There's a great historical novel about a family of cattle drivers in Florida by Patrick Smith call "A Land Remembered". It is a fun read, and even though it is fiction, it nicely covers that time period. I expect you have read this.
I would be fine if beef got more pricy a bit. Ideally it'd lead to adoption of older beef eating habits, finding ways to eat the guts, connective tissues and other cuts and not just ground beef and steak
I moved to Hillsborough County in 1984. There were cattle everywhere. The intersection of I-4 and 301 was surrounded by cattle. In fact, Nebraska Avenue in Tampa got its name from long ago cattle drives. All gone now. Hopefully we can hang on to what we have. Thanks for shedding light on this important topic.
In Florida, Deseret Ranch is (IIRC) the second-largest landowner, after St. Joe paper company. They raise a lot of cattle. But near where my family lives, they've been converting hundreds of acres of pastureland into solar farms.
That's not because solar is more profitable than cattle. It's because solar + "green energy" subsidies = more profitable than cattle, at least in the short term. No word yet on what happens to that land after the panels reach the end of their useful lives. Who is responsible for removing or replacing them? What about disposal? Can the land be turned back into pasture with all that junk stuck in the ground?
Great article. I would love to see this topic elevated and dispersed into the public discourse in a larger way. I recently came upon a Farm/Ranch whose business model, it seems, has the potential to revolutionize the small farms/ranches distribution dilemma. Polyface Farms, located in Swoope, Virginia. People sign up and order online, then pick up their orders at a prearranged date/location near to the customers. The farm delivers throughout the State of Virginia. I think it's a great model and hopefully it is regulated, but not OVER regulated.
There's a great historical novel about a family of cattle drivers in Florida by Patrick Smith call "A Land Remembered". It is a fun read, and even though it is fiction, it nicely covers that time period. I expect you have read this.
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I would be fine if beef got more pricy a bit. Ideally it'd lead to adoption of older beef eating habits, finding ways to eat the guts, connective tissues and other cuts and not just ground beef and steak
We get local grassfed beef for about 6 dollars a pound in the Midwest, practically a steal compared to other places. Massive taste difference
I moved to Hillsborough County in 1984. There were cattle everywhere. The intersection of I-4 and 301 was surrounded by cattle. In fact, Nebraska Avenue in Tampa got its name from long ago cattle drives. All gone now. Hopefully we can hang on to what we have. Thanks for shedding light on this important topic.
In Florida, Deseret Ranch is (IIRC) the second-largest landowner, after St. Joe paper company. They raise a lot of cattle. But near where my family lives, they've been converting hundreds of acres of pastureland into solar farms.
That's not because solar is more profitable than cattle. It's because solar + "green energy" subsidies = more profitable than cattle, at least in the short term. No word yet on what happens to that land after the panels reach the end of their useful lives. Who is responsible for removing or replacing them? What about disposal? Can the land be turned back into pasture with all that junk stuck in the ground?
As far as I know, Massie's PRIME act is still waiting around for sponsors in Congress.
It'd help break that stranglehold, by helping small farmers using local small slaughterhouse facilities, to access markets.
Great article. I would love to see this topic elevated and dispersed into the public discourse in a larger way. I recently came upon a Farm/Ranch whose business model, it seems, has the potential to revolutionize the small farms/ranches distribution dilemma. Polyface Farms, located in Swoope, Virginia. People sign up and order online, then pick up their orders at a prearranged date/location near to the customers. The farm delivers throughout the State of Virginia. I think it's a great model and hopefully it is regulated, but not OVER regulated.
This is a new concern. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.