| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jun 05 2006 : 1:48:41 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/magazine/04wwln_lede.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=login
Michael Pollan's June 4 article. It's an eye opener, especially if you aren't up to date on sustainable concepts related to our food supply.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jun 15 2006 : 5:55:22 PM
It is called 'Wal-Mart: The high cost of low price.'
It's brilliant IMHO.
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose |
| shellybien0319 |
Posted - Jun 15 2006 : 4:24:52 PM
Tasha-Rose, what's the name of that Wal-mart movie, I'd like to check it out. It would be really intersting to get into a debate with my DH (as we so often do) about the Giants like Wal-Mart. I am more eco-friendly and country than he. I grew up in a small country town in upstate NY, and he in the middle of San Diego, CA. When we moved to Kansas for his new military station, he went about 2 months before me to get us a house, and he called me his first weekend, in astonishment, saying that "The mall here is only one floor, and takes only 20 minutes to walk the span of". I had to laugh so hard at him and told him he was lucky we didn't have to drive almost an hour to the nearest shopping center, like we did when I was growing up. He was so shocked, and I thought it was hilarious!
Love,
Michelle |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 12 2006 : 1:24:14 PM
Robin,
A hot sunny day for us under high pressure, thus Alberto's trip into Florida. We could certainly use a storm, mind you not a Katrina or Rita type. The kind Alberto is would make it far enough inland to give the drought areas of TX a good drink. I do feel for your situation on rain. When I saw Alberto in the Gulf and projected path once in the Altantic I thought of you and the rest of New England. Our summer is setting up like the previous two, high pressure June and July. Then I'm assuming that will break in August.
Robin, I would love to write for you. The Santa Gertrudis Cattle will have to wait awhile. It's been 20 years since I managed a horse farm that had Santa Gertrudis, too. Since I've been involved in commerical cattle. The purebred operation has changed so much in that 20 years just due to technology. I have much to catch up on. I look forward in the next year attending Texas A&M's beef cattle short course to see were the beef cattle are moving. I also plan to become a certified AI tech and will attend a course for that. If you wish I can provide articles on rabbits or horses, but especially Arabians as they are my passion.  You would definitly have to edit gammer and spelling as I'm horrible at both.
Tasha-Rose,
quote:
Also IMHO, when food doesn't come from within a certain mile radius, I don't think it's organic. To me, by definition it isn't. It isn't local or fresh when it has to travel across the country. Eh. what do I know though, I am just a small time farmer, I must be an idiot, right? (not to you all, I am sure.....)
My experience with the 'dumb farmer' has been very personal in my life. When we moved from East Texas back to the coast and I was looking for a job I would get that attitude when I would call on a position. It was so disheartening to have a bachelor and masters degrees that could easily be used in a general business position. As soon as they found out it was Agriculture Economics their tone of voice would change like they were talking to a country hick and dumb farmer. Since the 60's the inefficent farmer/rancher has left the farm/ranch life. Those family farms that are sucessful is because they are businessmen and business women first. This is true whether commerical or organic. My hats off to those who provide any portion of the family income from a farming life, because we are true businesses just like any other. Tasha-Rose hold your head high and know you are neither an idiot or dumb. It is the selfish urbanite that really doesn't understand where their standard of living starts. Now who is the idiot!
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jun 12 2006 : 11:10:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by santa_gertrudis_gal
I have to run to my mother's in about 25 minutes so, I may not get all my thoughts down today.
The day after you were at your mother's I was at my daughter's.
quote:
When we make the permanent move to the ranch, the little things I love like Starbucks coffees, certain spice brands that wouldn't move in these stores, I'll make a monthly trip to Waco for groceries. On top of that I'll have my organic garden.
I shop once a month or so. If I run out of something we need I have my husband pick it up on his way home. It's amazing how much time you can save by shopping monthly.
quote:
Do you offer tours, or educational farm day, such as Cyndi does with her farm (Muller's Lane Farm)? Do you have the 4-H and FFA clubs out to the farm to teach about organic farming and heritage livestock.
We used to do a lot of tours for schools but I seldom do them now. They take away a half day of work time which is hard to make up for. I'm doing something different now. I'd love to see (insert me sounding like a broken record here) a small diversified farm in every small community. Larger communities - larger diversified farms. I think it's extremely important to share our information and knowledge with others (which is why I seem to never shut up some days). Instead of losing a half day of work per school I've opened the farm up to pre-scheduled visits by interested people. If someone would like to come here to see what we're doing they're welcome to call ahead and make plans with us. They're welcome to follow me around and pick my brain while I'm working. I don't stop working until I need a break. If they'd like to do some hands-on learning I'm probably willing to let them give it a try. I don't have people climbing the cherry and apple trees and don't put them in a situation they could easily be hurt in, for example.
quote:
It's all about advertising.
You have great advertising ideas! When advertising, keep in mind the amount of product you have available and keep a limit on advertising. Not having what the customer wants is terrible for business. Don't bring in more customers than you can satisfy.
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You have heritage livestock on your farm. Do you promote this through the various organizations for each species? Are you a seedstock breeder for the preservation of these species?
