Increasing Beef Profitability: Perspectives on Processing and Marketing Opportunities in Local Markets

Monday, July 26th, 2010, 7pm-9pm

Chatham County Cooperative Extension- Agricultural Building

NC Choices and Chatham County Cooperative Extension present "Increasing Beef Profitability: Perspectives on Processing and Marketing Opportunities in Local Markets." Please join us for an evening with guest speakers, Dr. Scott Barao , Dr. Arion Thiboumery and Dr. Matt Poore for a roundtable discussion, Q&A, and a “meat social” with producers, extension personnel and meat processors. The event will be held at the Chatham County Cooperative Extension Agricultural Building located at 45 South St. Pittsboro, NC.

Topics for discussion will include grass-fed genetics, determining production costs, maintaining high quality carcasses, smart carcass utilization, forage management, value added products, successful case studies around the country and building a relationship with you processor.

The event is free, but please RSVP to Casey McKissick at casey@ncchoices.com by July 16th.

Dr. Scott Barao is a graduate of Michigan State University where he received his Ph.D. in beef cattle nutrition and management. He also holds degrees in human nutrition, biochemistry and ruminant microbiology. Scott held a faculty position in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland for 20 years where he served as the state Beef Cattle Extension Specialist. Scott also served his last 10 years, as Beef Program Leader, directing all beef research and outreach programs at the university’s Wye Research and Education Center, the home of the historic Wye Angus herd. Scott retired from his faculty position as a full professor in 2005. Since 2005, Scott has served as the Executive Director of the Jorgensen Family Foundation, a 501-3-C Agricultural Research and Education Foundation devoted to developing and demonstrating profitable and sustainable models of beef cattle production for beef cattle producers in the Mid-Atlantic region. Scott also directs the day-to-day operation of

Hedgeapple Farm, the centerpiece of the foundation. In addition, Scott has served as the Executive Vice-President of the Maryland Cattlemen’s Association, the state’s largest single commodity organization, and as Executive Director of Maryland Beef Council continuously since 1985. Scott, along with his wife and 2 daughters own and operate their own farm in Woodbine, Maryland which is home to the only certified kosher herd of cattle in the world.

Dr. Arion Thiboumery co-coordinates the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network (NMPAN, www.nichemeatprocessing.org), a national network of professionals in cooperative extension and state departments of agriculture working to support small-scale meat processors. Dr. Thiboumery splits his time between Iowa State University Extension, specializing in Sustainable Agriculture and Meat Science, and Lorentz Meats, a Cannon Falls, MN medium-small-sized meat processing plant specializing in organic and natural

meats with about 65 employees. Dr. Thiboumery received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University in Sustainable Agriculture, Rural Sociology, and Meat Science. Before going to graduate school he was a truck farmer in New England.

Dr. Matt Poore serves NC as an Extension Livestock Commodity Coordinator, Extension Ruminant Nutrition Specialist and Professor at NC State University. Dr. Poore also serves as the Beef Unit Coordinator at the Center for Environmental Systems (CEFS) research farm in Goldsboro, NC.