Yes! Know and support your local farmer! I live in western San Mateo county, and my food comes either from my yard, or a produce farmer 10 miles down the road. My meat comes from 10 miles down the road, as well. Markegard Grassfed, Left Coast Grassfed, Pomponio Ranch and Root Down Farm. I know Doniga Markegard hauls her cattle all the way up to Santa Rosa, and in the past she’s used the plant in Paso Robles. Either way, that’s a hell of a ride for those beasts. I don’t know where the others take their animals. I guess for you, now, it’s either Santa Rosa or Yreka? Sacramento? There was a White Paper from UC Davis addressing these problems and offering suggestions for solutions. It was written in 2021, and I’m not sure if it has been updated.
In any case, I enjoy your writing and photos, and I wish you all the best! I love how you use your oxen to work your land. Are you Biodynamic as well? I tried the BD approach just in my garden, and it’s not easy! I just stick to Permaculture practices, now.
Most everybody here in California is in a similar situation. It is awesome to have such great farmers local to you. I am not Biodynamic certified but I did study it for years at the Steiner College in Sac. I like the principles but most I just say that we farm as best as we can.
I’ve worked for years on these regs. Yet, even as many politicians and NGOs give voice to supporting the small, American producers, it’s as you share here: slaughter houses are getting shuttered every day and farmers and consumers lose opportunity.
I could write so much more about this (and I have on my publication 😂).
But it’s as you say, the bottom line is to support your local providers.
There’s so much corruption even in many of the NGOs purportedly advocating for the small farmers.
Rather than fund them, we’ve got to rally around our local producers.
I am with you. Our closest USDA is Paso Robles. 200 miles each way. If I say I have one steer they say no thanks. Of course, they would never hang it 30 days which is what I want. The closest custom exempt is 50 miles away and I cannot sell cuts. I am in the process of building a small shop on my property. My goal is to become CA custom exempt. I can then have our mobile slaughter man bring me animals people have in the pasture that can be in their freezer.
We not only need more certified facilities but we need more people like you willing to cut animals that people process on farm. Our local butcher also shut down last year.
We moved here 7 years tomorrow. I am 60. I have couple decades at least. I’m not kidding. The fountain of youth is here somewhere. There are people in their 90s that look 60 here (and act like it). We also have a strong Mennonite community. I plan to teach some of the young men that enjoy working. My next career is feeding people. I love it. I also enjoy your Substack. I could discuss cattle all day
I hope in our lifetime we see the systems around us funded and fortified to rebuild our regional capacities. Consolidation is costing everyone/ everything.
Regulations are sold as if they are good for the public and keep food safe. In reality the regulations are proposed by the big companies because they can afford the compliance costs that will drive small companies out of business. Each small one that closes up moves the big ones closer to the semi monopoly that they want.
Yes! Know and support your local farmer! I live in western San Mateo county, and my food comes either from my yard, or a produce farmer 10 miles down the road. My meat comes from 10 miles down the road, as well. Markegard Grassfed, Left Coast Grassfed, Pomponio Ranch and Root Down Farm. I know Doniga Markegard hauls her cattle all the way up to Santa Rosa, and in the past she’s used the plant in Paso Robles. Either way, that’s a hell of a ride for those beasts. I don’t know where the others take their animals. I guess for you, now, it’s either Santa Rosa or Yreka? Sacramento? There was a White Paper from UC Davis addressing these problems and offering suggestions for solutions. It was written in 2021, and I’m not sure if it has been updated.
In any case, I enjoy your writing and photos, and I wish you all the best! I love how you use your oxen to work your land. Are you Biodynamic as well? I tried the BD approach just in my garden, and it’s not easy! I just stick to Permaculture practices, now.
Most everybody here in California is in a similar situation. It is awesome to have such great farmers local to you. I am not Biodynamic certified but I did study it for years at the Steiner College in Sac. I like the principles but most I just say that we farm as best as we can.
Oh man! I feel your pain on this so deeply!!
I’ve worked for years on these regs. Yet, even as many politicians and NGOs give voice to supporting the small, American producers, it’s as you share here: slaughter houses are getting shuttered every day and farmers and consumers lose opportunity.
I could write so much more about this (and I have on my publication 😂).
But it’s as you say, the bottom line is to support your local providers.
There’s so much corruption even in many of the NGOs purportedly advocating for the small farmers.
Rather than fund them, we’ve got to rally around our local producers.
Thank you Cattle Culture!
The best way to support local food systems is to eat local food!
👏👏👏
I am with you. Our closest USDA is Paso Robles. 200 miles each way. If I say I have one steer they say no thanks. Of course, they would never hang it 30 days which is what I want. The closest custom exempt is 50 miles away and I cannot sell cuts. I am in the process of building a small shop on my property. My goal is to become CA custom exempt. I can then have our mobile slaughter man bring me animals people have in the pasture that can be in their freezer.
We not only need more certified facilities but we need more people like you willing to cut animals that people process on farm. Our local butcher also shut down last year.
We moved here 7 years tomorrow. I am 60. I have couple decades at least. I’m not kidding. The fountain of youth is here somewhere. There are people in their 90s that look 60 here (and act like it). We also have a strong Mennonite community. I plan to teach some of the young men that enjoy working. My next career is feeding people. I love it. I also enjoy your Substack. I could discuss cattle all day
I love talking about cattle!
Our meat processor is a half mile away. I could walk our beef there. I feel very fortunate. But they are constantly dealing with over-regulation.
That is lucky indeed. Regulations seem lie they have the right intention almost always lose sight when they are applied to the real world.
I hope in our lifetime we see the systems around us funded and fortified to rebuild our regional capacities. Consolidation is costing everyone/ everything.
So true we are going to do everything we can in our local community and it is heartening to know y’all are doing the same.
Regulations are sold as if they are good for the public and keep food safe. In reality the regulations are proposed by the big companies because they can afford the compliance costs that will drive small companies out of business. Each small one that closes up moves the big ones closer to the semi monopoly that they want.