We're in the slow process of eliminating livestock. What's left is old and won't be relaced when they die. I'm happiest when I'm working the soil. The exception to this is the Bourbon Red Turkeys. I don't have plans to stop breeding those.
quote:
I'm sure when you think outside the box, you will come up with ideas to expand. The greatest limiting factor in Agriculture is labor. The question is at what point does labor affect the "Law of Diminishing Returns."
We have no plans to expand but we are still in the process of making changes. We've cut back on the amount of land we grow vegetables on without decreasing our farm's income. We're able to serve our community's needs by working smarter instead of working more land. We start in the spring with seedlings and work into mid December when we close down for a break after Christmas wreaths. Soap is always available but we wholesale that to a small store nearby so that customers don't have to make a trip here just for that.
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I'm not sure where you are in Maine but I get the impression, not very near an urban area. Therefore, I think the way you are marketing your commodities is a intelligent way to do so. I do think closer to an urban area you would be able to demand a small increase in price by marketing to those who have a greater disposable income.
I'm in the middle of no where, in a town of 67 year round residents. The surrounding towns and reservation are less than 1000 people. I'm 90 miles from a city. Our land and tax expenses are small. If we lived in a more urban area my prices would have to be higher because land would be much more expensive. We paid $47,500 for 45 acres and the house nine years ago.
On pricing - I'd still be marketing the same way I am now - to everyone. I live in the poorest county in Maine. There are some extremely sad situations here. Everyone is entitled to and needs fresh, healthy food. Making a sustainable, honest living is important to me. Making a little more money from those who can afford money doesn't matter. We've been very fortunate to be able to work with 15 low income seniors and many low income families with young children to be sure they're eating as well as everyone else. The programs we work through are sponsored by the USDA. We also have a few divorced moms who don't qualify for assistance who come out to help harvest. They'll pick what they need for the week plus two times what they take in payment. It works out well for all of us. It's about good food for good people - not how much money anyone makes - as long as I'm making a sustainable income from what I do.
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I hope everyone is beginning to see both where the commerical farmer and the Organic Farmer is. Michele, as Mr. Pollan's article stated more 5000 head organic dairy operations have opened. Those cows don't see grass, not enough hours in a day to milk 5000 cows if they are on grass. In an operation that size whether organic or not those cows are milked three times a day to get optimum milk production.
The true intent of "organic" has been lost. I'd rather buy non-organic milk, without growth hormone, from a company that pastures their animals and takes good care of them than "organic" milk from a dairy that treats their animals this way.
quote:
As I've read through Farm and Garden I am truly impressed. It is a wealth of knowledge presented in a very understandable format. The first place I went is to 'Heavy Horses.' For one who is so knowledgable on horses, I was very pleased to be humbled. I learned of several draft breeds that before I didn't know existed. Draft horses are few and far between in Texas as they don't do well in our heat. I always love learning new things, and look forward to your articles and exploring more of Farm and Garden.
Thank you very much! Your words are greatly appreciated. We've been in magazine format for only 15 months. We're still new and still growing. There's a new article in Heavy Horses today. New articles are published on Mondays with an occasional article here and there, or a blog entry if I have something to write about. We work together as a team. I'm not a heavy-handed editor. I think we all have something we know well enough to share and that we're all well-spoken enough to share it in our own words. It doesn't have to be about farming and gardening to be related to Farm & Garden. I'm always looking for sustainable living topics. Kim, if you ever get the urge to write about Santa Gertrudis cattle I'd love to see it. We're not written by a lot of professional writers. We like to work together with farmers who will share their knowledge while we promote their website/business. We're written by and for people just like us. We work with sustainable lifestyles and agriculture in mind. That invitation is open to everyone. Learning is a life-long process.
quote:
Also IMHO, when food doesn't come from within a certain mile radius, I don't think it's organic. To me, by definition it isn't. It isn't local or fresh when it has to travel across the country. Eh. what do I know though, I am just a small time farmer, I must be an idiot, right? (not to you all, I am sure.....)
Idiot? I'm thinking not! There's a lot more to feeding people than many people realize. It takes a lot of brain power to be successful.
I just checked the 10 day forecast. It was supposed to be sunny all week but that just changed. We have three more days of rain coming so we're going back out to see what we can get in the ground before it starts. This year has been difficult. If it weren't for the hoop house we wouldn't be eating anything fresh yet.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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| GaiasRose |
Posted - Jun 11 2006 : 8:04:51 PM
Hasanyone seen the Wal-Mart movie? There is a segment regarding farms they get food from in England for their ASDA stores....the farmer said something to the effect of "I ma as well plow under this crop of (vegetable) for what they are paying me. I lose either way." They pay their suppliers about 1/3 of what they should just so they can runa deal, but the suppliers go with it, because who the heck else are they going to sell to with Wal-Mart (Sprawl Mart) monopolizing everything....
I only set foot in a Wal-mart when I cant find a suitable gas station to pee at while out.....it's about all they are good for IMHO.
Also IMHO, when food doesn't come from within a certain mile radius, I don't think it's organic. To me, by definition it isn't. It isn't local or fresh when it has to travel across the country. Eh. what do I know though, I am just a small time farmer, I must be an idiot, right? (not to you all, I am sure.....)
