Extension Small Ruminant Webinars on Direct Marketing scheduled for February and March
Gene Schriefer
Madison, WI – Lamb and goat is difficult to find in many grocery stores. One of the lessons that the current pandemic has emphasized is interest by consumers in knowing and having better access to what farmers are growing. Also growing is the demand from consumers with a cultural tradition of consuming lamb and goat. Direct marketing to consumer provides an opportunity to move product; however, there are additional challenges to consider in order to make this a successful profitable addition to the farm.
These webinars are designed to help producers, who are considering this marketing alternative, to navigate this new area.
• Feb. 17, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: Getting your timing right: producing for the ethnic markets will focus on Ethnic Marketing and will feature Logan Edenfield with Equity Livestock Markets and University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension agricultural educators - Amanda Young, Ashley Olson and Lyssa Seefeldt reviewing the Ethnic calendar and what type of lamb or goat is ideal for each.
• March 17, 2021, 7:30 p.m.: Building your brand for the future, innovative marketing will focus on branding and marketing your farm or products and will feature Leslie Svacina from Cylon Rolling Acres. UW-Madison Extension agricultural educators Lyssa Seefeldt and Heather Schlesser will host and facilitate the discussion.
• March 23, 2021, 7 p.m.: Bonus webinar – please note earlier time: Direct Marketing Meat and Introduction to Meat Suite. Matt LeRoux, Cornell Cooperative Extension, developed Meat Suite to assist direct marketers in pricing their product after it leaves the farm gate, each different marketing approach comes with different costs and Meat Suite helps compare alternative marketing approaches so you price your product right.
The Small Ruminant webinar series, part of Extension’s Farm Ready Research series, provides a new spin on the long-standing and popular sheep production video conferencing series that connected sheep and goat producers around the state.
There is no charge to participate in the sessions, but pre-registration is required to allow access to the session. Extension recognizes that producers are receiving information for a lot of meetings this winter; the Farm Ready Research webinar website http://go.wisc.edu/FarmReadyResearch is your place to find all information about UW-Madison Extension Agriculture programs.
A sample week of Extension agricultural webinars begins on Tuesdays with Badger Dairy Insight from
1-2:30 p.m. and Wisconsin Beef Special Edition from 7-8:30 p.m.; Wednesdays focus on Small Ruminants from 7:30 – 9 p.m.; and then it’s Farm Management Fridays from 11 a.m. – noon.
Gene Schriefer
UW-Madison
Division of Extension
Ag Educator