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Education - Publications - Marketing Projects

Hudson Valley Livestock Marketing Task Force

. . .committed to exploring and developing a processing and marketing system for livestock producers in the Hudson River Valley of New York

The grass-root effort of the Hudson Valley Livestock Marketing Task Force strives to assist producers in developing a market; consumers in purchasing local product; and the community in sustaining open spaces and strengthening their economic base.

History | Objectives | Members | Organizations | Survey | Feasibility Study

History

On March 28, 1998, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County with the Regional Farm & Food Project, the Columbia-Dutchess Chapter of NOFA-NY and the Hudson Valley Chapter of Chef’s Collaborative 2000 co-sponsored a meeting entitled "Exploring and Developing Markets for Small-Scale Livestock Producers." Sixty participants came from eastern and central New York to listen to speakers and panels composed of livestock producers, meat distributors, butchers, restaurants chefs and a marketing analyst.

The crowd was very enthusiastic, and as evidenced by the many questions, was in search of more assistance with marketing their products. Producers represented many different species including beef, goat, sheep, swine, rabbit, poultry, deer and buffalo.

Information packets were mailed to the attendees following the meeting and an evaluation form was included. Evaluation responses highlighted the following needs:

• Producers are marketing feeder animals through auctions and are not realizing the profit of selling finished product direct to the retailer or consumer.
  
  
• Slaughtering and meat-aging facilities are not readily accessible or do not meet the needs of the small-scale producer.
  
  
• Local restaurants want to serve local meat products but don’t have access to a network of producers to provide consistent quantity and quality of meats.
  
  
• Producers desire more assistance in developing and expanding local markets for their product.
  
  

Objectives

A group of individuals representing the various parties at the conference began meeting to address some of these issues. This was the formation of what is now known as the Hudson Valley Livestock Marketing Task Force. The group established some needs to pursue:

1. Solicitation of funds to conduct an assessment of the livestock processing and marketing opportunities in the Hudson River Valley. (The assessment or feasibility study)

2. Development of a comprehensive database of livestock producers and their products.

3. Assessment of current slaughterhouse facilities in the Hudson River Valley and their processing capacity.

4. Identify existing vacant slaughter facilities or potential sites for new facilities.

5. Identify various ways to fund the slaughter facility including a producer-owned cooperative or private business enterprise.

6. Run classes on developing marketing skills for livestock producers.

7. Identify restaurants and retail outlets for local meats.

8. Predict community-wide economic impact of project.

The Task Force has shared the project information with local politicians, and economic development partners. Currently, the group is soliciting livestock producers with a questionnaire to corroborate the quantify need for a slaughter/processing facility and marketing education and assistance.A consultant has been hired to gather other relevant information and formulate a business plan. Click here to see a copy of the survey.

Expanding the processing capabilities for local livestock producers will invigorate the industry and will have far-reaching benefits for the entire community.On the average, agricultural enterprises turn dollars over within their local communities three times more than other businesses.Sustainable livestock operations keep green spaces open and enhance the countryside not only for residents, but also for tourists. Community economic vitality and ecology are both positively benefited by this project.

Hudson Valley Livestock Marketing Task Force Members

Marty Broccoli (518) 234-5676 * Meat and Fish Processing Lab, SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY 12043

Marty is an Ag-Business instructor at SUNY Cobleskill, he supervises the meat processing lab, and director of CADE (Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship).

Mark Doyle (914) 868-7895 * Rocky Reef Farm, P.O. Box 387, Stanfordville, NY 12518 e-mail: 76440.1375@compuserve.com

Mark is manager at Rocky Reef Farm, producing labeled “pasture-grown, natural Angus beef,” which is marketed directly to families, to two markets and several metropolitan restaurants. He is president of the Dutchess County Farm Bureau.

Eve Felder * Culinary Institute of America, 433 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538

Eve is an Associate Dean at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park.She was a chef at Chez Panisse, in Berkley, California, the restaurant which has, perhaps more than any other, changed the way America thinks about local, fresh produce.

Tracy Frisch (518) 427-6537 * Regional Farm & Food Project, 27 Elm Street, Albany, NY 12202.e-mail: farmandfood@fsinter.net

Tracy is the executive director and founder of The Regional Farm & Food Project. She has an M.S. from Cornell University and is a full-time advocate of connecting farmers with consumers to promote sustainable agriculture.

Ted Johnson (518/851-7628) * Almar’s Country Road Meat Market, 49 Damski Road, Hudson, NY 12534

Ted has a degree in food handling and distribution from the University of Connecticut. He owns and operates a custom butcher shop, giving individual attention to each order, including custom aging and cutting.

Stephen Kaye (914/677-5729) * Columbia-Dutchess Chapter, NOFA-NY, RR 1, Box 98, Millbrook, NY 12545.e-mail: lithgowk@interport.com

Stephen is chairperson of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) Columbia-Dutchess Chapter. He raises Dexter cattle and organic vegetables at his Lithgow Cottage Farm in Millbrook.He has recently begun marketing free range veal raised by local dairy farmers.

Lisa Lafferty (518/828-3346) * Cornell Cooperative Extension-Columbia County, 479 Route 66, Hudson, NY 12534.e-mail: lai2@cornell.edu

Lisa is an Extension Educator in livestock and natural resources and works with 4-H program in animal science. She has an interest in sustainable agriculture and intensive grazing.

Associated Organizations

Members of a growing list of associated organizations are following the progress. They include:

• Dutchess and Columbia County Farm Bureaus

• First Pioneer Farm Credit, Claverack, NY

• Stonehouse Farm

• Cabbage Hill Foundation

• New England Heritage Breeds Association

• New York Angus Association

photo by
Richard Wambach

Current Status - as of October 2000

     Please note that results from the survey questionnaire have been tabulated and summarized. The results from the Feasibility Study will be available on the web as of November 2000. The Hudson Valley Task Force is currently looking for a site and funding/investors for a slaughter and processing facility. If interested, contact one of the task force members.