~*~Brightest Blessings~*~
Tasha-Rose |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 11 2006 : 1:35:40 PM
Some thoughts on farm commidity pricing.
My quote:
quote:
Finding a way to market your products that brings a cheaper price then the grocery store and promoting the benefits of your product is what will bring in the higher income for the farm household.
Robin's reply:
quote:
My mistake! I wasn't nearly clear enough. I don't shop in grocery stores often so I don't pay attention to store prices. I should have added "at local markets." I'm a huge advocate of buying and eating locally.
Robin, and my apologies for not taking your cost vs. pricing into consideration. There is a math model to use when deciding what agriculture enterprises on a farm/ranch to maximize profit. The model is called 'Linear Programing.' I neither have the higher math nor the programing for my computer to share with anyone. When I was in school the computer we know today didn't exsist. LOL, I can even remember standing outside a dorm (outside hallways) room staring at a computer. It was a Comadore. At any rate we were presented Linear Programing as a theory with no way to actually put it to theoritical use. I'm sure agriculture programs now exist that allows you to imput data and then calculates for you the most profitable enterprises or crops for someone. I'm not sure where you are in Maine but I get the impression, not very near an urban area. Therefore, I think the way you are marketing your commodities is a intelligent way to do so. I do think closer to an urban area you would be able to demand a small increase in price by marketing to those who have a greater disposable income. There is just something in the minds of most people that a farm is an amazing place. Which of course we all know it is.
As I've read through Farm and Garden I am truly impressed. It is a wealth of knowledge presented in a very understandable format. The first place I went is to 'Heavy Horses.' For one who is so knowledgable on horses, I was very pleased to be humbled. I learned of several draft breeds that before I didn't know existed. Draft horses are few and far between in Texas as they don't do well in our heat. I always love learning new things, and look forward to your articles and exploring more of Farm and Garden.
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| jallibunn |
Posted - Jun 10 2006 : 2:21:52 PM
Pollan's article is interesting, and I'm so glad it was posted here. I'm looking forward to reading his new book, _The Omnivore's Dilemma_.
There are a lot of issues here; as many point out above, a big one is scale. But for me the biggest one is my family's ecological footprint and the spreading ripples of our way of living.
Whether food is organic or not is pretty important, but it's not everything. How far food is traveling, and the lives and pay scale of the people who are being paid to grow and harvest it, is ultimately more important than me. If I can just go to Wal-Mart (never set foot in one, but theoretically....) and buy cheap organic food, then it's just about ME and MY FOOD (and, at present, whether I can try to buy my way out of our poisoned world), not about how I live in the community and the world.
The orchard where we get our fresh and sauce apples every year isn't organic, but we've bought apples there for several years. We know the growers and know that they use Roundup on the weeds, but don't spray the apples themselves. We buy the wormy ones for applesauce, fill the Honda Civic with them, and are set for another year.
I'd rather do this than motor on into a Wal-Mark for cheap organic any day.
Knittingmomma also refers to the price of cheap food. I used to do agricultural work as a teenager in eastern Washington: I picked cherries, strawberries, and de-tasseled corn. I think everyone should do some ag work at some point in their lives to understand what the working conditions are like. It makes me more than glad to deal with small family farms! |
| knittingmomma |
Posted - Jun 10 2006 : 04:50:58 AM
Robin,
Thank you so very much for posting this article link.
Very timely as I just attended a showing of the anti-Walmart movie the other night as much discussion is going on in the northeast kingdom of Vermont about opening a Walmart in Derby. People just don't understand the price of "cheap" food.
We all need to keep doing our little part. We live on a very meager budget yet buy as local and organic as possible. You can do it if you are willing to see the big picture and the future for our children.
Warm wishes,
Tonya - Simple Living Mom of 5
Natural Earth Farm - A Village Homestead making handcrafted goods of natural fibers - http://www.naturalearthfarm.com |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 08 2006 : 08:07:00 AM
I had a wonderful day yesterday with my mother. Today she is off to her 50th reunion at Cornell University. She is so excited about meeting up with her Pi Beta Phi Sisters and spending the weekend with them. Seeing the happiness was so special to me since we lost Dad last November.
Let's see, The Law of Diminishing returns. I was going to link this to a proposed marketing plan then go on to link it to other inputs in a farming/ranching operation.
Robin' quotes:
quote:
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I know what it costs me to grow the foods I do. I have to price taking expenses, growth and profit into consideration. If my prices are lower than the grocery that's great, but if not, that's ok too.
If I increased the amount of space I grow in I'd need a tractor.
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Michele's quote:
quote:
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why can't the growers come down just a BIT in prices so more people can & will buy it?
