1998 Annual Report for FNC98-226
Chariton Valley Beef Industry Initiative: Producer Cost-share for Technology Adoption and Market Access
Summary
Adapting to changes in the marketplace can provide substantial premiums to livestock producers. The objective of this project was to improve the marketing ability of producers in southern Iowa. The project was set up to enable producers to access, collect, interpret, and respond to information and take advantage of evolving value-added opportunities. The producers conducted field days and attended seminars on animal identification, source verification, and carcass data interpretation. They identified and collected carcass data on 5,135 head of cattle from 68 producers. The data provided them with a stronger position and greater flexibility in marketing. They were able to market finished cattle in value-based grids, which has resulted in average premiums of $20 per head. The data also helped feeder cattle producers obtain higher prices for calves and yearlings.
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