Livestock Producers Survey

Wayne Tomorrow - Livestock Producer Survey

This survey will help us evaluate the potential for growth in the livestock sector of agriculture in Wayne County. It will also be used to assist in determining the feasibility of a USDA slaughter facility located in Wayne County.

All information gathered is confidential. Personal contact will be made only to those requesting it.

Any questions should be directed to Robert Muller at 570-253-0930 or rmuller@waynecountypa.gov

Return Completed Surveys to;

Wayne Conservation District, 648 Park Street, Honesdale PA 18431

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* 1. 1. What County are you located in?

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* 2. 2. What type of livestock do you maintain?

Beef

Swine

Goat

Sheep

Other (please specify)

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* 3. 3. How many of the above animals does your operation support?

Beef

Swine

Goat

Sheep

Other

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* 4. 4. Do you raise your animals to a finished weight?

Yes

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* 5. 5. If you answered “yes” above, how many do you finish in a year?

Beef

Swine

Goat

Sheep

Other

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* 6. 6. How are the animals handled after finishing

Sold Live to Individual

Sold Live to Processor

Slaughtered for Personal Use

Slaughtered and sold as custom order

Slaughtered and retailed from Home

Slaughtered and sold to larger Market

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* 7. 7. Do you feel there is a need for a USDA Inspected Slaughterhouse in Wayne County

Yes

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* 8. 8. If there were another USDA Slaughterhouse located in Wayne County would you;

Maintain Existing Herd Size

Increase Herd Size

Change My Operation to Direct Market

Increase My Direct Market

Participate in a Food Hub or Consolidator to sell my Product

Other (please specify)

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* 9. 9. If you do not finish your livestock, what is done with them?

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* 10. How many usable acres do you have to support your operation?

Owned

Rented

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* 11. If you expanded your operation is there land available to support it?

Yes

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* 12. What would be most helpful to you in increasing the profitability of your operation?

	Very Important	Important	Not Important
Livestock Production Education	Livestock Production Education Very Important	Livestock Production Education Important	Livestock Production Education Not Important
Pasture/hay management education	Pasture/hay management education Very Important	Pasture/hay management education Important	Pasture/hay management education Not Important
Quality Assurance education	Quality Assurance education Very Important	Quality Assurance education Important	Quality Assurance education Not Important
Animal disease and vaccination	Animal disease and vaccination Very Important	Animal disease and vaccination Important	Animal disease and vaccination Not Important
Market assistance for grouping animals	Market assistance for grouping animals Very Important	Market assistance for grouping animals Important	Market assistance for grouping animals Not Important
Market assistance for shipping animals	Market assistance for shipping animals Very Important	Market assistance for shipping animals Important	Market assistance for shipping animals Not Important
Development of local feedlot for retained ownership	Development of local feedlot for retained ownership Very Important	Development of local feedlot for retained ownership Important	Development of local feedlot for retained ownership Not Important
Development of a regional brand for marketing	Development of a regional brand for marketing Very Important	Development of a regional brand for marketing Important	Development of a regional brand for marketing Not Important
Construction of regional USDA slaughter/processing facility	Construction of regional USDA slaughter/processing facility Very Important	Construction of regional USDA slaughter/processing facility Important	Construction of regional USDA slaughter/processing facility Not Important
Financial Assistance - Incentive Programs	Financial Assistance - Incentive Programs Very Important	Financial Assistance - Incentive Programs Important	Financial Assistance - Incentive Programs Not Important
Financial Assistance - Loans	Financial Assistance - Loans Very Important	Financial Assistance - Loans Important	Financial Assistance - Loans Not Important

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* 13. What are the biggest risks you face as a livestock producer?

	Very Important	Important	Not Important
Price Fluctuations	Price Fluctuations Very Important	Price Fluctuations Important	Price Fluctuations Not Important
Feed cost/availability	Feed cost/availability Very Important	Feed cost/availability Important	Feed cost/availability Not Important
Animal Health Issues	Animal Health Issues Very Important	Animal Health Issues Important	Animal Health Issues Not Important
Regulation issues	Regulation issues Very Important	Regulation issues Important	Regulation issues Not Important

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 14. What are the greatest obstacles to you, as a producer, in expanding your operation or adding value to your product you are selling?

	Very Important	Important	Not Important
Cost of Marketing	Cost of Marketing Very Important	Cost of Marketing Important	Cost of Marketing Not Important
Lack of branding that would sell my product	Lack of branding that would sell my product Very Important	Lack of branding that would sell my product Important	Lack of branding that would sell my product Not Important
Lack of enough usable acreage	Lack of enough usable acreage Very Important	Lack of enough usable acreage Important	Lack of enough usable acreage Not Important
Lack of financial capital	Lack of financial capital Very Important	Lack of financial capital Important	Lack of financial capital Not Important
Lack of markets or outlets where a reasonable price can be secured	Lack of markets or outlets where a reasonable price can be secured Very Important	Lack of markets or outlets where a reasonable price can be secured Important	Lack of markets or outlets where a reasonable price can be secured Not Important
Lack of slaughter/processing capacity within a reasonable distance	Lack of slaughter/processing capacity within a reasonable distance Very Important	Lack of slaughter/processing capacity within a reasonable distance Important	Lack of slaughter/processing capacity within a reasonable distance Not Important
Lack of sufficient profit to justify expansion	Lack of sufficient profit to justify expansion Very Important	Lack of sufficient profit to justify expansion Important	Lack of sufficient profit to justify expansion Not Important
Lack of technical expertise	Lack of technical expertise Very Important	Lack of technical expertise Important	Lack of technical expertise Not Important

Other (please specify)

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* 15. Do you have any additional ideas or comments you'd like to share with us?

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* 16. If you would like to participate in activities related to developing the livestock sector of Wayne County please provide your contact information below. The information will only be used for this purpose.[Optional].

Name:

Company:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip Code:

Email Address:

Phone Number: