ITHACA, N.Y. — Financial analysis of beef stocker enterprises across the US has shown that in 7 of the last 10 years, summer grazing of cattle has been profitable. Despite this and the abundance of high-quality forage, inexpensive grazing land, and purchased feeder prices below the national average, the number of stocker operations in New York State remains small. The Cornell Beef Extension program and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets have teamed up to get to the bottom of why this is so.

Take the Stocker Survey by clicking here.

Whether you are actively farming or exploring options, your feedback will be very helpful in discovering the main barriers here in NY to entering this profitable enterprise, which is flourishing in border states. Analysis of the data from this survey will be used to support the competitiveness and profitability of NYS beef producers.  Depending on your answers, the survey takes approximately 5 minutes or less.  Your participation is anonymous and confidential.  Please click on the link above to take survey and thank you for your participation.

For more information, contact Audia Denton, Project Manager, 607-255-8497, ad982@cornell.edu or Michael Baker, Cornell Beef Extension Specialist, 607-255-5923, mjb28@cornell.edu.

Funded by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets project “Stocker cattle: Using underutilized grasslands to improve economic viability of the Southern Tier while providing viable careers for beginning farmers.”

–Stocker Cattle Initiative
Department of Animal Science
Cornell University

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