Independent Beef Ranchers In Oklahoma Concerned As Demand For Local Meat Declines

Oklahoma ranchers said business was booming during the pandemic when so many people were having their meat delivered but now, things are slowing down.

During the start of the pandemic, local ranchers say the demand was extremely high for local meat, but are worried people are going back to buying from large corporations. Jake Miller takes his Outwest Farms van all over Oklahoma, hand-delivering beef, lamb, and pork by the pound.

"It's starting to slow down a little bit, but it's understandable," Miller said.

Miller's farm is in Cleveland and he said last year during the beginning of the pandemic, they were making 30 deliveries a trip. Now, it's about 10.

"If you buy local, you're not affecting a corporation, you are affecting a local farm and family," Miller said.

This week, a cyber-attack closed down one of the world's largest meat processing companies which supplies a fourth of the beef to the nation. Miller said he's concerned about people forgetting there are so many ranchers right next door.

"Some people are falling back into the old ways," Miller said.

Marie Bush owns Tallgrass Heritage, a grass-fed beef delivery service from her family's ranch in Osage County. She said her biggest issue has been finding people to process her beef but the demand for her beef has been great.

"Lack of availability and quality control issues," Bush said.

Both Miller and Bush said they would like more control over their product and are hoping to start their own processing facilities, but for now, they just urge Oklahomans to keep buying local.

"Oklahoma should generally move away from buying any beef in the grocery store," Bush said. "This is cattle country."