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Please keep in mind the Law of Diminishing Returns applies to all businesses within any given part of the economy. This principle says that as you add inputs into a business no matter what the input is initially there is a steep increase in productivity and profit. At a point though the increase in the inputs will cause a decrease in productivity and profit. The ideal when applying this principle is to define that point where the ideal inputs match the maximum productivity and profit. I'll try to describe what this looks like on paper. Really this is not about math, but I'd like you to think in mathematical terms. Picture a piece of graph paper with an x and y axis. The x axis is the inputs, the y axis is the productivity and profit. As the inputs are added picture a very steep curve, as it nears the top it becomes a very gradual curve, then begins to drop off and ends at the point where it will become a steep downward curve. You can also picture a bell curve used by instructors to adjust grades, just cut off the right side at the point it starts to become steep going back down.
I'd like to use Robin's example of the purchase of a tractor as an input into her operation. Here is what she could be up against as she has alreay mentioned the cost of the tractor and cost of the note. Let's assume she is buying a small garden tractor that is brand new. And believe me she won't be running 'Like a Deere' at that price. She would have a Japanese tractor. Ok, now she's supporting the global economy with the foreign made tractor. Having the input of a tractor would also take maintenance for the tractor. Fuel and lube costs, tires, time taken to repair a tire, etc. Then there would have to be an increase in land use to increase the productivity to the point the increase output of fruits and vegetables will pay for the tractor and keep her standard of living the same or increase it. Does she have that land available to her? Robin would also see an increase in other inputs as she now is using more land. Seed, fertilizer, chemicals (if she were a commerical farmer which she isn't), and the need to purchase farm implements for the tractor. Implements equals more maintanence costs. Now enters the primary limiting factor, labor. Can Robin do all this additional work in a 10 hour work day or will she have to hire someone. She can't get mother nature to add more days to the growing season. More end product produced has to be marketed somewhere, so there are more inputs into finding those markets and that costs dollars, too. Whoops, now Robin is looking down the road of having to add the NAIS program to her animal production. That is now a input. At somepoint in this equation her productivity and profit will begin to fall. Where is that optium point on the curve for her, I'm not there to help her find it, so only she can find it.
I hope everyone is beginning to see both where the commerical farmer and the Organic Farmer is. Michele, as Mr. Pollan's article stated more 5000 head organic dairy operations have opened. Those cows don't see grass, not enough hours in a day to milk 5000 cows if they are on grass. In an operation that size whether organic or not those cows are milked three times a day to get optimum milk production. They are 24 hour a day operations. Limiting factor is labor to expanding. This also ties into where I mentioned agriculture products are a homozygous product. As a homozygous product the limiting factor next is marketablity. How does one make your product more special then another. I'm going to use beef as an example for this. Beef took a huge hit, when the USDA said it was better for you to eat chicken and turkey. Pork producers started breeding for a leaner meat and the National Pork Council came out with: "Pork, The Other White Meat!" The National Beef Council needed something, so to appeal to our emotional taste buds and Americans love of Beef their slogan became: "Beef, It's What's For Dinner!" Enter the Angus folks. It is well known that Angus has more tenderness and marbling qualities as well as superior cutablity on the carcuss. More lbs of meat produced on the frame. The Angus started to market to the consumer two types of Angus, Certified Angus and Certified Black Angus. The marketing of this has been so successful that what color do you think the Angus is? Well you have just said "Black." Wrong, there are Black Angus and Red Angus. But so many of us think Angus are black, black cattle at market bring 3 to 4 cents more per pound then any other color of cattle. To bring a clear picture of that Certified Angus vs. Certified Black Angus really is about. Certified Angus means certified black cow. Certified Black Angus means just that it is a Black Angus and suppose to be purebred. So what is Certified Angus, it is a black cow (feeder steer or feeder heifer) that contains some Angus blood and is black. So that steer of heifer can have Red Angus, Santa Gertrudis, Charlois, Beef Master, Brangus, Simmental, Hereford, Brahman, etc. in it's background. Understand it's about being Black and some Angus to be Certified Angus. How much Angus, I've heard it has to be at least 1/8th Angus. Talk about sucessful marketing. Purebred Black Angus represent only 10% of the total cattle in the US. It is the fastest growing purebred breed, too. Last year they registared 165,000 purebred cattle in their registry. Not another purebred breed came close to that. Our registry for Santa Gertrudis managed 10,000 registrations. How are the other purebred breeds going to keep up, we are using Bovigen's GenStar program to select genetically for tenderness and marbling factors. We also add gain tests and ultra sound tests to select for the same qualities to bring our cattle up to the same wonderful meat the Angus produces. Again, a successful marketing plan for the Black Angus breeders by their association.
Ok, I'm off to work, truckers need there pay checks, Sales Analysis is in to be reviewed, and our GSP Gypsy is about to drop her pups. Busy day.
Robin, there is one more thing in your post I want to comment on so hope I have time tomorrow.
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Jun 08 2006 : 06:05:43 AM
Hey Robin, YES, I get it. I was thinking as a consumer. it makes alot of sense though. I don't know how you do it but Im glad people like you are out there. Thanks.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jun 07 2006 : 09:40:45 AM
quote:
I am confused about something though, If we all know that naturally grown & organiclly grown food cost more AND it will UNTIL more people buy it, why can't the growers come down just a BIT in prices so more people can & will buy it? Won't it be better in the long run for them?
So far, I haven't met an organic farmer who has more food than she can sell. Not many of the farmers I know are meeting demand.
