Farmers Union Conducts (Continued from Page A 1) chairs John Allen, Saxonburgh; pon Gardner, Amity; and Sam Hunt, Uniontown. In April the group projected the slaughter of the first animals by the end of September and a test marketing phase in October and November. With this time line on track, the final report, projected for February 1, 1999 should come m on schedule. Development for the project has involved a series of organizing meetings over the last year and the services of a panel of seven experts, brought together by Robert Junk, president of the Pennsylvania Farmers Union, Harrisburg. Others providing help for or ganizing include Therese Tuttle, an attorney with the National Farmers Union, who is providing legal advice and organizational ex- pertise; Shawn Moore, a meat marketing specialist from the University of Wyoming; Don Fretts, Fayette County extension agent; Gary Greg, 84 Packing company; Jim Willis, Green County Beef Producer; Tom El liott, owner and operator of the N- Bar Ranch, Montana and Allen Matthews, Pennsylvania Associa tion for Sustainable Agriculture. Marketing The Beef This study has identified areas where production farmers need to increase their involvement with the product. One specific idea that will be investigated as the study progresses includes direct feedback from the consumer. As part of the marketing test in three "upscale" restaurants, customers were asked to fill out a 12-question survey on their dining experience. This feed back will be used by the restaurant owner, the steering committee and the producer to adjust the product to meet the customers needs. Ac- cording to Tom Elliot, surveys, including the "1995 National Beet Quality Audit" show that there is a shortfall in the production of premium beef. He noted that there is a market for 7% prime beef, but only 1% of production grades prime. And a market for 21% up per 2/3 choice, but only 11 % is produced. The marketing test will attempt to take advantage of those needs and build a sustainable fu ture for marketing beef. Part of the marketing effort in cludes presenting the beef as a branded product called Keystone Certified Beef. Table placards in the restaurant note that "Certified Keystone Beef is available, and the restaurant uses the words "Certified Keystone Beef on the Land O’Lakes Delegates Elect Corporate Director-N ominees CARLISLE (Cumberland Co.) Land O’Lakcs delegates repre senting the Mid-Atlantic region recently elected director nominees to serve on the Land O’Lakcs corporate board. The delegates elected director nominees for each of the six mem bership regions in the Mid-Atlan tic. The elections were held during the fall region meeting in Lancas ter and will be ratified during the 1999 annual meeting Feb. 24-25 in Minneapolis. Those elected as director nominees are Charles E. Schilling, Petersburg, Pa., Region SI; Roy W. Hetrick, Bemville, Pa., Region 52; Gordon B. Hoover, Gap, Pa., Region S 3; David N. Noss, Pott menu. To be certified, producers must meet the coop standards, both in the production cycle and grading on the rail. Other products may join the fresh beef in the restaurant line; including a pot roast meal and a beet stew. These products are also in the testing stage, and a proto type of the pot roast was unveiled at the news conference. This beef is pre-cooked and packed for the busy family who want to eat a healthy meal. Behavioral surveys have found that busy families fac ing meal choices budget less than an hour a day for food preparation. Half the time, these people will decide on a menu after 4:30 in the evening. From slaughter to cook ing and packaging, the processing for these products is being done by Eight Four Packing Company, Eighty Four, PA. Feedback For The Producer One basic principle this study group has identified is that the producer must grow what the con sumer is willing to buy. This group has taken steps to strengthen one of the weak links in determining what has been pro : .duced. That feedback link is indi vidual data on each beef as it hangs on the rail after grading. This information will help the producer know if the breeding, feeding and slaughter process have come together to meet the con sumers needs and the standards set by the cooperative. One of the key provisions in the standards in cludes a no growth hormones or implants while on feed. The* standards set by the group are not breed specific, so any breed can meet the standard, according to Tom Elliot. However, the coop has set long-term production guidelines, feeding guidelines, and " processing guidelines. Tracking the whole production cycle is needed in order to meet coop stan dards. The feeling expressed in the group is that it has to be a learn ing organization, flexible enough to take advantage of new markets, while building on past experi ences. And according to Bob Junk, the process is a way to test before making a big investment which may not produce a retum-though there are no guarantees, it is a way to increase' the possibility of a profitable return for the farmer. Farmers interested in joining this effort are encouraged to con tact John Allen, who is especially looking for seed stock producers who can meet the coop standards. Royal, Pa., Region S 4; Robert A. Winner, Moores town, NJ., Re gion S 5; and Kenneth Schoenberg, Sbippensburg, Pa., Region S 6. During the meeting. Jack Gher ty, president and chief executive officer, thanked the 300 delegates for their leadership and involve ment in the cooperative. He also acknowledged their support of the Land O’Lakes/Atiantic Dairy Co operative merger. “The merger was a critical step in our efforts to establish a truly national milk procurement and dairy processing system,” Gherty said. “An‘integrated system is a 'key element in the ongoing formu la for dairy industry success.” ' Steering committee officers of the Pennsylvania Family Farm Beef Cooperative se lected at the August 12, 1998 meeting of the steering committee include, (I to retary Louise D'lsidoro, F r 'tte Counf and co-chairs John Allen, Saxonburgh; Don are front and center during the press conference announcing the debut of Certified Keystone Beef. People surrounding the platter include (I to r) Don Card* ner, Amity, Pa., President of the Washington County Cattleman's Association; Robert Junk, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Farmers Union; and (speaking) Allen Matthews, Mill heim, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. A J 0 Distributors of: • Norwesco Tanks *A wide variety of pumps, valves, couplings, fittings & hose • Spraying Systems • Accessories • Melroe Spra-Coupe • Mobility Spreaders • Layco Blenders & Conveyors • Mid-State Tanks Company City, State & Zip Phone Email. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 12, 1998-A2l i I iMI LN-FRM 12 98 J Norwesco Tanks Pacer Econo Ag Pump 374 HEIDJ.ERSBURG RD. BIGLERVILLE, PA 17307 1-800-345-3546 717-677-6197 Fax 717-677-4291
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