softened and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Add broth and cream cheese; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring to melt the cream cheese, for 3 to 5 minutes. Add Cheddar; stir until melted. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan and turn to coat with the sauce. Serve sprinkled with cilantro, if desired.