Integrated Risk Management for Women Producers, Processors, and Retailers in the Local Meat Product

Value Chain

April Shaeffer and Sarah BlacklinNorth Carolina State University, Raleigh

Building Confidence, Skills and Leadership of Women

Women Working the in Meat BusinessLeadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Application Process:

Grant support from Southern Risk ManagementAdvertised with the NC Leadership & Cattle Handling for

Women Cattle Producers and the NC Choices list servWomen were asked to submit and application

• Questions included:

– Years of cattle experience (0-5, 6-10, 10+)– Type of farm (cow/calf, stocker, feedlot/finishing)– Number of Cattle– County– Why you would like to attend this workshop?– What do you hope to learn from the training?

Application

• To provide a non-intimidating atmosphere for learning.• To enhance the skills & confidence of women cattle

producers.• Improve relationships and networking among producers.• To increase female producer activity in Extension programs.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers: Women’s Cattle Training Objectives

Workshop was a 1 d trainingHeld on November 8, 2015

NCSU Beef Education Unit45 Female Producers Applied 22 Selected for Attendance

10 with 0-5 yrs experience6 with 6-10 yrs experience6 with 10+ yrs experience

Topics covered were both in class and hands-on learning.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers: Female Producer Training

• Reproduction Management:– pregnancy check, dystocia problems

• Beef Quality Assurance:– deworm, vaccinations, age by looking at teeth, castration

• Pasture Walk: – Identify weeds and grasses, grazing management, fencing, how to read soil

and forage analysis, etc.• Low Stress Animal Handling:

– Using body techniques instead of voice

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers: Hands On Topics

• Becoming a Leader in the Cattle Industry– Bryan Blinson, NC Cattlemen’s

Director• Animal Welfare and Low Stress

Handling– Dr. Harrison Dudley (DVM)

discussed proper ways of handling cattle.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers: Classroom Topics Discussed

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Data Collection and Results

• The questionnaire included 5 questions answered on a scale of 1-4.1= Not Satisfied2= Somewhat Satisfied3= Satisfied4= Very Satisfied

• Means and SD are reported.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Questionnaire on Data Satisfaction

Question M SD

Relevance of information to your needs 4.0 0.00

Presentation Quality of instructors 4.0 0.00

Subject matter knowledge of instructors 4.0 0.00

Training facilities 3.9 0.21

Overall quality of the training workshop 4.0 0.00

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Selected Questions and Scores

• The questionnaire included 4 hands-on topics answered on a scale of 1-5.1= Very Low (Know nothing about this topic)2= Low (Know very little about this topic)3= Moderate (Know about the topic, but still have more to learn)4= High (Have good knowledge, but there are things to learn)5= Very High (Know almost everything about this topic)

• Means and SD are reported.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Questionnaire Data on Knowledge Changed

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Low StressCattle Handling

VaccinationTechniques

ReproductionManagement

PastureManagement

Pre-TrainingPost- Training

Scale: 1=Very Low, 2= Low, 3= Moderate, 4= High, 5= Very High (p<0.01)

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Comparison of Knowledge Before and After the Training

As a result of this program, do you intend to: %

Include Low Stress Handling On Your Farm 100

Graze Pastures Properly 100

Recommend This Training To Other Women 100

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Selected Questions and Scores on Impact Evaluations

• What is your main challenge or constraint when working with cattle?– “Old ways” vs. New or Different Ideas– Improper Equipment– Lack of knowledge and experience– Time– My husband!

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Additional Questions

• What did you like most about the training?– All Women, doing the clinics in small numbers– Hands-on training, new ideas, very knowledgeable

instructors.– Everything!

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Additional Comments from Participants

• What did you like least about the training?– Not long enough

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Additional Comments from Participants

• Improved female producer interaction and net-working.• Made Specialists and Agents more observant to female producer needs.• A NC Needs Assessment for Female Livestock Producers was conducted.• Out of state impact (California & Georgia)• Additional Workshops are being conducted.• Partnership between Amazing Grazing & NC Choices.

Leadership and Cattle Handling for Women Producers:Outcomes

Women Working in the Meat Business:The Need

47%

7%9%

7%

7%

16%

9%

Farmer

Prospective farm

Meat processor

Chef

Food professional

Meat buyer

Other

Workshop spots were in high demand, with applications and inquiries sufficient to have doubled the class-size

Women Working in the Meat Business:Participants

Learn if you’re making a profit, how much of a profit, and how to refine your pricing using a step by step “whole animal” assessment tool.

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Whole Carcass Pricing Profitability Tools

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Whole Carcass Pricing Profitability Tools

Hands-on opportunity to fabricate different retail cuts for a diverse marketplace

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Improving Knife Skills (trimming, deboning, denuding)

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Improving Knife Skills (trimming, deboning, denuding)

Learn how to make processing realities match your business needs. Identify common mishaps and strategize about how to effectively communicate expectations.

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Cut sheet trial and error

Discuss muscle, function, and marketability.

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Cooking, Texture, Tenderness, Taste

Learn about trends in meat markets, tips for getting to know your customers, and messaging that SELLS from top industry butcher shop owners and niche meat professionals.

Women Working in the Meat Business:Topics Covered: Best Practices for Marketing Meat:

Pre/Post Evaluations:100% of participants unanimously reported greater understanding and improved confidence in each category of topics covered in the workshop

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Major Take-Aways

020406080

100120

PrePost

Most Popular Topics:• Pricing and Business Focus• Hands-on Learning• Developing a Professional Network of Female

Colleagues

Most Popular Skills/Take-Aways:• How to talk to their processors and negotiate

pricing/business relations.• Empowered them to apply marketing techniques

and business tools to their business.• Greater network of resources and an increased

professional network.

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Major Take-Aways

“I have a better understanding of the cuts and where they come from, how to use them, etc. but more importantly, I learned more about how much to

charge….”

“Because of this training, I have worked more closely with my butcher and put real effort into that conversation. My meat sales have increased over 47% this year...”

“I can now ask for more specific cuts of meat from my processor, and therefore

increase profit.”

““I've learned WHO can help me when I need an answer. WHAT opportunities exist within the meat community to get products. The vast specialized knowledge base within the group”

“This conference has radically improved my ability to speak to both customers and

producers.”

Women Working in the Meat Business:Quotes

Amy Price Neff: Pendulum Fine Meats

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Meredith Leigh: The Ethical Meat Handbook

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Eliza MacLean: Mobile Butcher Shop

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Ann Rose: Rose Mountain Butcher Shoppe

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Kari Underly: Mucolo Meat Academy

Women Working in the Meat Business:Outcomes: Business Start-Ups!

Women Working in the Meat Business:Spreading the Word: National Movement

Women Working in the Meat Business:Spreading the Word: National Movement

6 Part Meat Processor Video Series• How to Choose a Processor That’s Right for You• Meat Yield: How Much Am I Getting Back?• Dry Aging Versus Wet Aging• Brining Pork and Value-Added Product • Value-Added Options for Sausage Products• What Packaging Should I Expect?

How to Handle, Slaughter, and Process a Chicken Video

Women Working in the Meat Business:Other Resources

NC Choices: www.ncchoices.com

Contact:Sarah Blacklinsarah@ncchoices.comProject ManagerNC Choices 919.928.4771

Amazing Grazing: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/whatwedo/researchunits/amazing-grazing.html

Contact:April Shaefferadshaeff@ncsu.eduResearch Specialist, NCSU919-515-4005

Thank You!SAVE THE DATE!Upcoming Women Workshops:

JUNE 2ND:Amazing Grazing: Pasture Management for Women Cattle Producers

NC Choices: Meat for Market Workshop (for Women in the Meat Industry)