Application to Develop a Business Plan for a USDA-certified Mobile Livestock Unit

Project Overview

FW03-106
Project Type: Farmer/Rancher
Funds awarded in 2003: $14,988.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Western
State: Washington
Principal Investigator:
Carey Hunter
Email

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Animals: bovine

Practices

  • Farm Business Management: cooperatives, budgets/cost and returns, feasibility study, market study
  • Sustainable Communities: partnerships

    Proposal summary:

    More and more agricultural producers are selling directly to retailers, restaurants and consumers, creating new, more profitable markets. Despite such success, meat producers in Okanogan County, Washington, have found that the lack of a nearby USDA-inspected slaughter facility has prevented them from selling their products in similar fashion. The five livestock producers involved in this marketing grant are developing a business plan to buy and operate a USDA-certified mobile processing unit. They believe it will help them command a higher price for their product and give consumers direct access to safer, healthier food. On-farm slaughter reduces the stress and trauma of transporting the animals, providing a better, more humanely handled product. Twenty additional producers have expressed interest, and most consumers polled said they would pay up to 25% more for such a product.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.