Local Meat Processing Resources
BAV has created resources for livestock farmers and meat processors to make navigating the local and regional meat processing supply chain easier and more accessible. Browse resources below!
NEW! Meat Workshop Series Launches in Winter-Spring 2025
A series of special FREE workshops for livestock producers is happening January through May. Please see details below about our upcoming February 10 workshop, Meat Costing and Pricing. Note that priority for these popular workshops is being given to livestock farmers in the Berkshire-Taconic region.
The Livestock Cost of Production Calculator: A comprehensive tool to help you determine your cost of production to aid in appropriate meat pricing. Download the Excel spreadsheet and use for your farm business.
The Basic Guide to Meat Literacy: Includes cut diagrams for beef, pork, and small ruminants, as well as a glossary of butchery terms, cooking methods, and more.
NEW! Three Newly Developed Resources for Livestock Farmers
Understanding State and Federal Meat Processing Regulations: A comprehensive guide for livestock farmers jointly developed by AgriForaging Food Safety and Berkshire Agricultural Ventures. Chapters address HACCP, labeling, inspections and regulation, animal welfare, and other topics.
Food Safety HACCP Hotline
BAV and AgriForaging Food Safety are proud to be partnering and introduce our State & Federal Meat & Poultry Compliance Food Safety HACCP Hotline – your direct line to expertise, guidance, and peace of mind. Click the image to learn more.
Livestock Farmers’ Resource Guide
This is a resource guide for livestock farmers that details processors, regional transportation, cold storage, and sales options. We are excited about the connections and collaborations that this tool may support.
This resource will continue to expand, so check back again if you find it useful - and let us know if there are other tabs or entries you'd like to see in this guide!
If you offer relevant services, or know of someone that does, and would like to be included in our resource lists, please fill out this entry form.
Stay Informed! Join The Meat Up
The Meat Up is facilitated by the Local Meat Processing Support Program which coordinates a Listserv and distributes a newsletter. Learn more about The Meat Up Listserv and Newsletter below.
The Listserv
The Meat Up Listserv is a forum for livestock farmers, processors, and those who work in the middle of the meat value chain in Eastern NY and SW New England to share information, discuss issues related to meat processing, post and view questions, jobs, opportunities, funding and collaborations, support each other, and collaborate.
Who can join?
Livestock and dairy producers
Meat processors
Those involved in storage, transportation, or distribution/aggregation of meat products
Service providers for livestock farmers and/or meat processors
Work in or collaborate with those who work in Eastern NY or Southwestern New England
In your request, please describe your connection to meat processing in the region so we can ensure that this community remains aligned with our intention for the forum (1-2 sentences).
The Newsletter
The Meat Up Newsletter shares updates and opportunities in regional meat production and processing in Eastern NY and SW New England.
We send out 6 newsletters each year, one every other month.
It is our intention that this newsletter will serve to connect and inform the various folks who are involved in the meat supply chain in our area, so that we can support livestock producer viability and improve the availability of local meat products for consumers.
We skew toward information that is most relevant to people working in meat production or processing, but we welcome all to join here!
Published Meat Up Newsletters: