Anyone here buy beef from a local farm?

[amsgpwarrior]

Originally Posted by forgop

Thinking about buying beef by the quarter...looks to be around 200# worth of beef with various cuts obviously. Price per lb is $1.85 + the processing fees, which I'm not sure how much that would cost in all. It would be corn fed black angus without the hormones and everything else going into our food.

Any advice about doing this?

Is it organic? Just cause it doesn't have hormones in it doesn't mean they haven't shot the thing up with all the other usual meds, antibiotics, and what nots. I have been in the cattle business for some time and this seems pretty reasonable, maybe even pretty cheap. I think processing fees can be around $.50 to $1.00 per pound. I don't usually deal with that end, I just raise the cattle and sell them. But I only deal with 100% organic black angus cows.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by amsgpwarrior

Is it organic? Just cause it doesn't have hormones in it doesn't mean they haven't shot the thing up with all the other usual meds, antibiotics, and what nots. I have been in the cattle business for some time and this seems pretty reasonable, maybe even pretty cheap. I think processing fees can be around $.50 to $1.00 per pound. I don't usually deal with that end, I just raise the cattle and sell them. But I only deal with 100% organic black angus cows.

This is the place I'm interested in using.

http://www.doughertybeef.com/

[amsgpwarrior]

Originally Posted by forgop

This is the place I'm interested in using.

http://www.doughertybeef.com/

Sounds good to me. They seem pretty transparent about their practices so that is a plus. Go for it! Grain fed tastes good to me.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by amsgpwarrior

Sounds good to me. They seem pretty transparent about their practices so that is a plus. Go for it! Grain fed tastes good to me.

I saw they are on facebook and a local FFA chapter seems to do stuff with them. They also seem very welcoming for anyone to come out to see the calves/farm, buy, so I think it's worth a shot.

Hell, this will be a lot cheaper than buying the drugged up stuff at Sams Club, so at least I'm getting a lower price while getting the natural stuff. Plus, it's always nice to help the small, local farmer out rather than the mega sized farms that have sprouted up over the last decade or two.

[shilala]

Duane, I didn't read all the responses, but the bottom line is to ask some people how they liked the meat. Try the meat from the farm you picked a number of times, across all of their butchering times. Taste is going to vary across seasons, especially if they're hamburgering old milk stock.
If you find you really enjoy it, then go ahead and buy bulk.
By no means just go and buy a quarter or a half without doing your due diligence or you can very easily find that you just plain don't like the flavor of the meat. Meat from one farm can taste totally different from the farm next door.
Then once you find a farm you like, make sure that the same guy is caring for the beef. If hands change, the beef will change. It's very important to keep track of who is doing what.
That may sound like a pain, but honestly it's all the fun. Make good friends with the family, treat them well, and they'll learn what you like and make sure you get what you like.
If you don't have time to dig in and learn and make friends with the farm, it generally pans out to be a lousy experience sooner or later.
If you aren't real sensitive about the flavor and you like lots of seasoning on your beef, you don't need to sweat it so much.
Just remember that the good guys get the best stuff. Don't be afraid to take a pie or cookies or something every time you go to buy. That stuff goes a long, long way. Remember that this ain't walmart. This is the farmer's life's work. It's his art and his love. If you come from that angle with that kind of respect, you can't lose.

[amsgpwarrior]

Originally Posted by forgop

I saw they are on facebook and a local FFA chapter seems to do stuff with them. They also seem very welcoming for anyone to come out to see the calves/farm, buy, so I think it's worth a shot.

Hell, this will be a lot cheaper than buying the drugged up stuff at Sams Club, so at least I'm getting a lower price while getting the natural stuff. Plus, it's always nice to help the small, local farmer out rather than the mega sized farms that have sprouted up over the last decade or two.

Agreed. I am all about supporting the local farmer. Good for you, good for him, and ultimately better for the environment. Keep it local ya'll!