PRESS RELEASE: November 7, 2006
Contact: Bernadette Logozar, CCE Franklin County, 518-483-7403

Photo/jpg available from karalynn@gisco.net: Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Livestock Marketing Project Leader Bernadette Logozar with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County, holds the soon-to-be-released marketing toolkit.

Livestock Marketing Toolkit Debuts at December 9 & January 27 Meetings

How about some locally-raised beef, pork or lamb for dinner tonight? With funding from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) and the New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc., Bernadette Logozar of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County is assembling a marketing toolkit to help livestock farmers sell their products and capitalize on the increasing numbers of people looking to connect to local farms and local food sources. The kit will debut at 10:30am-3:30pm meetings with speakers from the NY Beef Industry Council and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets December 9 in Lowville and January 27 in Saranac Lake.

Logozar, a rural and economic development specialist, says potential income streams for livestock producers include direct-to-consumer marketing, freezer trade, live sale, central pooling for auction sales, contracting with meatpackers. The NNYADP project�s current emphasis is on beef, pork, and lamb.

�Livestock producers can expand their market potential by learning about the income options and resources available to them � often at little to no cost, and by choosing the best fit for their farm business,� says Logozar. �The biggest learning curve is with product marketing.�

The new livestock marketing toolkit includes best management practices profiles, promotion materials, and a 17-page checklist that covers production costs, processing, pricing, food safety, advertising, PR, industry associations and where to find resources. Logozar, a native of Alberta, Canada, has adapted materials from the Alberta livestock producers for use in New York. One of the suggested resource books includes a section titled �Make $10 mistakes not $1,000 ones.�

Logozar says producers often begin by selling to neighbors and friends. Among the tools she has gathered to help the farmers communicate with consumers are quick and easy recipes; nutrition facts; tips for how to cook grass-fed meats for best quality and flavor; Mediterranean and other regional-style recipes; and recommendations for pairing meats with wine, cheeses, and desserts. For customers who want to deal directly with the meat processors, the farmers can provide charts that illustrate and estimate the types and quantity of roasts, rounds and rib eyes one can expect from, for example, a 1,500-lb steer.

Although the current focus is on beef, pork, and lamb production, Logozar allows that interest may drive the project to include goats, poultry and other livestock; value-added on-farm processing; and fiber and hide processing.

The marketing materials � some free, the Livestock Marketing Toolkit is $15 - will be available at the December 9 meeting at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County and the January 27 meeting at the Saranac Lake Free Library. Call 518-483-7403 to register for the Saranac Lake meeting; call 315-376-5270 to register for the Lowville meeting. $10 registration fee includes refreshments, lunch and materials.

The farmer-led Northern New York Agricultural Development Program funds research, education and outreach for New York�s six northernmost counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence. Learn more about the program at www.nnyagdev.org, or by contacting NNYADP Board Co-Chairs Joe Giroux, Plattsburgh, 518-563-7523, and Jon Greenwood, Canton, 315-386-3231, or R. David Smith at Cornell University at 607-255-7286.

The New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. is a farmer-led, nonprofit corporation that invests in innovative research, education and technical assistance for NY�s agricultural producers. Projects emphasize direct producers involvement and focus on practical business goals. Contact: NYFVI, Inc., 159 Dwight Park Circle Suite 104, Syracuse, NY 13209, 315-453-3823, www.nyfarmviability.org # # #