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The New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. (NYFVI) provides New York's farmers and producers with access to a network of faculty, research scientists, Extension educators, and agriculture and business specialists experienced in the diverse aspects of farm production, management, business planning/structuring, food and value-added processing, integrated pest management, waste management and marketing.
Halal Premium Meats, LLC, is one example of the business structure planning assistance made available by the Institute to help start new enterprises. As representatives of the NYFVI, Brian Henehan and Judith Barry of Cornell's Applied Economics and Management Department worked closely with John Umlauf, CEO/Marketing for the Halal Premium Meats, LLC.
“We had a good idea for producing premium Halal meats; we knew we had customers, interested producers and a group of Muslim investors, but we had no clue how to put the pieces together,” Umlauf says. “This New York Farm Viability Institute project helped us form a farmer cooperative and an investor-owned fi rm that are now working productively in a joint venture.” Umlauf estimates that this start-up enterprise will connect with 50 producers, all from family-owned farms, will immediately create three full-time job positions, and, by its second year, be selling 200-plus cattle and 2000-plus lambs and kids annually at top of the market pricing.
NYFVI Board Member Steve Griffen notes that business planning and business structuring are a big part of New York Farm Viability Institute projects.
“Planning is important to ensure business success. Hearing about these projects should have your heart pumping with the excitement of new viability, growth and productivity for New York agriculture. These projects are the proof that the New York Farm Viability Institute is doing the right thing.”
The NYFVI is a producer-led, independent, not-for-profit corporation that funds research, extension and innovative technologies for New York agricultural and horticultural industries. The Institute's goal is to support projects that directly benefit the agricultural and horticultural industries at the producer enterprise level. Three grant programs provided funding opportunities for the operators of farms of all sizes and across all commodity areas.
For more information, contact the New York Farm Viability Institute, 159 Dwight Park Circle, Suite 104, Syracuse, NY 13209, 315-453-3823, www.nyfarmviability.org