How Is Your Beef Supply

D2Cat · Apr 30, 2020

You've probably seen, read or heard the next shortage will be beef.

Maybe the results will be less governmental control/restrictions on processing plants. Here's an example of what is happening in South Dakota. Small processor that were forced to close down years back are now getting to start up again.

https://www.cattlebusinessweekly.co...rs-bring-ft-pierre-packing-plant-back-online/

sheepfarmer · Apr 30, 2020

Glad to see some support for local meat processors. In favor of what they are doing, some of the local processors that I've encountered in Michigan are in dire need of cleaning and modernizing. It is not easy to find a place to take small numbers of sheep or cattle to, and that your custom meat buyers would not wince at the lack of sanitation. Many of the old timers that did a good job are retiring, and their facilities if still operating have gone to rack and ruin. I hate the degree to which big business tries to get a strangle hold on agriculture, either via the seed herbicide business, milk distributors or meat processing. Hope some good can come out of this pandemic.

Creature Meadow · Apr 30, 2020

I'm good till this time next year, lots of venison in the freezer. Steaks, roasts, burger, sausage, stew meat etc.

Now chicken and turkey not so but I could process one a month and sacrifice my eggs but they bring $5.00 a dozen weekly.

Lots of veggies in freezer and canned good there. Garden all planted and everything looking good. Got about 15 rows @ 75' long, peas, cukes, squash, taters, corn, melons, beets, peppers, beans, and lettuce.

People at work use to tell me I'm crazy putting all that time into my chickens, garden, and fruit trees! Now some have been buying lettuce from me and eggs. One guy paid in advance for his next 3 dozen eggs.

Stay safe guys and gals.

Jay

Tughill Tom · Apr 30, 2020

We are all good on Beef and Pork, just picked up a local grown 1/4 beefer and stocked up on Pork about a month ago from our local butchers.

Hoping to shoot a couple of Turkeys in the next weeks to add to the freezer.

SidecarFlip · Apr 30, 2020

Just fine and will be. I have it on the hoof in the side lot and I am quite capable of doing my own processing. No issue on pork or chicken either. Both available locally, on the hoof or on the leg, depending on what it is.

..and the freezers are loaded with venison, beat and some elk anyway. Amy and I are very carnivorous people.

NHSleddog · Apr 30, 2020

I have 3 boys in the house all over 6', they eat like pro ball players I swear. We have 2 fre/ref and one big upright freezer.

For Beef I get primal cuts from a local farm and cut them up and vacuum pack them from there. All the trimmings get ground and vacuum packed as well.

We pre-season almost all the "cuts" before packaging/freezing and go directly into the sous-vide bath from the freezer.

seanbarr · Apr 30, 2020

Bought 1/2 a steer a month ago, butchered & packaged to my specifications for $3 per pound. I was introduced to this farmer/butcher by a good friend. Class A throughout. He supplies premium meats for restaurants but got ahead of the game by selling his meats in bulk no less than 1/4 a cow. If anyone’s interested, let me know. He’s based in Ephrata, WA but delivers to Spokane. He does game and pork too.

My local butchers DO process meats brought to them so the services are still available around these parts.

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AllDodge · Apr 30, 2020

Were good, and been trying for year to get the wife to thin out the freezers. We have 3 freezers (2 uprite and one chest) and there is just 2 of us. Since were not going anywhere the supplies are going done some.

I would like to get to just one for regular use. Keep another around incase for a good deal on whole to 1/2 cow. With things slowing down there are several cattle farms starting to look at down sizing

GeoBx2680 · Apr 30, 2020

Just put in a order for 1/2 cow but won't be getting it til early June.
Get It from a friends boss. Local raised and processed it good beef.

I usually buy Bacon too in a #25 block so we'll be good for awhile.

lugbolt · Apr 30, 2020

There's plenty.

Ain't no shortage. If there is, it's a manufactured shortage.

You gotta know where to get it.

I get it across the road; as of right now, about 1300 head currently on hoof and a ton (literally) in the freezer packaged & ready for sale.

Sometimes they get out and end up grazing in my yard. Fine with me but they can be destructive if/when they want, thus I tend to keep them run off if they get loose. Usually just run them back across the road; or at least try to. There's one or two that ain't skeered of me.

