(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 31, 2008 ) Harrisburg, PA – According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Maryland has 38 of the over 5,000 emu farms in the United States. This year Maryland emu farmers met with others from across the country at the annual American Emu Association National Convention. The Maryland Emu Association (MEA) was represented by its president, David Brown and board member Diane Brown, both of Westminster. The MEA is a state affiliate of the AEA, a national emu organization that supports the emu industry by promoting public awareness of emu products.

Discussions at the July 17th presidents meeting included agriculture and legislative issues, proposed research projects and the rising cost of feed and fuel. “Anything that hits your profit margin is of concern to the farmer,” states Brown. The emu industry is currently farm to finish. The farmer must arrange for processing of the slaughter weight emu as well as sale of either the raw products or turn those end products into finished goods to sell.

Emu are raised in Maryland and other states without the use of growth hormones or antibiotics. “They produce a high-protein, low-fat, nutrient-packed red meat,” reports David Brown. “The meat is available vacuum packed or fresh in specialty food stores, health food stores or direct from many of our Maryland producers.” In addition to the meat, the farm-to-finish Maryland emu farmers market emu oil products, leather products, fresh eggs and craft eggs.

For more information about the Maryland Emu Association or where to find emu products in Maryland, call (301) 854-3915 or visit their website at http://www.marylandemu.com.

For more information about the American Emu Association (AEA) or the emu industry, visit the AEA website www.aea-emu.org or call - 541-332-0675.
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