Family Farms are moving to organic production and more direct sales techniques to increase their revenues.
Local family farming operations go organic
In central Illinois, folks are fairly accustomed to seeing cattle grazing in the fields, but the Bowmans are one of a few area farm families who are raising their cows differently these days. Within the past five years or so, they have begun to raise organically produced cattle and sell them through their business, known as Sangamon Valley Cattle Co.
“We had all this ground and grass — it is the perfect place to do this,” Stacy says. “Plus, we wanted to know where our food was coming from.” At first the couple just raised a few cattle for their own personal use, but as more people began to ask about buying the meat, they began to slowly increase their business.
Every year or so, the Bowmans buy about 20 steers from a certified organic cattle dealer in central Illinois. The steers are about 11 months old and weigh approximately 500 pounds at the time of purchase. They grow to about 1,050 pounds to 1,100 pounds before they are sent to market.
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