The United States loves birds. A survey by the American
Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) reported that 6.9 million
households in the U.S. have pet birds.
Our nation’s fascination with birds has spurred the creation of an industry
of bird feed manufacturers that dispense over 500,000 tons of bird nutrition
products per year, including millet spray treats.
CENTRAL WISCONSIN LEADERS
Ninety percent of the world’s millet is grown by two major producers, both
of which are located in Central Wisconsin. Millet Supply LLC, the larger of the
two producers, controls approximately 60% of the market share and is located
in Plainfield, Wisconsin.
Millet Supply LLC is owned by Jon Bushman, Steve Bartsch and Gary Woyak,
all of whom are Central Wisconsin potato farmers. With 28 employees
year-round, Millet Supply LLC is one of the Plainfield, WI area’s larger
employers.
BIRD TREATS
100% natural Millet spray treats for pet birds are Millet Supply LLC’s primary
product. Millet spray is the somewhat curved, mature dried seed head at the
end of a stalk of foxtail millet.
Nearly all seed-eating pet birds relish millet spray and it is one of their most
preferred treats. This is especially true of parrots, which tend to be destructive
feeders.
While the birds enjoy eating the millet, they also love shredding it, a truly
entertaining pastime.
(Continued on Page 16)
Opposite Page: A field of Foxtail millet. Top Left: Millet Supply, LLC’s processed millet sprays and the end
product in use. Top Right: The finished product - a bag of Spray Millet prepared for Kaytee. Bottom: Millet
Supply LLC’s grading and packaging production lines are processing millet full steam ahead!
Page 15
Neighbors-March 2011