Fixing Meat Processing Gaps Plus Harvest Slowdown Means Quality Issues - Heinberg

During the pandemic farms learned how much consumers wanted to buy directly from them. That sentiment continues today in consumer buying patterns. Now the issue is delivering on that sale. Kiley Allan investigates the processing deserts that dot the state of Wisconsin. Areas where farms are ready and willing to sell their goods, but when it comes to livestock - there's no processor. Kelly Maynard, Cooperative Development Specialist for UW Center for Cooperatives, says that farmers and processors are getting creative about how to bridge the gap. For example, Maynard says to avoid the high cost and public opposition associated with, specifically, "kill floors", groups like Meatsmith Co-op are utilizing Mobile Slaughter Units to process animals humanely directly on farms. Wisconsin should enjoy a pretty nice stretch of warm, dry weather according to Stu Muck. Even overnight lows aren't going to be a concern for the next few days. At least 100 auctions to handle before the end of the calendar year. That's the workload ahead for the Steffes Group. Ashley Huhn tells Pam Jahnke that their fall catalog is about to go to print and will be circulated across North America. Paid for by the Steffes Group. Wisconsin farmers are lagging behind on the harvest. With just 8 percent of the corn off and 11% of soybeans harvested, the state's behind its five year average. Other states are running into similar problems. John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend says all eyes are still on Iowa. Not only is the harvest running behind, the quality of the crop is suspect. Heinberg says growers need to advise their crop insurance managers if they think there will be quality issues or face consequences when that grain moves out of storage.