I think I can make some of it easier to understand. Part of sustainable agriculture involves a wage that supports the farmer. I need to be able to pay the electric, propane, insurance, mortgage and other bills, buy clothing, pay taxes, etc. None of those providers will drop their prices for me even if customers pay me less money for my food. If I can't pay my bills and otherwise support myself right now I can't stay in farming. I'd have to find a new job.
quote:
I know everyone say's if more people buy organic the price will go down BUT if it's too expensive in the first place they CAN'T buy it.
I've heard that a lot too. My prices don't go down as I grow more because my costs don't go down. If I increased the amount of space I grow in I'd need a tractor. I don't have one now. A tractor would mean a loan to buy it, the added interest on the loan, insurance for the tractor, gas to run it and maintenance expenses. For my acre garden I have my tilling done and will have my hoops pulled once a year for less than one month's tractor payment would be. Right now I net more than I would if I had to buy a tractor. I'd have to earn an additional $5,100 a year to pay the tractor's expenses. Then I'd have to earn enough to pay for the labor to work the additional space and the rest of the costs.
I could save a few dollars on seeds but my seeds are one of my smallest expenses. My total seed bill for 2006 is under $200 (God bless Fedco for their excellent prices). When I finish buying permanent (but moveable) greenhouses I should be able to pocket a few more dollars. Those structures will have maintenance costs but the actual ribs and most of the hardware shouldn't need to be replaced for decades. I'm several years from being at that point. If I were to go down on my prices now and lower my gross income it would take me even longer to get there. As it is now, I've taken two vacations in 15 years. My goal is to put away enough money to go to Italy with my daughter, a best friend and her daughter in five years. I don't see being able to afford a vacation between now and then.
Does that help?
My sandwich is gone so that must mean it's time to get back outside!
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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| therusticcottage |
Posted - Jun 07 2006 : 09:04:37 AM
This was a very enlightening article and one that I passed on to everyone on my email list. I will not shop at Wal-Mart anymore. I have said that in the past and have dropped in there occasionally to pick up one item. This article just clinched it for me. And I will be very careful about buying organic from any supermarket as most all on "jumping on the bandwagon". I will buy locally to support my local farmers and raise what I can.
Visit my blog at http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/
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| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 07 2006 : 07:56:25 AM
Wow, that was a great post Robin! Love it!
Hope I can do as great a job.
I have to run to my mother's in about 25 minutes so, I may not get all my thoughts down today.
quote:
I'm a huge advocate of buying and eating locally.
I whole heartly agree with you! Unfortunately, 4 days of the week I live in Angleton, TX, a cottage community for Houston. Our county, Brazoria, is due south of Harris County, the county Houston is in. As such we have major grocery chain stores and the MOM N POP grocery stores just are not here. I love the other three days at the ranch. I love to pick up items in Steve's Meat Market or run over to Mart to shop the local grocery there. I loved going with my grandmother to the little groceries in Wilmington, NC and Wrightsville Beach, NC to shop. I suppose it is why I don't mind paying a little more. When we make the permanent move to the ranch, the little things I love like Starbucks coffees, certain spice brands that wouldn't move in these stores, I'll make a monthly trip to Waco for groceries. On top of that I'll have my organic garden.
quote:
What do you propose we do with the net?
I just love this paragraph. It sent me searching the web and finding some wonderful things to explore down the road and marketing ideas for our ranch. Your in the right direction of promoting your websites, both at the farm and ranch. Do you offer tours, or educational farm day, such as Cyndi does with her farm (Muller's Lane Farm)? Do you have the 4-H and FFA clubs out to the farm to teach about organic farming and heritage livestock. Remember these kids are the future in Agriculture. Have you contacted these groups from the urban centers in Maine. A t-shirt or cap with your farm on it, offer it for sale on with your soap. Maybe offer one free for repeat customers. Make sure it has the website on it. I'm seeing alot of cars and trucks running around Houston now that are billboards with a home based business with websites listed. A graphics store can make one for you. Maybe also build your own retail site on line for the soaps. Any successful marketing strategy has to start with thinking outside the box. The key to that strategy is name recognition. I love the television ads for eBay with the "IT" theme. Pick the theme that is simple and don't move to another theme. Make sure it is short and simple, easy to remember. Two other perfect examples of name recognition is Kleenex. Maybe your favorite is Puffs, but when you ask someone at the house to pass the box of "Kleenex". Or maybe you might say I want a "Coke". If I do that with my husband, he'll pick up a Dr. Pepper for me on the way home. It's all about advertising.
As our ranch is in it's infancy, the marketing plan is being developed. We have decided to market our cattle to the club calf market as the first priority. Yet to then market those calves that aren't show quality we also need production results. So if it isn't cost prohibitive, which I have not investigated yet we will be the home of a minimum Gen-Star Five Star Santa Gertrudis. All Cattle being DNA tested for tenderness and marbling. Again, we have not investigated the cost and it may be something that cost is a factor. Today, I've decided on T-Shirts and Caps to be given to each junior who buys a calf from us. At least in Texas you never see a young man who shows cattle without that cap on, except when he is in the ring. If his/her parent is spending 1400-2000 for that show calf, these items are a minor expense. In ten years I want to hear the words coming from people, I want a Flying J&L calf. Once we are at the point of having cattle to sell, next fall, we will have that bumper sticker in the back windows of our vehicles. Have the ranch name, phone number and website.
