Question

How much do you save on groceries when you buy meat from a farmer? Just curious. We went in on a 1/2 beef for the first time. I’m not a huge meat eater, but hubby is and it’s our first time doing this. I know the cost seems more up front, but I’m wondering how much your grocery bill went down from buying meat from a local farmer instead of grocery store. Thankspically I will pay $7-8 on 1 lb of organic beef from store ‍♀️‍♀️‍♀️and in the end from farmer it will total about $4. 50 a lb. for organic.  

Answer 1

Yall as a farmer please keep going farm direct. It helps so much.  

Comments

@demavend yes! I’m learning so much after this virus. We need our farmers.  

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Yeah moving forward CSA and food coops tend to be more generous to farmer than farmers markets and grocers too. Bonus, you get to eat seasonally too.  

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@demavend yes, we’re ranchers in Hawaii and luckily for us, we process our own meat and sell direct.  

Answer 2

Sounds like a bargain!  

Answer 3

I’ve never bought from the farm, but i definitely see a difference in my grocery bill when i have a stock of meat in my freezer. Sounds like you’re cutting your meat budget almost in half already. I would just have a sinking fund going for the meat that’s separate from your grocery bill.  

Answer 4

We’ve always raised our own meat so I don’t have a great answer for you but personally even if it didn’t SAVE money, I think buying from a farmer is so much better, the meat tastes better and has less grease when cooking

Comments

@bedim yes! Support your local farmers!  

Answer 5

We just got our first 1/2 today! We've been getting "freebies" from hubbies employer for about 8 months, when a cow would break a leg or something they would butcher it and gift it to the guys (small mom and pop trucking company). We've gone from spending $350 every two weeks to about $200/ $250. sizable difference! We think this will last us about 8-10 months. family of 4, kids dont eat beef just yet.  

Answer 6

We haven’t done a cow yet, we have just stuck with ground beef from the butcher, but we typically pay $3. 50-$4. 00 a pound for 97/3 from the butcher - super high quality. I’m lucky if I can find 75/25 for $3. 50 a pound at the grocery store. Ewww

Answer 7

It wouldn’t save us money. We don’t buy expensive cuts of meat. If you are regularly buying beef that costs $7-$8/lb or more then I think you’ll save but we don’t. We only buy expensive cuts of meat once every few months as a treat.  

Comments

@reverence I wish! My hubby is a huge meat eater. I homeschool my children (learning about other countries) and I’m amazed how the American people including my family doesn’t treat meat as a delicacy like other countries do. It’s like for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! I just can’t. My hubby could, but that’s how he was raised. Meat goes on every dish.  

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@concordat we do meat at ever meal but it’s not all red meat. My husband also believes a meal isn’t s meal without meat! But we do pork, chicken, ground beef, etc. For beef I never pay more than $4/lb unless like I said it’s a special treat. The lowest price per lb I can find local to me for 1/4 cow is $6/lb.  

Answer 8

We just bought 40lbs of chicken for $56. Comes out to $1. 40 a pound. In the grocery it’s easily like $4 a pounds

Comments

@maynardmayne5 what state is that?  

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@tierney881 right? I'm in Ca and I pay less than $2 a lb easily

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I am in Wisconsin and chicken breasts here have gone from 1. 69 pre-covid to 3. 50+ per pound now

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I’m in GA but even when I lived in FL that was the price. If you bought in bulk it was easily $3. 69 a lb.  

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@penknife organic whole chickens at aldi s best price $299. 00 chicken breast boneless $5. 29. Virginia

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@tierney881 we don't have aldi's here. That's crazy expensive  

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Does your farmer ship?  

Answer 9

And right now is the time to do it! I have a friend here (NE) who just got a 300# hog for like $85! Only problem is her hubby and son had to go and butcher it because our meat picking plants have closed and meat lockers are all booked. But what a deal huh?  

Comments

@rosario my dude did that last year except we. got the hog for free lol

Answer 10

We purchase meat in bulk every 3 months from the store and spend less than $300. We would spend more buying from farmers

Comments

@concordat Cuff is it organic thought. I am about supporting local but I have to watch pocket too. If it's a good grocery reputable like wegmans here in Virginia. I will buy the organic meat

Answer 11

You will be better off buying from the farmer. I’m raising steers for beef and it will be cheaper for folks to buy from me and plus they know where it’s coming from.  

Answer 12

I just spent $260 on 30 pounds of various types of meats and cuts from a local farm. I’m okay with it because it’s all hormone free and free range and I get more options than what’s available to me at the store right now. I’m curious to know if it will help save on our grocery bill.  

