RESOURCES
Agriculture Marketing Resource Center. A national information center
for value-added agriculture. www.agmrc.org.
Information on “natural,” organic and direct marketing
beef. www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/livestock/beef/beef.htm.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC). Provides
free assistance and resources to farmers and agricultural professionals,
including information on livestock production and marketing. (301)
504-6559; www.nal.usda.gov/afsic
ATTRA. National information service offers 200+ free publications
on farming and marketing, many about livestock production and marketing.
(800) 346-9140 / Spanish (800) 411-3222. http://attra.ncat.org/
Direct and Local Meat Marketing Project, University of Kentucky.
Online resource for livestock producers includes budget spreadsheets
and yield and pricing guides. www.uky.edu/ag/kymeat
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). SARE provides
grants to researchers, agricultural educators and producers to study
and spread information about sustainable agriculture, including
direct marketing, via a nationwide grants program. (301) 504-5230;
www.sare.org
SARE Outreach delivers cutting-edge research results with books,
bulletins and electronic resources for producers, educators and
researchers. (301) 504-5236; www.sare.org
USDA Small Business Development Centers. Provides management assistance
to current and prospective small business owners. 800-8-ask-sba;
www.sba.gov/sbdc/
PUBLICATIONS
Adding Value to Beef Production. Assists those beginning a value-added
agriculture business venture with tried-and-true methods. Iowa State
University Extension. www.ciras.iastate.edu/beefmanual
Alternative Beef Marketing by ATTRA. Explores marketing alternatives
for small-scale cattle ranchers who want to add value to their beef.
www.attra.org/attra-pub/beefmark.html
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business
Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses. Transform farm-grown inspirations
into profitable enterprises with sample worksheets for researching
processing options, potential markets and financing. 280 pp. $17
to SARE Outreach, (301) 374-9696, www.sare.org/webstore
How to Direct Market Meat – Is It An Option for You? by Anastasia
Becker, Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture, University
of Missouri Outreach and Extension. http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/arc/agopp051.txt
http://aes.missouri.edu/swcenter/sustain
Direct Sales of Beef. Suggestions for selling beef directly to
consumers. Nebraska Cooperative Extension. http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/beef/g1420.htm
The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Dispels the myths about
starting your own business. 288 pp. $16. (866) 201-7601; www.powells.com
Energy-Efficient Grass-Based Meat and Veal Production and Marketing
Manual. Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship,
www.cadefarms.org/publications.htm
Grass Productivity by André Voisin. Maximizing productivity
in grass and cattle operations from one of the earliest proponents.
370 pp. $30. www.amazon.com
Holistic Resource Management by Allan Savory. Practical instruction
in financial, biological and land planning. Case studies drawn from
real-life situations lead the reader through the process. 590 pp.
Prices vary. www.amazon.com
Marketing Grass-fed Beef by the Kansas Rural Center. Marketing
pamphlet with gross margin marketing worksheet. http://kansasruralcenter.org/publications/grassfedbeef.pdf
The Meat Buyers Guide by the North American Meat Processors Association.
Meat identification manual, with more than 295 illustrated cuts,
buying and ordering procedures, nutrition data, food safety and
grading standards. 199 pp. $52, www.amazon.com
The New Farmers’ Market by Eric Gibson. Tips and trends from
leading sellers to best display and sell product. 272 pp. $24.95.
(301) 374-9696; www.sare.org/webstore
Organic Livestock Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed
Practices by ATTRA. http://attra.NCAT.org/attra-pub/PDF/livestockworkbook.pdf
Pasture Profits with Stocker Cattle by Allan Nation. How to improve
profits with less financial risk. 224 pp. $28.50. Stockman Grass
Farmer, (800) 748-9808; www.stockmangrassfarmer.com
Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison. Philosophies
of land use, soil, agricultural and livestock management, irrigation,
and more. $75 (hard cover). www.amazon.com
Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin. How to make a good profit with
a small beef cattle operation. 368 pp. www.chelseagreen.com/1996/items/516
Shelter & Shade: Creating a Healthy and Profitable Environment
for your Livestock with Trees by John & Bunny Mortimer. 160
pp. $20. The Stockman Grass Farmer, (800) 748-9808; www.stockmangrassfarmer.com
MAGAZINES
ACRES USA. A comprehensive guide to sustainable agriculture. (800)
355-5313; www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm
Small Farmer’s Journal. Focuses on livestock breeds, organic
farming and equipment. (800) 876-2893; www.smallfarmersjournal.com
Stockman Grass Farmer. Describes grazing technology and pasture
management. (800) 748-9808; http://stockmangrassfarmer.net/
Small Farm Today. Preservation and promotion of small farming,
rural living, community and sustainability. (800) 633-2535; www.smallfarmtoday.com
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