D2Cat · Apr 30, 2020

lugbolt said:
There's plenty.

Ain't no shortage. If there is, it's a manufactured shortage.

You gotta know where to get it.

I get it across the road; as of right now, about 1300 head currently on hoof and a ton (literally) in the freezer packaged & ready for sale.

Sometimes they get out and end up grazing in my yard. Fine with me but they can be destructive if/when they want, thus I tend to keep them run off if they get loose. Usually just run them back across the road; or at least try to. There's one or two that ain't skeered of me.

Lugbolt, that sound easy, but there are a lot of folks who do not know where the meat in the store comes from!

sdk1968 · May 1, 2020

i posted about this in a thread with Skeets on another forum we both haunt..

didnt really know anyone who was affected by meat packing plants or that it was really a "thing"..

here in rural Ohio? we have several local places that do cows, hogs & so on.

got a half a beef a while back & half a hog. our hotdogs are even made local at our meat processor.

only meat we buy is lunchmeat or chicken. If times get tough? our local people have those too.

this just seems to be more of a city people problem than tractor owners.

& while i wish no ill will for anyone::::::: just dont give a crap about what happens in big cities. they create their own problems.

GeoHorn · May 2, 2020

Ahh, Yes... feeling the LOVE and Christianity here!

NHSleddog · May 3, 2020

GeoHorn said:
Ahh, Yes... feeling the LOVE and Christianity here!

Maybe you should go throw rocks at church this morning? It is Sunday.

D2Cat · May 3, 2020

Friend wants to purchase a freezer and get a side of beef. Store said at least 4 weeks before they will have any freezers in. Folks on FB and CL trying to find used freezers.

This lack of beef in the meat shelf will not affect the small butcher shops around here. They are booked out 6-8 weeks all the time. Might get squeezed in if you're a farmer who regularly brings in an animal.

Stmar · May 3, 2020

Lucky here, have not bought beef from the store in many years. Just got half a hog from a local ranch, neighbor grazes his horses on my property and pays us in beef so freezer has at least a years supply of protein. We know where our meat comes from which is a good feeling.

RCW · May 3, 2020

‘Cat - we’re very rural.

Heard the same about freezers here as a coworker’s son was looking for one.

Of course, given we’re so rural, it’s not like there’s 100’s kicking around for sale anyway....

You’re mention of farmers....I do have a quarter coming from a long-time beef farmer 5 miles away. Bought from his Dad before he passed away. Local, small processor too that does a great job.

Just heard this morning my wife’s coworker is ramping up meat chicken production over the next 8 weeks. We have an order in....

They’re dumping milk by the millions of pounds. We’re a dairy area. Farmers are looking at a $4.27/cwt DFA discount for April, and another $2+ for May....how the hell do you make milk for $10+\-?

The father of a neighbor dairy farmer says he can foresee production of many products becoming smaller and more local, and dairy producers expanding their operations to include beef, etc.. They’re small, but also do Maple, pumpkins, squash, etc.

More in line to what dairy guys did in the 19th and 20th Century. All good things.

That said, I heard another dairyman I know is adding 400 cows to get to 2,400.... what?!?! Just doesn’t make sense.....

Having been a farm kid many, many years ago, I have the utmost respect for those guys and gals that grow the stuff we eat.

I respect that now more than ever.....[emoji41]

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AllDodge · May 3, 2020

That said, I heard another dairyman I know is adding 400 cows to get to 2,400.... what?!?! Just doesn’t make sense.....

Many of the small ones may loose the farm, so he would be in a good position if he can hang on

RCW · May 16, 2020

I was at the local hardware store this morning.
Guy in there commonly goes to local livestock/animal auction, which apparently is still being held. He said he was there last week, I think.
Rabbits bringing $30-50 a head.
Baby chicks at $8 a head.
2 young turkeys brought $75 A HEAD!
Apparently still can’t sell a bull calf or pig/hog, but I’m not sure on that.
I was so shocked by the prices he was throwing out, I think I lost track a little...[emoji15]

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Daren Todd · May 16, 2020

Beefs supply has been great. You can't find any pork though.

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How Is Your Beef Supply

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