You have heritage livestock on your farm. Do you promote this through the various organizations for each species? Are you a seedstock breeder for the preservation of these species? Like it or not, down the road, we will take our 'genetic engineering' too far with our farm species. I'm not talking about the actual manipulation of their genetic makeup, but the selection of specific traits when producing the fast growth, lots of meat. Case in point is our chicken industry either egg or meat. The chickens in commerical operations are what are called inbred hybrids. At some point we will go beyond the ability to come up with new varieties. The genetics to add diversity back into the equation will have to come from our heritage breeds. We need to preserve these breeds. Becoming proactive in their preservation and staying within the bounds of cost and profit margin is very important to their preservation.
I'm sure when you think outside the box, you will come up with ideas to expand. The greatest limiting factor in Agriculture is labor. The question is at what point does labor affect the "Law of Diminishing Returns."
Since I really need to run at this point, I'll explain the Law of Diminishing Returns in my next post.
Enjoy this day the our Lord has given you! 
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Jun 07 2006 : 06:00:10 AM
Robin, once again you get so much IMPORTANT info to us and I am so appreciative for it. Kim, you bring a level of EDUCATION on this topic and I have to read it a few times to take it all in. As w/ Robin, I am very appreciative for that also. I also dispise Walmart and I don't trust a thing they say. I am confused about something though, If we all know that naturally grown & organiclly grown food cost more AND it will UNTIL more people buy it, why can't the growers come down just a BIT in prices so more people can & will buy it? Won't it be better in the long run for them? They will have more people buying & trying it, seeing how great it is & then they would have more money from more people buying it, wouldn't they?? I understand they need to cover cost but so many people who want organic can't afford it and that is why they go to places like Walmart. I know everyone say's if more people buy organic the price will go down BUT if it's too expensive in the first place they CAN'T buy it. It like a terrible cycle that will never end. I also agree 100% about americans and their lawns. If everyone would take one $1.00 a week from their lawn pesticides and put it aside, we could feed an entire nation! Thanks for all the info, please continue.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jun 07 2006 : 04:29:29 AM
quote:
If a ear of corn is grown in Iowa and a ear of corn is grown in Texas when harvested and off the ear, mixed together, you could not tell the difference in the Iowa corn and the Texas corn.
My mistake! I wasn't nearly clear enough. I don't shop in grocery stores often so I don't pay attention to store prices. I should have added "at local markets." I'm a huge advocate of buying and eating locally.
quote:
This is why those of you with organic produce and meat need the internet.
What do you propose we do with the net? I market everything we grow organically here in our community but I do have a website for my farm. I have a site on Local Harvest for a non-food product. Do you have other ideas? I also work online in the ag field so I'm always interested in this.
quote:
Finding a way to market your products that brings a cheaper price then the grocery store and promoting the benefits of your product is what will bring in the higher income for the farm household.
From a farmer's point of view - I don't go for cheaper than the store. I know what it costs me to grow the foods I do. I have to price taking expenses, growth and profit into consideration. If my prices are lower than the grocery that's great, but if not, that's ok too.
quote:
Again, IMHO it is to the upper middle class and upper class with the disposable income to spend.
There are programs available to low-income families with young children and senior citizens. We are Senior FarmShare farmers. We grow for 15 low-income seniors in our community. We're paid by the USDA. Not all SFS farmers are organic growers but we're all local to our SFS members. WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program is available to WIC participants. They're given vouchers (in my area, it varies) to spend like a normal check. I deposit the check in my business account just like a regular check.
quote:
Ok, off of the educational soap box!
This is important. If you're willing to stand on the box there are a lot of us who will keep reading. I'm finding it interesting, and saddening, to hear more about the difficulties commodities farmers face. Honestly - I don't have what it takes to do what they do. If I woke up in the morning knowing I'd make just a few hundred dollars an acre a year like many do, I'd roll over and go back to sleep. I have a friend who farms in Ohio. They grow soybeans, a little corn and wheat. Her chemical bill is staggering. If they didn't have a subsidy check from the gov't every year - every single year - they wouldn't make any profit. They farm 1,200 acres with her husband's two brothers and parents. I just looked up the subsidies my friend has gotten for the last 10 years. $297,833.96 The entire family together, on that same 1,200 acres, has received $1,750,172 in 10 years. We're paying for the food they grow at the grocery store and again in our taxes. Those artificially low prices we're looking at on store shelves aren't telling the whole story.
Time to take kids to school. It's the last day! YEAH! When I get back I'll do livestock and poultry chores. When those are done I'll be rolling IRT out and planting bell, sweet and hot peppers - in a heavy mist. I'm hoping to get that done before the rain really starts. When it does, I'll move into the hoop, roll out IRT and plant eggplant. I'm sooooo tired of rain.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 12:03:05 PM
Robin,
Here goes the 'ol ag eco again.
quote:
Watch for rising prices in industrial-grown food because of the petrochemical costs.
