Agricultural News
Coyle,Okla., Farmer Wayne Whitmore Sells Beef DirectTo Consumers At Farmer's Markets
Wed, 06 May 2020 14:04:29 CDT
Selling direct to consumers is a common idea circulating among beef producers today as the COVID-19 pandemic has interfered with the normal food supply chain. The practice has long been used by Wayne Whitmore, Coyle, Okla., to sell meat, eggs and vegetables from his farm. He recently talked with Radio Oklahoma Agriculture Network Farm Editor Sam Knipp about the business.
Whitmore is a fixture at Farmer's Markets in central Oklahoma, including Stillwater and Edmond. Whitmore is pictured with the cowboy hat in the photo with this article, which was taken during last year's market in Edmond.
"Meat sales are up a little, compared to normal," Whitmore said during opening day of the Edmond market May 2.
Whitmore said he has been selling about one quarter of a carcass each week, which is about 160 pounds of finished beef.
"It's really a management process with beef, Whitmore said. "You don't just go out there and pull one up. We have to plan a year in advance on getting beef ready for retail."
The long-term plan for selling retail beef is not well understood by consumers, Whitmore said.
It's a continual educational process, Whitmore said, as he considers himself a teacher and salesman as much as a farmer.
"I feel like I am an ambassador for all farmers as people are coming out here eager to learn," Whitmore said.
The Coyle farmer said he has no plans to expand his beef production.
"I am not jumping on the band wagon, Whitmore said. "I just happened to have a few extra head on feed this spring and was able to get them processed. I am not going to put any extra on feed because by the time they're finished this thing may be over and then I would be stuck with a bunch of fat calves I couldn't do anything with."
When asked about the profitability, the central Oklahoma farmer said it is difficult to find any profit on the farm today.
"I am about as diversified as possible as I have everything from honeybees to chickens, beef, wheat and vegetables," Whitmore said, and he added there is no money in anything.
To hear the complete interview with Whitmore, click on the listen bar below.
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