Sourcing feed products made simple with platform for farmers, ranchers and suppliers.
Farmers and ranchers have a new tool to find or list hay and co-product feedstuffs for sale: Feedstuff Finder, developed by University of Missouri Extension for individuals looking to buy or sell products.
As drought and transportation issues make finding quality feed ingredients difficult, Feedstuff Finder helps livestock producers and feed producers find each other easily. Sourcing and pricing alternative feed sources is made more intuitive with the website’s mapping tool, said Wesley Tucker, MU Extension agricultural business specialist.
Sellers of co-products like soyhulls, distillers grains or corn gluten feed, as well as forages like corn silage or hay, can share prices, product information and locations with potential buyers at no cost, he said. Buyers can view available products on an easy-to-navigate map, complete with product details and a delivery cost estimator. Feedstuff listings are free and can be sorted by forage or co-product type and price per unit.
“We hope to see Feedstuff Finder become the go-to platform for suppliers and livestock producers in Missouri,” Tucker said. “This is a one-of-a-kind tool that can better connect the industry and make sourcing local feed products easier. This winter, many Missouri cattle producers are going to be searching for feed. A lot of hay and other feed ingredients are going to be hauled into and around Missouri. Feedstuff Finder can make the job of keeping livestock fed easier.”
Feed is the most significant cost for many livestock producers, and major market risks exist as a variety of factors can affect the availability, cost and quality of feedstuff products. As MU Extension works to double the value of Missouri agriculture, assisting the state’s farmers and ranchers in mitigating risk is of particular importance, Tucker said.
“Feedstuff Finder has been developed to make farmers’ lives simpler,” said MU Extension agricultural economist Ryan Milhollin. “The platform helps producers and consumers of feedstuffs geographically find each other, cut transportation costs and manage tight winter feed supplies when feed costs and availability can be volatile.”
MU Extension is collaborating with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the MU Agricultural Electronic Bulletin Board to populate directories and help users become familiar with Feedstuff Finder. Instructional videos, in-person training and other resources will be available to assist new users.
Visit www.FeedstuffFinder.org to view feedstuff product listings; individuals can create a free account to post products for sale.
University of Missouri Extension offers producers a range of decision-making tools and workshops to support farm business management and agricultural landowner decisions. Learn more at www.muext.us/AgBusiness, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AgBusinessMU.
Funding for this project was provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 2021-70027-34694.
