409: What You Don’t Know About Pennsylvania’s Cattle Industry with Amanda Butterfield

When you think about the U.S. cattle industry, Pennsylvania probably isn’t the first state that comes to mind. Amanda Butterfield joins Lauren today on the Cattle USA Daily Podcast to share what beef production looks like in western Pennsylvania, how she and her husband built a first-generation operation to more than 100 brood cows, and why the Eastern U.S. deserves a bigger place in the cattle industry conversation. Amanda also dives into Pennsylvania’s unique production environment, the challenges of farming near growing populations, the recent changes to the state’s beef processing infrastructure, and Beefing Up Backpacks, a program providing beef sticks to food-insecure children while creating a new market for beef.

Links:

Beefing up Backpacks: https://www.pabeef.org/education/pennsylvania-beef-foundation/beefing-up-backpacks

Connect with Amanda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-butterfield-62561a77/

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Key Takeaways:

• Pennsylvania plays a significant role in the U.S. beef industry despite being outside the traditional cattle belt
• First-generation farmers can build successful operations by seeking out mentors, using available resources and being willing to learn
• Intensive grazing allows Pennsylvania producers to make efficient use of smaller, more fragmented pieces of farmland
• Agriculture near large population centers faces unique challenges from development and high land values, but also has opportunities to connect directly with consumers
• Beef producers can create new demand for beef while serving their communities through programs like Beefing Up Backpacks
• The future of agriculture depends on opening the door for people who did not grow up on farms and giving them opportunities to learn and belong

Chapters:

01:03 – From Suburban Girl to Pennsylvania Cattle Producer
03:10 – The Eastern Side of the Beef Industry
03:59 – What Makes Pennsylvania Agriculture Different?
07:39 – Building a First-Generation Farm
11:29 – The Challenges of Starting From Scratch
13:26 – Pennsylvania’s Role in the Cattle Industry
14:31 – Changes to Pennsylvania’s Beef Processing Industry
17:32 – Farming Near a Growing Population
18:19 – Land Prices, Development and Agriculture
21:00 – Beefing Up Backpacks
23:33 – Creating Demand for Beef While Feeding Kids
25:10 – The Next Generation of Agriculture

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