AGRICULTURE WEB BASED
ENTERPRISE TOOL
OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER
Thank you to all the producers who have completed
the survey so far. We continue to encourage producers
across our region to complete this survey.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/AgriculturePRODUCERsurvey
Over the past few newsletters we have included different charts from the
survey responses we have received so far so that our producers can see how
the responses that they provide impact the work that is being done on the
Agriculture Web Based Enterprise Tool.
In the August newsletter we looked at the responses around farmers markets
and provided information around that topic. In the September newsletter we
looked at the responses around farm labour and provided information that
came directly from the responses we received. In this issue we are presenting
a few market opportunities that we have been able to source out through the
project. The survey responses showed a willingness from producers to work
together or at least to look for information on how to work together to increase
sales. The responses also showed that the primary areas that producers
would like to increase sales are in farmgate ­— farmers markets and grocerys,
restaurants and specialty sales areas. Producers will need to look at the market
opportunities in this newsletter and determine if these are opportunities they
want to take advantage of, if they need more information or if they will wait for
other opportunities. We will continue to look for information in the areas of
interest noted by the producers and this will be reflected in the final web tool.
We really enjoyed meeting with producers at the update sessions that were
held in October and sharing the results of the survey responses that have been
received so far and getting some great feedback on the webtool and content.
We look forward to another series of updates to be held in late November
or early December and will send out further notices as these dates and times
are confirmed.
Wylie Bystedt, Project Coordinator | [email protected] | 266 Oliver Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1M1 | Phone 250-255-5160
We have two opportunities for producers to work together. We have
an agreement with a pet food company based out of Richmond, BC
to provide chicken and lamb (or mutton).
Neither of these opportunities are enough to build on exclusively.
Rather, these opportunities would best suit producers who are currently
in chicken and/or lamb and are looking for another revenue stream.
Chicken
The current requirements are for 200 lbs of chicken per week
plus associated organs. This chicken must be human grade
(which means an inspected, licensed slaughter), non-medicated
and no antibiotics.
We are looking for producers who would be interested in
supplying product for the buyer. Because of the volume
required by the buyer we are not expecting enough production
to completely fill an annual allotment. The buyer is prepared to
backfill from another source to complete annual requirements.
In addition to broilers, spent hens in good condition (preferably
up to 24-30 months) and roosters in good flesh would be
acceptable. The primary concern for the buyer is the human
grade, non-medicated, no antibiotics and enough quality meat
on the bones to make it worthwhile.
Final product can be supplied in bags and must be weighed
but does not need to be wrapped in paper, cryovacced or other
expensive processes. Delivery will be made from the region to
the buyer generally every other month or when there is enough
volume to make it worthwhile.
Pricing
NECKS
$.49/lb
LEGS
WINGS
$2.50/lb
HEARTS or liver
CARCASSES
$2.19/lb
$2.50/lb
$.49/lb (bodies with breasts, legs or wings removed)
Whole bodies will be priced between $2.20 and $2.50 per lb.
If you are interested in more information or would like to
participate and have questions, please contact Wylie at
[email protected]
Lamb
The current requirement is for 4,000 lb annually. This will
be delivered in 1,000 lb allotments quarterly (March, June,
September, December). The lamb or mutton must be human
grade (which means an inspected, licensed slaughter), nonmedicated, no antibiotics, no steroids or growth hormones.
This opportunity would be very suitable for those already in
lamb production as product could be provided from ewes that
are no longer in production or that have bad bags, rams that
are no longer in production. Also, if portions of the carcass are
used for higher end cuts, then the secondary pieces could be
used for this.
We are looking for producers who would be willing to commit
a certain number of animals or a certain number of pounds
towards this; for example, if a producer normally cycles out
5 ewes a year then they could commit those ewes to this
opportunity, or if a producer wanted to commit 300, or 500, or
700 pounds, then they could do that.
Product Requirements
– the bones must have some meat left on them, they
must no be stripped bare.
Bones
Organs – can be bagged according to type – hearts, liver, etc
– deboned, in chunks off the bone, not ground (buyer
grinds their own meat). They will take the less valuable cuts
so the meat doesn’t have to be from whole carcasses but can
be pieces that are not used for other customers. What meat is
provided will be up to the individual producers.
Meat
Bones, organs and meat must be separated and weighed. Buyer
preference is that the products are put in plastic bags and then
in boxes and frozen. Average box weight should be about 50 lbs.
Pricing
The buyer will pay $3.52 per lb
If you are interested in more information or would like to
participate and have questions, please contact Wylie at
[email protected].
More SURVEY RESULTS
What successes have you experienced selling
your products? Some comments received:
> Just the fact that it actually sold!
> Business is growing but direct market is very time
consuming
> Sell out often
> Face to face sales are most interesting but time consuming
> It is slowly growing by word of mouth
> Collaboration with processor and retailer
> Very positive feedback back from customers as to quality,
taste and service
> Very successful at selling livestock but difficult to sell meat
products
What barriers have you experienced in selling
your products or increasing your sales? Some comments received:
> Only sold at farmers markets because unsure of the other
potential markets and my production is not high enough
> Seasonal production issues, establishing customer base
> The logistics of selling smaller quantities are difficult ­­—
delivery, keeping it frozen, sorting and packaging­— we are
producers not marketers
> Distance from market, no time to build a clientele, lack of
knowledge
> Too expensive to have nutrition labels on each product and
doing labels, finding access to the right equipment, money
for expansion
> Local health authorities
> Would be able to increase sales if could make enough money
for one of us to do it full time without having to work a job also
> Government regulations and lack of easy access to a local
abattoir are examples of barriers faced by farmers in general.
The cost of transport factors into the cost of value-added
production for meat, as an example. These are costs that
must be passed on to the customer in order to be profitable.
Lower production costs might allow for increased sales in
the long run.
Opportunity with Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism
Association (CCCTA) – Educational Travel
The CCCTA has been approached to look at opportunities to
bring 300 Japanese students (ages 9 – 19) to stay on working
farms for a period of one week during 2012 and because of our
agriculture work they would like to work with us to organize this
opportunity.. The students will be arriving in smaller groups
and we will be placing them in clusters around the region. At
this time we are looking for expressions of interest only from
producers. Producers will be paid for the time that the students
are with them.
Why is this an opportunity?
This is an opportunity because the clients are looking for
experiences on actual working farms and ranches. They would
like hands-on experiences with all the animal groups and
horticulture including greenhouses, gardening, mechanical,
photography, sewing, and more. This would be a great fit for any
guest ranches, Farm B&B’s or 4H families. But it would also be a
good fit for those producers who have used farm stay or volunteer
labour in the past, who are not interested in becoming a B&B but
wouldn’t mind hosting a student for a week and have a spare
bedroom or cabin.
What would you do with them?
The students will be expecting a cultural experience; they will
need to eat with the family and participate in regular family
outings and farm work that would normally take place. There
may also be group activities in which all the students and
families would get together.
We are only looking for expressions of interest at this time as
we determine what our regional capacity to host educational
travel is. We have a number of questions as we proceed with this
opportunity and we are sure that producers will have a number
of questions as they determine if this opportunity is for them.
We would encourage any producer with questions to email
Wylie at [email protected].