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Post by Maple View Farm on Jan 16, 2013 11:01:23 GMT -5
If anyone is interested in rotational grazing, and grass dariy approach, OEFFA is having a conference that has a few classes on this. The keynote speaker is the Niman ranch which is a grass-fed beef co-op of numerous farmers, selling their beef under the Niman name. How sweet would that be if a Dexter farm was able to sell with that co-op also?!! Check out the OEFFA flyer, there is a ton of info on the conference: www.oeffa.org/conference2013.php#preconf |
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Post by hamonsdexter on Jan 16, 2013 14:41:07 GMT -5
Taking the CO-OP idea even further. Why not as Dexter Producers we form a CO-OP. Think of the impact we could have. We are many small producers but one thing we do have is passion. We each have our strengths and weakness but as group our foot print would be much larger. It would open up tons of markets to our product and bring Dexter Beef and dairy products to the Masses.
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Post by midhilldexters on Jan 16, 2013 19:21:34 GMT -5
Its a great idea if you can get something going. How would you be able to control the quality of the meat from all the farms? We all feed differently, so there would be no consistency in the meat.
Maybe there are others that have more experience of a co op that can chip in and help.
Carol K
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Post by midhilldexters on Jan 16, 2013 19:33:12 GMT -5
MVF if you go, would you let us know how it was. I would LOVE to go but too far for me.
Carol K
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Post by hamonsdexter on Jan 17, 2013 9:48:19 GMT -5
Carol
It would just be like anything else. You would just have to have Standards that members would have to follow for the different classifications of meat. The COOP would have to be built on trust. Plus many different people want different type of meat. I have some customers that like my Grass Feed and finished, non-antibiotic meat, while others want grain finished. I think it would be very due-able. Since we all face different strength and weaknesses. I think an idea like this could get a good head of steam. This would provide 2 things brand recondition for our awesome product and more green in our pockets.
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Post by Maple View Farm on Jan 17, 2013 11:07:09 GMT -5
Yeah, we have a small group going from OVDBA!!!! I would love to absorb as much as I can in order to help others. Let us go and compile all the info each one of us hears and meet with the speakers and then I would love to offer help here or come meet with groups of Dexter owners to establish these grazing practices.
Hamons, go for it !!! Check with Niman ranch and see if they would help with establishing a Dexter branch. See what their protocols are for each farmer in their network. There are probably strict rules they all have to follow, grazing requirements, weight gain for the end market weight, vet services etc.... The Organic Dairy industry has Organic Valley, Horizon and many others that all have numerous farms under their label, same type of principle. This also goes for conventional dairys, poultry, egg, and hog operations. What about our own label for Dexters only. Go for it Hammons and see how far you can get this to go. We need a venue like this. I agree. We are a niche, so try going to high end restaurants. Our neighbor marketed their niche pork to the show the Chew and Michael Simon. Pretty cool, Huh!!? So we can do that too. These are our farming neighbors, just farmers and they did it!
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