Shared Cost Meat Processing for Livestock Producers – Co-ops and Collaboration

The Shared Cost Meat Processing for Livestock Producers – Co-ops and Collaboration webinar introduces farmers, ranchers and local meat and poultry processors to opportunities and challenges in establishing or expanding local meat and poultry enterprises. Farmers, ranchers, and local meat and poultry processors will learn about the benefits and obstacles of establishing or developing local meat and poultry operations in the Shared Cost Meat Processing for Livestock Producers – Co-ops and Collaboration webinar. The presentations cover corporate structures that can help smaller scale farms and processing, such as cooperatives and other collaborative business entities, in addition to market demand and restrictions. Each presenter has extensive expertise in rural cooperative and business development, including meat processing and marketing, as well as obtaining grants and financing options that are critical for small-scale operations.

Presenter(s): Steve Richards (SC Center for Cooperative Enterprise Development), Jim Matson (Matson Consulting), Tony Banks (VA FAIRS) and Tom Beckett (Carolina Common Enterprise).


Value Added Producer Grant 2021: Filling Out The Expense Report Webinar

The VAPG Webinar gives beneficiaries an overview of expenses, reimbursement mechanisms, budgeting, and reporting. This presentation also answers some frequently asked questions and gives contact information for additional assistance with post-award paperwork completion.

Presenter(s): Jim Matson, Jessica Shaw, Wie Gartman, Steve Richards


Grant and Resources 101

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture, The Agribusiness Center for Research and Entrepreneurship, The Specialty Crop Association, Clemson Extension, SCORE, and Matson Consulting resources and grants are addressed and examined throughout the states in this presentation.

Moderator: LauraKate McAllister

Presenter: Jessica Shaw


USDA Value-Added Producer Grant

This presentation aids agricultural producers in understanding and navigating the value-added enterprises such as product processing and marketing. The program’s objectives are to develop new products, enhance producer revenue, and establish and extend marketing opportunities.

Presenter: James Matson, Jessica Shaw


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What Should I Be? An Operator’s Guide to Food Hub Structure
This presentation discusses the different business structures available to food hub operators and their effects on operations, such as tax liability, capital acquisition, risk management, and growth opportunities. The wide variety of structures through which a hub can organize under include multiple tax designations, legal structures, and operational models, leading to a system in which businesses can pick and choose organizational structures which best suit their needs and situation.

Presenter: James Matson
Presented at the 2016 National Good Food Network Conference
Atlanta, Georgia. March, 2016.


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From Barley to Beer: A Guide for On Farm Brewing
This presentation looks at the growing craft brewing industry and gives an overview to some of the main factors needed in starting up a small brewing company. Information such as malting practices, industry overview, startup processes, and financial expectations are included to provide a guideline to the beginner small brewer.

Presenter: James Matson
Presented at the 2016 National Small Farm Conference
Virginia Beach, Virginia. September 20-22, 2016.


What Intermediate Food Buyers Are Looking For
This presentation discusses the different factors which food buyers look for from potential suppliers. This information is key to producers who are looking to grow their buyer base, or new growers who need to know what to do to attract larger scale buyers.

Moderator: Martin Eubanks, SCDA
Presenter: James Matson
Presented at the 2016 SC AgriBiz and Farm Expo
Florence, South Carolina. January 14, 2016.


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Federal Grants: What to do?
In this presentation, James Matson discusses Federal Grants and important information to keep in mind before and during an application process. By learning about the available grants and the grant process, individuals and businesses can be more prepared for what this process entails.

Moderator: Bryant Sansbury, ArborOne Farm Credit
Presenter: James Matson
Presented at the 2016 SC AgriBiz and Farm Expo
Florence, South Carolina. January 13, 2016.


Buying Local?
James Matson and Jacob Brimlow
Presented at the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association 2015 Annual Meeting
San Francisco, California. PowerPoint Presentation. July 28, 2015.


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The Million Dollar Question: What is break-even and viability for different food hub models?
In this National Good Food Network webinar, James Matson and Jim Barham explore the “magic numbers” for different food hub models reaching profitability and true viability. Hypothetical food hub models in this presentation are wholesale, retail, and hybrid models. By evaluating these hubs, you can determine how finances may change as certain parameters are adjusted.

Presenters: James Matson, Matson Consulting and Jim Barham, USDA’s Rural Development.
National Good Food Network. March 19,2015.


A Presentation on Sandhills Farm to Table Case Study
James Matson
Presented at the 16th Annual National Value-Added Agriculture Conference
Baltimore, Maryland. PowerPoint Presentation. May 14, 2014.

Wallace Center Food Hub 2014 conference

Getting the Margin to Meet the Mission Audio
The audio clip above features a plenary session that was held in Raleigh, NC on March 27. The session focuses on food hub viability and presents a panel of food hub operators and consultants who discuss the operating strategies of food hubs and how increasing financial viability can make their desired community impact become a reality that can be sustained in the coming years.

Moderator: Gary Matteson, Farm Credit Council
Presenters: Sarah Lloyd (Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative), Sean Buchanan (Black River Produce), Tony Serrano (ALBA Organics), Kathy Nyquist (New Venture Advisors), Jim Matson (Matson Consulting), and Jim Slama (FamilyFarmed.org)
NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference. March 2014.


Wallace Center Food Hub 2014 conference

Multi-Stakeholder Benefits and Opportunities Audio
The audio clip above is from the Multi-Stakeholder Benefits and Opportunities workshop that was held in Raleigh, NC on March 28. It features a panel of food hub operators who discuss the challenges, incentive structures, and the information flow associated with multi-stakeholder food hubs.

Moderator: James Matson
Panelists: Laura Theis (Idaho’s Bounty Co-op), Diane Chapeta (Fifth Season Co-op), Sandi Kronick (Eastern Carolina Organics), and Steve Peters (Sandhills Farm to Table)
NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference. March 2014.


James Matson & Micaela Fischer
Presented at the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference.
Raleigh, NC. Powerpoint Presentation. March 27, 2014.


Case Study for a Small Farm Cidery
Joan Walker
Presented at the Third International Conference on Food Studies.
Austin, Texas. Powerpoint Presentation. October 16, 2013.


Food Hubs: Supply Chain Traceability to Enhance Rural Sustainability
James Matson and Jeremiah Thayer
Presented at the Third International Conference on Food Studies.
Austin, Texas. Powerpoint Presentation. October 16, 2013.

“Pricing Your Product: Setting the Sale Price”
James Matson
Presented at the 2012 Local Foods Network Workshop: “Taking the Product to Market.”
Spencer, Virginia. PowerPoint Presentation. October 2012.


Food Hubs: Issues, Opportunities, and Propositions for Practitioners
James Matson and Richard Heiens
Presented at the International Management Development Association’s Twenty-First  Annual World Business Congress.
Helsinki, Finland. PowerPoint Presentation. July 2012.