Huge Year for Lucerne Farms: Banner Harvest and National Expansion Opportunities

Producer of value-added equine forage, mulch products and chicken bedding is having a record year; offers new leadership openings as a founding partner retires

Fort Fairfield, ME (MMD Newswire) August 4, 2015 – It has been a big year for Lucerne Farms of Maine, and it’s about to get even bigger. A successful, vertically integrated producer of specialty formulated, value-added hay products, Lucerne Farms expects to enjoy its most productive year since its founding more than two decades ago. The company’s growth and success also present a major opportunity for the right person or persons, as one of the firm’s principal founding partners is set to retire in January 2016, leaving an opening for qualified replacement management or ownership.

“Lucerne Farms is having a banner harvest of alfalfa and timothy hay, more than 10 percent over last year’s record harvest,” says Allen White, VP. He attributes the record yield to a combination of favorable conditions, upgraded equipment and the company’s ever-improving farming techniques.

Lucerne Farms handles the farming, processing, marketing and distribution of its products, all of which incorporate proprietary, company-developed processing methods. White and his partner Richard James (President of Lucerne Farms) operate the business. Lucerne was founded over 20 years ago when James’ father, Dr. George James, introduced the concept of chopped, high-temperature-dried, bagged equine forage to the United States. Over the years it has become a leading provider of value-added hay products.

The vertical integration is a plus for customers. “For instance,” says James, “when horse owners call Lucerne Farms, they speak with the people who actually grow the forage, as well as process this naturally good feed for their horse.”

Lucerne Farms forage is a grain complement, fiber supplement, and hay replacement. Each of the company’s blends contains a special mixture of Northern grown forage to help meet the needs of horses at every level and every stage of life. “Our unique drying process allows us to effectively ‘lock-in’ nutrients that are lost during the traditional sun-curing process, while eliminating harmful mold spores,” explains James. Chopped to 1-3 inches in length, each bag is dust extracted and blended with either soybean oil or molasses and then compressed into a convenient 2.4 cu. ft. bag.

In addition to bagged, chopped equine forage, Lucerne Farms currently produces two other principal product lines: lawn and garden mulch and the recently launched “Koop Clean” bedding for backyard chickens. With the latter product the company is riding the wave of the trend in suburban and urban small scale agricultural experience,

Lucerne Farms also caters to the growing number of home gardeners and home owners looking for more environmentally compatible coverage material. The company’s lawn and garden mulches are produced with the same care as their other products, using proprietary techniques for optimal results improving performance and simplifying clean up.

Each of Lucerne Farm’s product lines has unique attributes and is a market leader in its niche, notes White. And although the company was founded in New England and has a well-established East Coast distribution, Lucerne Farms products have definitely found their way to other parts of the country. “We’re poised now for an unprecedented national expansion,” says Richard James. “Our newly expanded distribution network finally reaches the entire country. Meanwhile I want to recognize the countless contributions as well as the valued guidance and support from my long-time partner Allen White. His retirement marks not an end, but a beginning of a new phase for Lucerne Farms.”

Indeed, both James and White see a bright future for Lucerne Farms, particularly as consumers become much more aware of the importance of “knowing your farmer”. And, Lucerne Farms will always have a special place in its heart for its original consumer base: horse lovers. Whether the sun shines or not, Lucerne Farms will always be making hay.

Lucerne Farms invites inquiries from qualified director and ownership interests.

Contact: Allen White, VP allenwhite@lucernefrms.com

For more information about Lucerne Farms visit www.lucernefarms.com

102 Conant Rd. - Suite #2 Easton, ME 04740 Phone: 1.800.723.4923 Fax: 1.207.488.2540

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