If a ear of corn is grown in Iowa and a ear of corn is grown in Texas when harvested and off the ear, mixed together, you could not tell the difference in the Iowa corn and the Texas corn. Thus, the concept of agriculture being a homozygous product. Having a homozygous product is the driving force behind agriculture commodity pricing. The supply for agriculture commodities out weighs the demand on a yearly basis and has since WWII in this country. As a result we have low costs to the consumer for those commodities. As we have become more mobile since WWII it is easier to get these goods to market. This again has helped keep prices low among many other factors. Enter the Futures Market. The Futures Markets (Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Kansas Board of Trade, etc,) is the barometer of pricing to the farmer minus transportation to the Futures Market when the farmer/rancher is hedging his commodity. For any farmer/rancher the Futures Market is a place to guarantee a price for the commodity raised whether it is corn, beans, cattle, pork, oj, etc. To all others the futures market is essentially a legal place to gamble. Swings in agriculture commodities on the futures market is dependent on the weather. It could be raining in Chicago, not in Iowa and the price of beans will go down. It can freeze in Florida and the price of oj will jump up. This is based on emotion before the USDA or State Agriculture Agencies can get their reports out on how the weather has affected crops. Price received for any commodity can also be affected regionally by weather.
Case in point, cattle prices are down in Texas and hay has sky rocketed due to the drought in south Texas. Yet cattle prices aren't affected in the south or midwest. We as a family are pleased prices are down the year we have decided to enter the cattle market. We are paying half price for our Santa Gertrudis. We paid $2850 for three exposed heifers this past weekend which is commerical cattle pricing vs. their real worth at $5500 to $5700 on a normal year.
The supply of any commodity has continued to increase for a number of reasons: reasearch into new varieties, ag chemicals and improved fertilizers, better equipment. The costs to purchase any imput into a commodity has increased, yet the prices received by the farmer/rancher for that commodity has remained almost constant. In fact farm commodity prices have fallen when adjusted for inflation. Now enter the middle man and end supplier. This is were the profit is in Agriculture commodities.
Example: milk
Milk in our local Kroger grocery store was $1.99 a gallon 6 years ago. Today it is $3.79 a gallon. The farmer is receiving almost no increase on $1.80 increase to the consumer. As fuel prices have gone up in the last two years, consumers have gotten used to paying the higher prices due to transportation costs, yet when fuel drops you will notice the price of that gallon of milk didn't.
Example: Cattle prices have gone up 20 cents in the last 10 years and in the store for that steak it has gone up 3-4 dollars a pound. Unfortunately, the price increases aren't going to the producer.
This is why those of you with organic produce and meat need the internet. Finding a way to market your products that brings a cheaper price then the grocery store and promoting the benefits of your product is what will bring in the higher income for the farm household. Again, IMHO it is to the upper middle class and upper class with the disposable income to spend.
I think the one watermelon farming family I know of that has done just that since the 60's is DiIorio Farms and Roadside Market in Hempstead, TX. Their market has gotten so big, they take in produce from other farmers. Anyone traveling to Austin or Waco from or to Houston knows of DiIorio's and stops for their produce. What a treat as in May they have the very best tomatoes. Watermelons and Cantalopes in May and June. July it is the Field Peas (Black Eyes, Lady Cream, and Red Rippers). They do not specialize in Organics though. It's all about figuring out your individual nitch and doing the marketing plan.
Visit my favorite farmer's market at:
http://www.diioriofarms.com/index.php
Ok, off of the educational soap box!
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 10:58:20 AM
Debbie,
Glad you went to Dr. Hotze's site. He combines traditional medicine with holistic medicine to treat. As you read through the site you will gain a wealth of knowledge on your endocrine system and nutrition. I strongly urge everyone to purchase his book.
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| blueroses |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 09:55:09 AM
Kim,
I'm very impressed with your Dr's site and all the services they offer. Thank you.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 09:41:05 AM
quote:
As for Mr. Pollan's statement, '...(industrial agriculture is now our biggest polluter)...' is a flat out untruth. Chemicals and fertilizers are so expensive to apply and going up faster then the price of fuel, the farmer/rancher will only use what is absolutely needed and no more.
Watchfor rising prices in industrial-grown food because of the petrochemical costs. I hope the non-organic farmers' expenses drastically drive down the amount of petrochemicals used. I keep hoping more farmers look toward healthier alternatives. Just leaving 6" of cornstalk in the field now is a step in the right direction. That's a relatively new practice. There's a lot less tilling going on these days too. It's a small step but every step helps.
quote:
Our biggest polluter of Agriculture Chemicals is the homeowner. The homeowner has a tendancy to think, a little more is better. Check with any environmental testing lab. The chemist will tell you the biggest polluter is the urban homeowner and not the farmer/rancher. I know I worked for four years in a environmental lab.
