Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
If you process on your farm, it would be a good idea to take classes to learn these skills.
Farmers or extension offices in your area may know of classes offered, or they may offer on-
farm apprenticeships. Many dairy farms that process on site have a full-time employee to run
the processing side of the business; you might even find this to be a good income for another
family member. It would take time to learn these processes, so you would need to be comfort-
able in your livestock management skills before you took on this second endeavor.
Co-packing
If you wanted to market your own line of dairy products but you do not have the know-how or
the desire to make your own dairy products, you could pay a local cheese plant to do this for
you. A company that packages products to your specifications is called a co-packer . You
would send these companies your milk, and they would turn it into cheese (or whatever dairy
product you choose to make) and put your label on it. You would then be responsible for mar-
keting the product yourself. You will learn more about marketing strategies at the end of this
chapter.
CASE STUDY: WHITE OAK PASTURES
Will Harris, owner
White Oak Pastures
Bluffton, Georgia
http://whiteoakpastures.com
Will Harris used to take his beef cattle to a slaughtering facility nine miles from his farm in
Bluffton, Georgia. When the facility closed, his next-best option was 90 miles away. Though
many beef producers truck their animals to slaughterhouses even greater distances, Harris
decided this plant was just too far away from his farm. So, Harris, whose grass-fed meats
can be found in several states in the Eastern United States, did what only a handful of pro-
ducers have done. He built his own processing plant.
The 5,300-square-foot plant, which cost $2.2 million dollars, opened in 2008. It is USDA in-
spected, which allows him to sell individual cuts and to sell his products in other states. The
plant employs about 25 people and harvests about 18 animals per day, including many from
farms in the surrounding area. Harris built it with sustainable features so nothing is wasted.
Solar panels provide the energy to heat water, which is then recycled for irrigation; waste
products such as bones and internal organs are used as fertilizer; hides are sold for leather.
His processing facility adheres to principles Harris himself searched for when choosing facil-
ities in the past. His farm is certified by the Certified Humane Raised and Handled program,
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