Success StoryLocal Beef, Local Sales



Local Beef, Local Sales

Author: Shane Bogle

Planning Unit: Caldwell County CES

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Plan of Work: Local Commodities Provide Agriculture Income

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The many supply chain issues during the Covid 19 pandemic made many normally reliable food products unavailable or in limited quantities for months.  The increase in interest in more local based food products was realized at the Caldwell County Extension Office.  Small beef operations in Kentucky have always struggled with staying profitable while at the mercy of livestock auction prices only. For the past few years, several members of Caldwell/Lyon Cattlemen’s Association have worked with UK Extension and local meat processors to enter the freezer beef market.  Caldwell County Extension provided valuable contacts, and resources to help producers develop business plans for their unique operations. Four producers are now selling freezer beef or are working with processors to deliver whole beef for customer pick up at the processing facility.  While feed prices fluctuate, producers are realizing a valued added profit of double over auction only sales.