Comments

@valles81 I know before my grocery bill was $230 a week, but I’m wondering if I could slash that in half.  

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@concordat yes! Ever since corona I’ve gone from about $125-$150 a week to easily $200-$250. but we’re all home and eating all meals at home so we are going through a lot more food. I’m mostly happy about supporting local, getting a variety and getting healthier options.  

Answer 13

We just paid $4/lb cut and wrapped. We only got 1/8 of a cow as our toddler wont eat red meat. but we’ll be doing this for the foreseeable future.  

Answer 14

If you are buying direct then you also know for sure your meat came from the USA.  

Answer 15

We sell our beef for $2. 75 a pound. Then the buyer pays for the cut and wrap. It usually comes out to $3. 50/$4 per pound. That’s straight across the board for steaks, roast, burger, etc. plus you know where it came from!  

Comments

@ferule I wish I could find that price here in NY! The best I could find is $6/lb.  

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Yeah unfortunately CA isn't that cheap for beef

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@ferule where are you located?  

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@killdeer Mericle northern Utah.  

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My parents and one sister moved to Arizona. Well I did for a bit but couldn't take it. My parents came to visit last year and got a half of a cow. My family had bought from the same family for years. The only difference is that they had to go with a different family to have it cut and wrapped. So we supported 2 families. And it is local Montana  

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Wow crazy! I have checked everywhere. The cheapest I have found is 4. 40 per lb

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I'm in Ohio

Answer 16

I save around $500 when do bulk meat orders from local butcher.  

Answer 17

I’d love any links and personal recommendations for anywhere in North Texas to buy a steer or hog or meat in bulk from a farmer.  

Comments

@cliquish my friend owns Yonder Way farm here in Texas and they ship to Texans only.  

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Oh! I’ll have to give them a look.  

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@decrease I’ve followed them for years. They are the cutest family. I also follow Ballerina Farm they sell pork and beef and have the cutest family.  

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@haug yes I want to try some of the ballerina farms meat! Those tomahawk steaks look to die for.  

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@decrease yes they do!  

Answer 18

I wouldnt say you save but spend the same and get way higher quality

Answer 19

I don’t think Buying from farmers saves money. We raised our own turkeys and chickens and I know for a fact it is much cheaper to buy meat from the store . But you are getting MUCH better quality and knowing where your meat comes from.  

Comments

In my experience raising meat birds it cost the same as the grocery. But birds need constant grain. Grass fed cattle have much less input costs and the overall price is much lower than the grocery.  

Answer 20

Don't eat beef but I have priced chicken and you don't save but you know the quality.  

Answer 21

By the time you consider the hanging weight vs what you get, I never save money. I do it for the quality, to support local farmers and the better treatment of animals. :)

Comments

@septempartite we raise beef but don’t always keep one back to feed. then we but from a neighbor. The last one I got was $3. 29/lb. for all cuts of meats

Answer 22

We bought half a beef. With processing the total was $974. We received 372 lbs of beef right at $2. 62 a lb including processing.  

Answer 23

We are getting a hog this month and 1/4 beef this month and again in November. Also 5 chickens soon too. Yes more upfront cost but less overall and much higher quality meat. No regrets.  

Answer 24

Only suggestion make sure you have a locking mechanism on the freezer. My friends kid left her freezer open everything was toast. We raised and had our cow butchered the freezer went out and we lost all the meat. Just check it regularly or split between freezers so you don’t loose everything.  

Comments

@manning get a freezer alarm and an outlet alarm!  

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We got a freezer alarm. Its a simple doohickey, battery operated.  

Answer 25

That’s good. $4. 50 on all cuts of meat. steaks, roasts

Comments

@freddie0 yes that’s what we’re getting!  

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@freddie0 This is all the cuts you get plus double for 1/2.  Here are all of the cuts that you get with a quarter beef so just double this with half a beef. These are the average standard cuts for a quarter beef T-Bone Steaks 3 pkgs. avg. 2. 2 lbs = 6. 5 lbs Rib Steaks 4 pkgs. avg. 2. 0 lbs = 8. 0 lbs Fillet Steaks 1 pkg. avg. 1. 25 lbs = 1. 25 lbs Round Steaks 3 pkgs. avg. 1. 75 lbs = 5. 25 lbs Top Sirloin Steaks 3 pkgs. avg. 1. 4 lbs = 4. 25 lbs Skirt Steak 1 pkg. avg. 1. 0 lb = 1. 0 lb Flank Steak 1 pkg. avg. 0. 75 lb = 0. 75 lb Bavette Steak 1 pkg. avg. 1. 5 lbs = 1. 5 lbs Cube Steaks 2 pkgs. avg. 1. 4 lbs = 2. 75 lbs Shoulder Roasts 7 pkgs. avg. 3. 0 lbs = 21. 0 lbs Rump Roast 1 pkg. avg. 3. 75 lbs = 3. 75 lbs Sirloin Tip Roast 1 pkg. avg. 3. 75 lbs = 3. 75 lbs Heel Roast 1 pkg. avg. 3. 25 lbs = 3. 25 lbs Brisket 1 pkg. avg. 3. 0 lbs = 3. 0 lbs Short Ribs 4 pkgs. avg. 2. 4 lbs = 9. 5 lbs Stew Meat 3 pkgs. avg. 1. 0 lb = 3. 0 lbs Ground Beef 31 pkgs. avg. 1. 0 = 31. 0 lbs Soup Bones 4 pkgs. avg. 1. 25 lbs = 5. 0 lbs

