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Risks and Opportunities in Providing Direct to Consumer Beef

Kelsey Story

Summary

With beef retail prices reaching record highs, producers are beginning to consider finishing animals on the ranch and selling beef products directly to consumers. Rural, low-income consumers are searching for ways to purchase beef at lower, wholesale costs. While other consumers are looking for locally grown beef products from alternative production practices, such as, grass-finished animals. Extension professionals in certain areas are actively receiving inquiries about how to provide consumers with local beef products. While the opportunities are plentiful for producers, adding direct to consumer sales to an enterprise results in the addition of new risks. These risks could include supply chain risks associated with local processing facilities, consumer access, and inventory risk. This presentation delves into the risks and opportunities of direct to consumer beef and provides a decision tool for producers to assist with determining the economic costs and benefits.

Details

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