Producer >>>> Marketer

[ValueChainFX]

There have been many questions on how the beef producer can gain more income by working the niche markets.

Well by yourself it is very hard, we have been working on putting some of the components in place to assist the producer in marketing their products.

What would you as the producer like to see that could help you. Keep in mind that if you think you are going to be competition for Cargill and IBP well it is just not going to happen. But the small to medium size finisher can make it happen for themselves.

[15444]

Been a while since I been here....

Value Chain...I was and guess I still am interested in value adding in beef production. Seeing as how there is a lot of red tape to selling uninspected beef to customers, I spent many a day divising a plan to go around it, but I'm still not sure if it's foolproof. Instead of slaughtering and selling the dressed carcass to a consumer, why couldn't a beef farmer sell a whole live animal to a consumer, and then have it butchered on the farmer's property at his discretion? As long as there is a transfer of paper in between the two pairs of hands before the animal is butchered, I can't see what could be wrong. How could the feds come after you, seeing as how you can't stop a regular person from buying an animal and you allowing it too be butchered on your property? I only use this idea as a value adding option for myself as I am about 450 clicks from the nearest inspected plant. I think if the farmer arranges everything from butchering to delivering that you could have a value added product of some worth. I have talked to many city-slickers about the ability to buy hormone free, antibiotic free beef for half the price in Safeway...they all flip! Seeing as how Safeway charges about 6 bucks a pound for rump roast, I think at half I could make some decent cash with no goverment hassle. I'm curious on what you think. Would this be an option....aka could I get away with it?

[ValueChainFX]

This has been a common practice for as long as I can remember. But I have been told that this is not allowed. Is it in black and white in the act .... well not really. Here is what the act says;

Inspection of farm slaughtered animals
6.01 A farmer in a meat inspection area who slaughters an animal on his own premises and requires inspection must present the whole carcass, with head and pluck attached, or in the case of the bovine species the hide must be attached to the carcass or a side or quarter if the inspection is to be carried out in the prescribed area under the Livestock Identification Act, to an inspector at an establishment under regular inspection. Carcasses may be halved or quartered, provided all parts of the carcass are presented and the head and pluck remain attached to one of the quarters.

The following address will take you to the full act if you would like some easy reading before bed time.

http://www.qp.gov.bc.ca/statreg/reg/M/MeatInspection/MeatInsp54_66/54_66.htm

The point you make though is very clear, as a producer if you market directly to the consumer you can make a lot more income. You also have more work but the rewards are worth it in many cases.

[15444]

ok....but if I don't own the animal any longer at the time it is butchered, no one can force the consumer to have it inspected. All ownership would be on the consumer before butchering. The only thing I would be doing is offering the space to butcher the animal. How is that breaking the regulations?

Now your talking about B.C. regulations. In Ontario, a farmer can butcher and animal and keep the meat for himself or sell it to his relatives, without it being inspected. Is this the case in B.C. as well?
I'm thinking my idea may work in Ontario, but again I'm not sure.

[ValueChainFX]

I have seen people use this method of selling meat off the farm for years now. Again is it breaking the law, well it is a grey area. If you ask an inspector (federal) they will tell you it is against the law!!!!

But then you need to make your own call there. If I was doing this personally I would want anything I sold inspected. But then that is just me and has nothing to do with the law, just with my own peace of mind!

Adding value is always the best way to go, and making it easier for the consumer to get farm fresh product makes it good for the consumer and for the producer.

[paladin]

ValueChain - in your original post you spoke of putting some components in place to help the small to medium size finisher with direct marketing. What are the components. We are a cow-calf operation that has been retaining ownership for a couple of decades now. We've found some slightly unconventional ways to increase the feed efficiency of our calves and currently sell direct to packer. We are very interested in a more direct marketing role, as we feel that the beef we produce is of the highest quality and even though we've added value through retained ownership - we would like to take this to the next level. What do you propose?

[ValueChainFX]

paladin:

You are like many others that have added value but don't get paid for it. Some have taken there product direct to the consumer through simple basic marketing some have developed a marketing program specific to their operation.

If you would like to contact me and talk a little more direct about your specific operation I can send you off some suggestions.

valuechain@telus.net

[rusty1]

paladin
Check out Cattle Care's web site at www.cattlecare.cc
They have the tools to insure that your market valued products can be properly marketed. The people they work with have set the pace world wide in tracking food comodities up and down the food chain and have the mort secure syatem in place.

[ValueChainFX]

Check the topic FARM MANAGEMENT Rural Development and see some of the suggestions being made. This is a new year and time to discuss solutions to the issues rather then the challenges we all know are there.

We have in the past year made partnerships and alliances with many people in the industry. Our partnerships have been based on companies and individuals that can contribute not only financially but also with information, technology and their own will to make the industry better but working on an infrastructure that will work for the entire system.

We have the people out there that say they are not interested unless we have a track record or letters behind our name or many other excuses that will prevent them from a commitment. We are fine with this knowing how many scams have happened in the industry. But we are not discouraged by this. We have several major companies that have wonderful technology that works in the industry favor. We have many producers that have called us with their special needs, suggestions and have become involved with our initiative.

We are presently developing a structure that industry friendly and will assist producers and others in the supply chain to build the infrastructure needed that will build the industry rather then break it up. Our partners have worked with us combining their technology with others that have developed technology making every thing stronger.

For those of you that need to work with people that have letters behind their names, then keep doing what you are doing. Keep in mind doing the same things over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity.

At some point in time you will need to trust a good plan, talk to the people involved in the initiative and do your due diligence in checking them out. But you need to invest in something some time, and if the investment is time, money, ideas or whatever, make up your minds to make a difference, make up your mind to make your business part of something that will work. Like everything else in agriculture we have planted the seed with proper care it will grow, we call it "AGRI-ECONOMICS".

YOUR THOUGHTS?