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@concordat it’s a good price !  

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I was raised with meat from a local ranch I. The freezer always. we now raise beef. Sometimes we feed our own, sometimes we buy from our neighbors. Once you’ve had farm fresh beef, it’s hard to eat other meat

Answer 26

Health wise its superior

Answer 27

We buy 1/2 beef as needed. Usually lasts us (2 adults, 2 older teens) about 10 months. This last 1/2 we got a few weeks ago ended up at $3. 02 a pound. Roasts at our grocery store or going for $16 a pound! That’s crazy! It’s a large expense at the time but it’s saves in the long run.  

Answer 28

My family has raised cattle for years. They take on the financial brunt so they lose money on it yearly (long story why), but the benefit from local outweighs the cost. You’ll have to be creative when cooking so you don’t feel like you’re making the same things constantly.  

Answer 29

We buy approximately 400 pounds of beef and 300 pounds of pork each year direct from farmer. Our grocery bill for a family of 7 is about $300 a month not including any meats except chicken.  

Comments

@oilcloth8 wow! How many freezers do you have?  

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@valles81 we have 2 large deep freezers (beef in one, pork and chicken and other items in the 2nd) plus refrigerator freezer

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Large as in 21 cubic feet

Answer 30

My husband and I went in with 2 other people and bought a cow. We saved a TON of money for a TON of meat by doing that.  

Answer 31

Buy directly from farmers if you can. We raise cattle and trust me, selling direct is the best way for all!  

Comments

@egest we’re in Hawaii so we took initiative to process our own meat because shipping them out is such a huge loss.  

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@pederasty4 Wow, I can only imagine. Are there butcher shops in Hawaii? There would need to be one on each island!  

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@egest I’m Not sure of other islands, I only know of the 3 on ours and each of ours is for our direct business. We don’t really take outside animals since we raise them ourselves. Not a big operation but we do ok

Answer 32

When i get a house that will allow for a proper deep freeze, i need to do some research into the direct from farm options.  

Answer 33

We just bought a 1/4 beef and 40 lbs boneless chicken breasts. Chicken came out to $2/lb (vacuum sealed and frozen) and ended up with just over 150lbs beef (vacuum sealed and frozen) which was just over $3. 30 a pound. It is so worth it in the long run and supports a family

Answer 34

One of the many reasons I stay away from organic. Either way, the long run it tastes better and is WAY cheaper.  

Answer 35

We recently bought a 1/4 cow. I’m not sure we’ll be saving much per pound, but I feel confident it’s better quality. So apples to apples we’re saving. It also gives us peace of mind not to have to worry about supply chain. We also value supporting a local farmer.  

Answer 36

I just talked to my hubby about this today. You may be saving more in the near future b/c prices will be going up (if they havent already) with a lot of the big meat processing plants closed due to covid. We are going to buy 1/4 (maybe a half, depending on the price). But like others have said, you'll know the quality, as well as helping out a small business as opposed to big corporations.  

Answer 37

Generally speaking the meat is higher quality than what you buy in the general store. So although you are comparing the two prices, you need to compare them to higher grade beef. You definitely get your money’s worth!  

Answer 38

It really depends on how you have it cut. If it's mostly ground beef your usually paying more. HOWEVER the quality is so much better and it taste so good!  

Answer 39

I get our beef from the family farm but I still pay my brother for the beef. Farmers are having it hard these past few years due to many factors. My coworkers buy our beef too and say it's much better beef then the supermarket. Actually today just got 52lbs hamburger meat for $208. That may last 6 months for 4 people.  

Answer 40

We buy 1/4 directly from a farmer. With Covid, many people are buying direct and butchering times are a lot longer since not a lot of butchers and increased demand. Just throwing it out there as people think about ordering meat.