Pa. marketing network supports beef producers

WAYNESBURG, Pa. — Western Pennsylvania’s beef producers have developed a marketing non-profit organization, Keystone Beef Marketing Network, to boost their bottom lines by improving market prices.

KBMN was formed with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the Center for Beef Excellence to help Pennsylvania beef farmers selling feeder calves, yearlings and fed cattle deal with inconsistent marketplace pricing.

Purpose

KBMN’s objective is to coordinate western Pennsylvania livestock marketing efforts, and its board of directors includes active local beef producers and livestock sale barn operators.

Keystone Beef Marketing Network and United Producers Inc. have a management agreement that offers several marketing avenues for beef feeder calves, yearlings and fed cattle and financing, risk management, retained feeding ownership and procurement services for producers.

Two sales representatives were hired to implement the KBMN marketing plan. Blaine Winger will coordinate the project and cover western Pennsylvania and Glenn Eberly will assist in central Pennsylvania

Contacts

For information on selling or purchasing beef cattle and related services or any questions about the Keystone Beef Marketing Network, contact Winger at 724-996-8608 or Eberly at 717-943-2962.

Valued at 1.8 billion dollars, Pennsylvania’s beef industry accounts for the majority of livestock sales in the state. The commonwealth is home to nearly 1.6 million cattle and calves on 26,000 dairy and beef farms, and more than 12,000 beef farms that produce more than 200,000 calves annually.