Study: Northeast Farmers Could Profit From Grass-Fed Beef If They Expand, Join Forces
New York state and New England have optimal conditions for grass-fed beef production — with an abundance of pasturelands and forage — but higher production costs have made farmers wary of expanding operations.
In a new analysis, published in Agricultural Systems on March 25, researchers find that grass-fed beef can compete with grain-fed beef in the region, even given those higher costs and prices for consumers — particularly if operations are scaled up, either through larger farms or farm cooperatives, which could drop production costs and prices by 24%.
The study comes as the demand for grass-fed beef is on the rise, particularly in the region’s urban markets, where consumers want a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative to grain-fed beef and are willing to pay higher prices for it.