I wish more people knew this. Think of the amount of weed killer, fertilizer, insecticides and everything else sprayed on just lawns for the sake of pretty grass. And think of the kids playing on all of that. And the run off into our storm drains. It's horrible.
quote:
As more individuals become educated on moving away from package foods containing preservatives and processed meats, the availablity of new markets for the organics increases for the small farmer. Marketing rabbit or broilers live to a consumer who hunts and can process the meat for themselves is just one such market. By marketing live animals you don't need to have a USDA license. Same holds true for fresh organic fruits and vegatables.
I would love to see a small farm in every community. There's a demand for it. I think we're probably lacking the people who want to farm and the land to do it with.
Regulations vary from state to state. Some states allow you to process up to certain numbers of poultry for sale to the public without licensing. I can do it here in Maine. I'm not sure what our regs for livestock are. We don't process anything larger than a turkey here.
quote:
For really great reading on natural replacement hormones, preservatives, and food coloring I invite you to visit my doctors website at:
Thanks for the link. I'll be looking. I'm getting to be of that age where replacement hormones are going to be needed. It has to be natural before I'll take it. The thought of Premarin and mare urine and what happens to the mares and foals is more than disgusting than I want to think about.
This was good timing. I just came in from spreading agricultural lime on a portion of the garden that needs some amending. I was thinking about this as I was spreading the lime and turning it into the soil. I can provide all the vegetables 50 people need for one year on my small farm. I'm glad the Wal-Marts closest to me (30 miles in one direction, 50 in the other) don't have much for food departments. The ridiculously low prices Wal-Mart will set grossly undervalues the hours of work small organic growers spend sweating, getting dirty, swatting mosquitos and nurturing healthy soil that grows healthy food.
Robin
www.thymeforewe.com
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| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 09:15:41 AM
Very interesting reading and of course here comes my ag eco education coming out in me. First I can't stand Wal-Mart and do everything I can not to walk into their stores. They have been the death of many family businesses in rural America. I'll get off that soap box.
As for Mr. Pollan's statement, '...(industrial agriculture is now our biggest polluter)...' is a flat out untruth. Chemicals and fertilizers are so expensive to apply and going up faster then the price of fuel, the farmer/rancher will only use what is absolutely needed and no more. Our biggest polluter of Agriculture Chemicals is the homeowner. The homeowner has a tendancy to think, a little more is better. Check with any environmental testing lab. The chemist will tell you the biggest polluter is the urban homeowner and not the farmer/rancher. I know I worked for four years in a environmental lab.
We as a country have such a demand for specialty foods (coffee, fresh fruits and vegatables, etc.) that we have caused many problems in the third world when it comes to sustainable agriculture. I see Wal-mart, Kraft, and other Industrial Food Companys causing major problems in this area. The demand for exports from foreign countries will hurt those third world countries.
I also see this move by Wal-Mart as a way for small family farms in this country to open greater markets to the upper middle class and upper class. There has been a general exodus from Wal-mart and big chain stores to specialty stores that offer better quality products from local merchants. By finding a market within your community for the products you produce the potential for increase income does exsist especially with the help of the internet. A case in point is Oxbow Hay. I've been a customer of Oxbow since 1997. I used to have to call the farm house to place my orders. They have market so well their products are in veterinary offices. Oxbow refuses to sell to Petco or Petsmart as they desire to maintain their price structure. My hats off to Oxbow for developing a much needed market and the great marketing plan they have. Are you the next Oxbow Hay?
http://www.oxbowhay.com
By the way I highly recommend Oxbow Hay. We use their Timothy for the show rabbits when on the road, Cavy (guniea pig) Performance Ration, and Papaya Tablets for both rabbits and our cavy. They also have other small animal rations. I tell all new pet rabbit owners who get a bunny from us to use Oxbow feeds as they are the best on the market. They will keep them healthier with a longer life then any other feed.
As more individuals become educated on moving away from package foods containing preservatives and processed meats, the availablity of new markets for the organics increases for the small farmer. Marketing rabbit or broilers live to a consumer who hunts and can process the meat for themselves is just one such market. By marketing live animals you don't need to have a USDA license. Same holds true for fresh organic fruits and vegatables.
For really great reading on natural replacement hormones, preservatives, and food coloring I invite you to visit my doctors website at:
http://www.hotzehwc.com
This site will give you insite into proper nutrition and healthy living. Be sure to spend lots of time there, you'll learn alot about what big drug companies are doing to us.
They have given this 40 something couple a new lease on life.
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| shellybien0319 |
Posted - Jun 06 2006 : 08:32:56 AM
Robin,
Thanks for posting this article. It definately is an eye opener. It brought about an onrush of thoughts/emotions. Upon reading the introduction, I was very excited that WalMart would be offering organics. Orgaincs are something that I have to ration my family, because we live in a city and make less than the desirable amount. So I right now, I buy the more "important", more essential organics.
Then, as I was reading more, I became confused, having to go back a time or two to re-read. As I read and re-read, I became disillusioned in WalMart's glory. I was first excited, then almost disgusted by the thought that the government wil once again, lower it's standards on organic foods, just so it may be sold CHEAP. I love cheap, but not at the cost of losing sight of the origins and reason WHY something is good and wholesome in the first place!
Again, THANKS! for posting this article!
Michelle |
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