Ken's Lean Beef
Whole Farm Planning
Ken Peterson owns and operates a beef cow-calf operation in Tamarack, Minnesota,
and directly markets his grass-fed, lean, chemical and hormone-free beef. The
goal of this farm can be best
summarized in the phrase “Whole Farm Planning (WFP) which, Ken says, “is a process
of decision making that includes every aspect of your farm, from quality of life
to goal setting.”
Ken tries to, in his words, “change a little corner of the world.” Between a
trip to Washington, D.C. for the Rally for Rural America, his efforts to revive
the Lake Superior Meat Coop, and his responsibilities as a member of the planning
committee for the Harvest Festival in Northeastern Minnesota, he still finds time
to tend to his farm.
Healthy Production Practices
WFP means that as many factors as possible are taken into account in production
practices. The cows are used to fertilize all of the permanent pastures and are
fed round bales in the fields in the winter. By using rotational grazing Ken is
able to reduce the stress on the land, as the cows move every two days to a new
area of pasture. The pastures are frost seeded with red clover and trefoil early
in the spring, adding to the healthy diet of the herd. When the snow is too deep
in the winter for easy mobility of the animals, feeding takes place in a lot,
where the manure is composted and spread on hayfields. Grass filter strips are
used in any area that may be a problem, and are effective in controlling runoff.
Because Ken’s Lean Beef is a direct market enterprise, solutions have been necessary
to address the questions of availability and sales. “As farmers, we have learned
how to produce, but marketing has always been left to retail stores,” said Ken.
This is where the now defunct Lake Superior Meat Coop enters the picture. Ken,
along with a group of local Northeastern Minnesota farmers, many from the
Duluth area, is attempting to revive the coop. The goal of the proposed coop
would be to create new markets for meat raised in healthy and sustainable environments
and to encourage more direct marketing. A coop would provide a centralized base
for meat producers and would expand the range of the potential market for their
product.
Ken also gives summer farm tours, which are free and open to the public. You
can enjoy lunch on his farm and view Whole Farm Planning in action. Whether it
is in the political arena addressing issues of sustainability and small family
farms, in the community rallying support for the Lake Superior Meat Coop, or on
his farm, Ken is committed to local farming. His grass-fed, hormone and chemical-free
beef cows and calves are a testament to his interest in rethinking current farming
practices. The results speak for themselves, as his lean beef is enjoyed by people
in Northeastern Minnesota as well as across the region.
Ken's Lean Beef
Ken Peterson
Regions:
MinnesotaOrganization type:
Business - cooperativeBusiness - family


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