An article on KUOW in Seattle talks about why more farmers and ranchers are making the switch to grass-fed meat and dairy. Though many industry leaders had viewed grass-fed products as simply trends, recent market information shows otherwise. According
to Beef Magazine, the grass-fed beef sector is currently experiencing a growth rate of 25-30% annually. In fact, livestock industry consultant Allen Williams believes that the grass-fed market could potentially reach nearly 30% of all beef produced in the next few years.
What this unexpected growth means is that opportunities abound in the grass-fed beef production field. And according to former Thousand Hills Cattle Company owner Todd Churchill, one of the best things beef producers looking to make the switch can do is attend a Holistic Management course.
For example, in Massachusetts, Ridge Shinn launched Big Picture Beef, which consists of a network of small farms in the northeast U.S. that specialize in grass-fed beef. Along with providing a market for the cattle, Ridge also says he will conduct on-farm holistic management workshops for participating farmers.
But it isn't only grass-fed beef making a splash in today's market; grass-fed products such as milk and yogurt sales have also increased by 38 percent over the past year.
Tim Joseph and his wife Laura are huge proponents of grass-fed milk products, launching Maple Hill Creamery in 2009. Maple Hill Creamery is an organic, all grass-fed yogurt company in upstate New York. As he's watched his business grow 40 to 50 percent since inception, one of the things Tim has learned is that the current demand for grass-fed products far exceeds the supply available.
It's clear that grass-fed beef and other products are not just a trend; they're here to stay. If you're a farmer or rancher looking to make the switch to regenerative agriculture, take a look at our website to see what we have to offer.
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