Small farms have been vanishing across America as competition from huge agricultural concerns makes it hard for the little guy to make a living. However, there are ways for savvy owners to make a respectable income. Running a grass fed beef farm is one proven way to get ahead.
The production of pastured meats is one example of innovative thinking that makes the ranch owner both producer and marketing agent. Producing a boutique product and gaining a secure market raises the small farmer above the competition. Giant factory farms and feedlots have squeezed small farms and ranches for years, but today direct marketing of higher-quality food has liberated family operations.
If the product on offer is truly superior, the fact that it might be more expensive does not deter consumers. Many people are concerned about the quality of food produced on 'factory farms' or by 'mono-culture', and they want to patronize little local growers to get healthier meat, eggs, and produce. This is why Farmers' Markets are becoming more and more popular across the country.
Research has validated the belief that home-grown produce and pastured meats are healthier than the usual mass-market fare. Chemical residues in picked-when-green produce and hormones and antibiotics in animals destined for human consumption concern many people. Especially when truck farms, orchards, and meat producers use few or no chemicals to grow and protect their crops and animals, the food is fresh, nutrient-rich, and flavorful.
Research has shown that meat from animals fed only on grasses, with no grain at any stage of their life, has a rich supply of essential fatty acids not found in conventional meats. The direct marketing of meat and produce, from farmers to consumers, means that foods should be fresh, should never have been subjected to radiation or chemicals that are used to retard spoilage, and should still provide vitamins that can be lost during a lengthy stay in cold storage.
For the farmer with acreage, the cost of raising cattle on pasture is less than feeding hay and grain. Many farmers who used to buy seed, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides in order to raise corn, wheat, and soybeans now concentrate on promoting the health of their pastureland. Grasses do not rob the soil of nutrients as crops like corn do; many of them, such as clover and alfalfa, actually improve the soil while they grow.
As well as saving money on production and vet care (feedlots are known to be unhealthy for the cattle that are crowded into them), a farmer raising cattle on pasture has a product that the huge producers cannot match. The fact that it takes more land and more time to raise cattle this way discourages factory-farm managers. By raising consumer awareness of the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed meat (pastured poultry is also popular), farmers can establish a secure niche in the local market.
There are naturally-raised beef producers who have grown large enough to sell to large grocery chains. However, the real beneficiaries of this type of meat production are small operators who make a good living, the consumers who get healthier meat, the environment that is less polluted by chemicals, and the animals who have a happier and more natural life. Check to see if you have a grass fed beef farm in your area.
The production of pastured meats is one example of innovative thinking that makes the ranch owner both producer and marketing agent. Producing a boutique product and gaining a secure market raises the small farmer above the competition. Giant factory farms and feedlots have squeezed small farms and ranches for years, but today direct marketing of higher-quality food has liberated family operations.
If the product on offer is truly superior, the fact that it might be more expensive does not deter consumers. Many people are concerned about the quality of food produced on 'factory farms' or by 'mono-culture', and they want to patronize little local growers to get healthier meat, eggs, and produce. This is why Farmers' Markets are becoming more and more popular across the country.
Research has validated the belief that home-grown produce and pastured meats are healthier than the usual mass-market fare. Chemical residues in picked-when-green produce and hormones and antibiotics in animals destined for human consumption concern many people. Especially when truck farms, orchards, and meat producers use few or no chemicals to grow and protect their crops and animals, the food is fresh, nutrient-rich, and flavorful.
Research has shown that meat from animals fed only on grasses, with no grain at any stage of their life, has a rich supply of essential fatty acids not found in conventional meats. The direct marketing of meat and produce, from farmers to consumers, means that foods should be fresh, should never have been subjected to radiation or chemicals that are used to retard spoilage, and should still provide vitamins that can be lost during a lengthy stay in cold storage.
For the farmer with acreage, the cost of raising cattle on pasture is less than feeding hay and grain. Many farmers who used to buy seed, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides in order to raise corn, wheat, and soybeans now concentrate on promoting the health of their pastureland. Grasses do not rob the soil of nutrients as crops like corn do; many of them, such as clover and alfalfa, actually improve the soil while they grow.
As well as saving money on production and vet care (feedlots are known to be unhealthy for the cattle that are crowded into them), a farmer raising cattle on pasture has a product that the huge producers cannot match. The fact that it takes more land and more time to raise cattle this way discourages factory-farm managers. By raising consumer awareness of the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed meat (pastured poultry is also popular), farmers can establish a secure niche in the local market.
There are naturally-raised beef producers who have grown large enough to sell to large grocery chains. However, the real beneficiaries of this type of meat production are small operators who make a good living, the consumers who get healthier meat, the environment that is less polluted by chemicals, and the animals who have a happier and more natural life. Check to see if you have a grass fed beef farm in your area.
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You can visit the website www.boeckmannfamilyfarmllc.com for more helpful information about Profit With A Grass Fed Beef Farm
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