Heart-wrenching sight at auction

Terry W · #21 02/09/07, 03:30 PM

I don't plan on making any bids at a 4H sale-- I want to keep or dispose of an animal as I see fit-- not buy one to have it go right to a processor. In Ohio, there has been a lot of "substitution" or claims of the same over the last few years at the 4H sales, as well. Seems better to stay out of that fray!!!

pancho · #22 02/09/07, 06:09 PM

Most of the time in a 4H, FFA, or stock show sale there is base bid. This is the price that a stock buyer will give for all of the animals across the board. If you have the winning bid you have the choice of taking the animal at the price you bid or paying the difference in the market price and your bid and letting the stock buyer take the animal.

Sunraven · #23 02/10/07, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry W

His cows were both bought by the same farmer-- and will be soon producing milk for Organic Valley on a farm that is transitioning.

Hey Terry, the farm they went to, is that in Indiana? If so, I've been there and it's a very nice farm, very clean and well managed.

Terry W · #24 02/10/07, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunraven

Hey Terry, the farm they went to, is that in Indiana? If so, I've been there and it's a very nice farm, very clean and well managed.

no, it is a farm here in Ohio-- near or in Middlefield. OV/ Organic Prairie has made contact with a farmer's group I belong to here, and a bunch of the locals are considering, very strongly, going the organic certified route, and getting the better prices that OV pays for milk. OV has milk and Orange Juice sold at the food co-op that is buying all the local produce we can supply, as well. It is really nice to belong to a group that is actually handling the marketing and getting the product to the market-- makes things easier on the small guy....

Sunraven · #25 02/11/07, 07:06 PM

Oh okay, there's a dairy farm about 45 minutes north of me that is called Organic Valley, I think they're milking around 150 cows. Interesting setup they have, really simple barns/parlor, easy to maintain, very open. That's very interesting about the farmer's group you're talking about, I wonder if there's anything like that around here, or a market for my excess produce besides going up to the local sale barn and sitting around for hours which I'm not very inclined to do, there's oodles of other produce sellers competing there already. Usually just give all the extra stuff away.

Terry W · #26 02/13/07, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunraven

Oh okay, there's a dairy farm about 45 minutes north of me that is called Organic Valley, I think they're milking around 150 cows. Interesting setup they have, really simple barns/parlor, easy to maintain, very open. That's very interesting about the farmer's group you're talking about, I wonder if there's anything like that around here, or a market for my excess produce besides going up to the local sale barn and sitting around for hours which I'm not very inclined to do, there's oodles of other produce sellers competing there already. Usually just give all the extra stuff away.

that is not the same farm-- OV is a co-op located further wwest-- though they probably do have a route in your area. That Organic Prairie add that is tied to this forum is also tied to Organic Valley.

The farm group was started by a small number of farmers who wanted to be able to make some money at farming, while still keeping "family" on the farm. Most of our membership is Amish. but there are enough of us "English" to help things work out. The idea behind the group was to create a recognizeable name to associate with QUALITY, locally grown products. We have our own set of QC inspectors!!! AS a group, the laws are researched, trouble averted (we are currently working on changing the biased behaviour of an egg inspector/ certifier) and a community effort is put forth the ensure everyone has a good harvest and gets good prices for the products. When a fairly local Food Co-op heard of the group, they actually contacted us-- and now we have a ready market in a fairly decent sized city.( The market wants more than we currently have available) One of the requirements to be in the group is to spend time transporting goods to the market- part of that is picking the goods up at each farm and helping to package them. I live quite a distance away from the central group-- so I will probably be driving my own produce to the collection point-- and since I DO drive, and head in the direction anyway-- I imagine I will be taking over a lot of the driving to market responsibility-- We are also considering our own Farmer's Market-- space is available to us with no charge- but hte big issue IS the hourse needed picking. packageing, and watching the stands-- especialy if the weather is not co-operative.

I am considering the request for grass fed beef--I figure the smaller beef breeds would be most cost effective in that respect-- or I can raise some replacement hiefers-- and breed them to a beef bull, let them calve, sell them, and use the crosses as the beef source... but, like some of my neighbors-- I do not want to be milking a lot of cows.