Resources
RESOURCES
Agriculture Marketing Resource Center. A national information center for value-added agriculture. www.agmrc.org. Information on “natural,” organic and direct marketing beef. www.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/livestock/beef/beef.htm.
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC). Provides free assistance and resources to farmers and agricultural professionals, including information on livestock production and marketing. (301) 504-6559; www.nal.usda.gov/afsic
ATTRA. National information service offers 200+ free publications on farming and marketing, many about livestock production and marketing. (800) 346-9140 / Spanish (800) 411-3222. http://attra.ncat.org/
Direct and Local Meat Marketing Project, University of Kentucky. Online resource for livestock producers includes budget spreadsheets and yield and pricing guides. www.uky.edu/ag/kymeat
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE). SARE provides grants to researchers, agricultural educators and producers to study and spread information about sustainable agriculture, including direct marketing, via a nationwide grants program. (301) 504-5230; www.sare.org
SARE Outreach delivers cutting-edge research results with books, bulletins and electronic resources for producers, educators and researchers. (301) 504-5236; www.sare.org
USDA Small Business Development Centers. Provides management assistance to current and prospective small business owners. 800-8-ask-sba; www.sba.gov/sbdc/
PUBLICATIONS
Adding Value to Beef Production. Assists those beginning a value-added agriculture business venture with tried-and-true methods. Iowa State University Extension. www.ciras.iastate.edu/beefmanual
Alternative Beef Marketing by ATTRA. Explores marketing alternatives for small-scale cattle ranchers who want to add value to their beef. www.attra.org/attra-pub/beefmark.html
Building a Sustainable Business: A Guide to Developing a Business Plan for Farms and Rural Businesses. Transform farm-grown inspirations into profitable enterprises with sample worksheets for researching processing options, potential markets and financing. 280 pp. $17 to SARE Outreach, (301) 374-9696, www.sare.org/webstore
How to Direct Market Meat – Is It An Option for You? by Anastasia Becker, Community Food Systems and Sustainable Agriculture, University of Missouri Outreach and Extension. http://agebb.missouri.edu/mac/agopp/arc/agopp051.txt http://aes.missouri.edu/swcenter/sustain
Direct Sales of Beef. Suggestions for selling beef directly to consumers. Nebraska Cooperative Extension. http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/beef/g1420.htm
The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. Dispels the myths about starting your own business. 288 pp. $16. (866) 201-7601; www.powells.com
Energy-Efficient Grass-Based Meat and Veal Production and Marketing Manual. Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship, www.cadefarms.org/publications.htm
Grass Productivity by André Voisin. Maximizing productivity in grass and cattle operations from one of the earliest proponents. 370 pp. $30. www.amazon.com
Holistic Resource Management by Allan Savory. Practical instruction in financial, biological and land planning. Case studies drawn from real-life situations lead the reader through the process. 590 pp. Prices vary. www.amazon.com
Marketing Grass-fed Beef by the Kansas Rural Center. Marketing pamphlet with gross margin marketing worksheet. http://kansasruralcenter.org/publications/grassfedbeef.pdf
The Meat Buyers Guide by the North American Meat Processors Association. Meat identification manual, with more than 295 illustrated cuts, buying and ordering procedures, nutrition data, food safety and grading standards. 199 pp. $52, www.amazon.com
The New Farmers’ Market by Eric Gibson. Tips and trends from leading sellers to best display and sell product. 272 pp. $24.95. (301) 374-9696; www.sare.org/webstore
Organic Livestock Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices by ATTRA. http://attra.NCAT.org/attra-pub/PDF/livestockworkbook.pdf
Pasture Profits with Stocker Cattle by Allan Nation. How to improve profits with less financial risk. 224 pp. $28.50. Stockman Grass Farmer, (800) 748-9808; www.stockmangrassfarmer.com
Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual by Bill Mollison. Philosophies of land use, soil, agricultural and livestock management, irrigation, and more. $75 (hard cover). www.amazon.com
Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin. How to make a good profit with a small beef cattle operation. 368 pp. www.chelseagreen.com/1996/items/516
Shelter & Shade: Creating a Healthy and Profitable Environment for your Livestock with Trees by John & Bunny Mortimer. 160 pp. $20. The Stockman Grass Farmer, (800) 748-9808; www.stockmangrassfarmer.com
MAGAZINES
ACRES USA. A comprehensive guide to sustainable agriculture. (800) 355-5313; www.acresusa.com/magazines/magazine.htm
Small Farmer’s Journal. Focuses on livestock breeds, organic farming and equipment. (800) 876-2893; www.smallfarmersjournal.com
Stockman Grass Farmer. Describes grazing technology and pasture management. (800) 748-9808; http://stockmangrassfarmer.net/
Small Farm Today. Preservation and promotion of small farming, rural living, community and sustainability. (800) 633-2535; www.smallfarmtoday.com
