We try to recycle and repurpose as many things as possible on our farm. Our operation includes an eight-house broiler farm (broilers are chickens raised for meat). We bring in recycled wood chips that are repurposed for wood shavings. The shavings are spread across the floors in the broiler houses. After several flocks of broilers are raised, we clean out all the shavings and litter from the houses. Once the houses are cleaned out, we spread the litter on our agriculture fields. The litter provides valuable nutrients for our row crops (corn, soybeans and other field crops), and also allows us to scale back on some commercial fertilizer inputs. New shavings are then brought back to the broiler farm, and the fun starts all over again!

Ask a Farmer: Corey Cox

Corey Cox works with his dad at Cox and Cox Farms in Onslow County. They raise broilers, and grow corn, soybeans and sometimes cotton and wheat. Corey also works for Coastal AgroBusiness as a Solutions Advisor for Sales.

See more: Ask a Farmer: Why Did You Decide to Turn Your Farm Into a Vineyard?

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NCField&FamilySummer2026
Flip through the pages of the Summer 2026 edition of North Carolina Field and Family magazine. In this issue, find vineyard adventures at U-pick muscadine grape farms, explore the oasis of Manteo, learn more about on-farm markets, enjoy peak berry season with summer berry recipes, read about riveting research on hemp fiber and so much more.

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