Everyone is getting ready for another growing season at the SCI. farm. Many of the hay field have already been covered with manure. The soil in the vegetable gardens is being aerated and the fertilizer has been ordered. As well, the farm equipment is being repaired and serviced.

Inmates are given lot of extra duties this time of year. For example, it is not uncommon to see a cleaner or a barn worker taken to the fields for an afternoon of rock picking or fencing. The work must get done and all staff and inmates must be involved.

An addition to the hennery is being constructed because the present building is not big enough. The SCI. hennery houses approximately 490 laying hens, about 200 broilers as well as about 200 turkeys. Maintaining the hennery, keeping it clean, collecting eggs, and feeding is the responsibility of correctional staff who supervise the two inmate hennery workers.

There are approximately 28 dairy cows that are being milked at SCI. All total, six SCI. inmates work in the dairy barn. Lately, it has not been difficult to reach the milk quota of 1040 liters (in 48 hours). For their effort, the six SCI. inmates are applauded by correctional staff and are also given a reward.

The SCI. heifer barn is maintained by the inmates. The young calves are housed here until they are old enough to be milked. They are then taken to the dairy barn. The bulls are housed in the heifer barn as well and when they are old enough many of them are sold. Some of the bulls are taken to a slaughter house.

The SCI. farm is successful because staff and inmates do a great job. An example of this is, of course, that we are surpassing our milk quota. Another is the fact that we expanding to include hog farming and we are having some good results. Yet another example of the success we are having will be seen later this summer. We are looking forward to seeing rolling hay fields and green fields of growing and harvest vegetables.