Grass-Fed Beef Conference Celebrates a Green Future(Kit Pharo)
Grass-Fed Beef Conference Celebrates a Green Future
Latham, N.Y.—A packed house of passionate beef entrepreneurs came to the Century House for the Winter Green Up Grass-Fed Beef Conference to hear an over-arching message by organizers and invited speakers that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Co-organizer Morgan Hartman of Black Queen Angus Farm said, “We saw the need and were inspired to take the lead on this future by bringing in producers with a management and marketing style that would help jumpstart our local movement to grass-based beef production.” Tom Gallagher, Albany Co. Cornell Cooperative Extension Livestock Specialist concurred that bringing farmers together to learn about this new paradigm has been a significant part of programming for his office. “I am thrilled with the great turnout and to have partnered with Morgan to see his vision and hard work pay off in a positive way. This conference is a building block for future work that includes more on-farm programming, establishing a local working group and helping beginning farmers understand the intricacies of a grass-based system.”
Colorado rancher and guest speaker, Kit Pharo focused his sustainable farming efforts and seedstock business on a profit and enjoyment strategy, instead of a production oriented mindset as the theme of opportunity for the future. He made no apologizes for this idea to the group by saying, “I may not always be right but I’m never in doubt”. He cited figures that showed we are more productive than ever while struggling in the profit department. “The beef industry is at a tipping point and what worked in the past may not work in the future. I emulate operators that are consistently profitable year after year and found they had many things in common. They were not afraid of change, they set goals, they made efficient use of available forage resources, they calve in sync with nature, they concentrate on easy keeping cows, they have a low cost of production and they sell a product not a commodity”. He concluded by emphasizing that “fertility is the most important economic trait” for cow/calf producers.
Bill Hodge, Georgia cattleman and CEO of Sustainable Genetics, proclaimed “the cheap corn and cheap fuel paradigm is coming to an end and we must adapt to the changing marketplace. The industry has taken a solar powered animal and created a fossil fuel dependent machine. We must come to the reality that cows were put on this earth to graze and the closer we get to this system, the more sustainable our production becomes”. His message for profitability in a cowherd was tied to cow longevity and breeding for easy fleshing, moderately sized cows that adapt to a specific environment. His small cow/calf operation has evolved into direct marketing grass-finished beef within the metro Atlanta area. “Customers are buying our beef for flavor which is directly related to intra-muscular fat from grass and legumes. One of our main challenges as grass-based farmers is to find animal genetics that consistently attain choice quality grade on forage alone. We love being in the forefront of this movement towards a tasty future and happy consumers,” he added.
Dr. Allen Williams of the Tallgrass Beef Company rounded out the day by looking at the growth of the grass-fed beef phenomenon. He explained that human health factors, animal welfare, better taste and environmental concerns were key drivers in seeing natural and organic meat sales grow to over 350 million dollars with the potential to capture a 20% market share. He conceded that grass-fed will not take the place of grain fed, but will fill a sizable market niche in the future. He inspired farmers to share their stories and be proactive in marketing personal and health benefits first, environmental benefits second. “Moving towards a system of good grazing management, efficient cattle genetics, working with Mother Nature and strategic marketing will go a long ways towards achieving a profitable grass-fed venture. And always stay positive,” Mr. Williams added.
For more information on this event call: Morgan Hartman @ (518) 658-0718 or Tom Gallagher @ (518) 765-3500
The program was sponsored by the NYS Dept. of Ag. & Mkts., The NYS Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, The Cornell Small Farms Program, Northeast SARE, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council, CNY RC&D Council and supported by Trowbridge Angus, Hubbard Feeds, North American Devon Assoc., William’s Fence, Rotokawa Cattle Co., Cunningham Fence Co., Hudson Valley Agri-business, DT Sales Associates, Whitman’s Feed Store, Sustainable Genetics and Black Queen Angus Farm, LLC. Published in Lancaster Farming