June 5, 2008 issue
Local Farmers To Discuss Hurdles of Meat Production
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture Presentation Tuesday, June 10
Story by Garrett Simmons
Between 1997 and 2002, Watauga County lost 36 farms totaling 633 acres of production farmland, according to a Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture press release.
In an effort to support the declining number of High Country farmers and educate the public about local food issues, BRWIA is hosting a monthly lecture series that takes place the second Tuesday of every month.
The second lecture of the series on Tuesday, June 10, at 6:00 p.m. at the Watauga Agricultural Center on Poplar Grove in Boone will feature a panel of local meat producers.
Amy Galloway, a member of the BRWIA Board of Directors, said panel members will discuss how they raise and process their livestock and how their methods differ from industrial production. “It’s designed to bring local farmers together to help each other overcome the obstacles that come with small farm meat production,” she said.
Ann Rose, owner of Rose Mountain Farm in Lansing, is one of just three High Country farmers who raise livestock for public sale. “We raise mostly pork,” said Rose. “But we also raise chickens, goats and lambs.”
Rose will join the panel for discussion on Tuesday. Having recently started selling meat, she understands the reasons such a low number of farmers do. “I think many farmers are overwhelmed by the process of becoming licensed [to sell meat],” said Rose. “Ultimately, an inspector is there to assure quality of the meat, but people hear USDA and are discouraged from even attempting.”
The process involves a formal application to the USDA, interviews with department officials and finally an inspection of the farm and its facilities, all of which, said Rose, are designed to test one thing. “Farmers must prove that they not only know but understand every single USDA regulation,” she said. “Farmers must have an extensive knowledge of all production standards, quality assurance practices and bacteria and disease protection. It is a long list of practice guidelines, and farmers have to really love what they do to pass the test.”
Once a farm obtains its license, the USDA returns twice each year for inspections or more often if an inspector feels it is necessary.
Rose, who is also a member of the New River Organic Growers, faces even larger challenges because all of her meat products are certified “humane raised.” “It took me about 2 months to get our [USDA] license, but about 3 years to be certified ‘humane raised,’” she said. The term, said Rose, is the only USDA label that signifies the highest level of naturally raised and humanely slaughtered livestock.
“Problems arise with terms like ‘free-range,’ which the USDA does not regulate closely,” said Rose. “Most people take it to mean natural, but the fact is that is not often the case. The only way to be absolutely sure about a product is to establish a relationship with the farmer who is supplying it.” She suggested the website ncchoices.com as a source for conscientious buyers.
Rose said the discussion on June 10 will shed light on these and other issues facing small farmers in the High Country. “It will be a roundtable discussion for farmers to share knowledge and help each other,” she said. “It’s also a great resource for new farmers.”
For more information about the presentation, contact Amy Galloway at 828-262-2717 or click to www.brwia.org. For more information about Rose Mountain Farm, click to www.rosemountainfarm.com.
Want To Go?
Date: Tuesday, June 10
Time: 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Watauga Agricultural Center
Cost: Free
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