Center for Regional Food Systems

This report describes the findings from survey of livestock producers in Michigan that sought to better understand their interest and capacity to serve demands for local meat products.

The data provides insights into trends in production, processing, and marketing that may be helpful in identifying producer needs and strategic planning, including:

• Livestock production units are small and are mainly raising grass-fed livestock (with the exception of hogs).
• As many producers are profitable as are not profitable.
• Processing is not a major challenge for those surveyed, although working with processors and producers to improve advanced scheduling would help with streamlining the industry.
• Producers are marketing their products locally. Those that are currently not branding their products as local have a high level of interest in doing so.
• Many of the livestock owners are already selling directly but are interested in investigating new market channels to increase income and simplify sales.
• Some of the producers had interest in a livestock broker or market agent to support increasing sales in new market channels.

Diversifying local marketing opportunities for livestock producers may be one strategy to help improve profitability and sustain livestock production in the state of Michigan.