With Unique Attributes and a Plan to Rotate to Several Docking Locations throughout the Hudson Valley, the MHS is poised to dramatically benefit small to mid-size livestock farmers, their communities and the growing number of consumers who demand access to locally-raised meat.

Glynwood, a non-profit organization in the Hudson Valley whose mission is to save farming, along with its affiliate Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture [LILA], have launched a mobile, modular slaughterhouse that is the first of its kind. Currently docked in Delaware County, NY, the Modular Harvest System [MHS](TM) is an innovative, next-generation approach to the humane slaughter of livestock.

“We believe that the MHS will help ensure the future of livestock production in our region and beyond,” says Judy LaBelle, President of Glynwood. “From the very beginning, Glynwood has envisioned the development of this unit to be a model for replication. We know there are other regions with situations very similar to the Hudson Valley, where a mobile unit might well be the catalyst for a revitalized system that will enable smaller farmers to reach the rapidly growing market for regional, pasture-raised meat products.”

Unique Qualities and Advantages of the Modular Harvest System(TM)

The MHS has an innovative design that includes four mobile modules that come together to form a processing facility; it is highly efficient with a daily processing capacity of 20 cattle (more for smaller animals). It can currently process cattle, sheep, and goats. In the future we hope to add a separate module for the processing of pigs. The MHS meets all USDA requirements, offering livestock farmers the certification necessary to reach the broadest possible markets in which to sell their products.

The MHS is the first mobile unit in the United States that has the capability for in-unit slaughter of large animals, enabling the entire process to be conducted indoors for safer, more sanitary processing. Its independent component system [see fact sheet below for additional details] enables an operational flexibility that can adapt to different docking site and municipal requirements, providing an added efficiency that can’t be achieved in a single unit facility.

It is planned that the MHS will serve farmers through the Hudson Valley region by rotating among specially designed docking sites. The first docking site in Stamford, NY is operational, and Glynwood and LILA are working with agricultural stakeholders in communities throughout the Hudson Valley, Massachusetts and Connecticut to identify and select additional locations. The organizations hope to identify three additional docking sites by the end of 2010 and to implement five docking sites throughout the region within two years.

“The lowest profit margin in the meat value chain is in the slaughter. Over the years this has contributed to the current shortage of facilities,” notes LILA President Joan Snyder. “The design and mobility of the Modular Harvest System(TM) address many of the critical challenges associated with this step in the process and should enable farmers to bring their animals to market more efficiently and economically.”

Why Mobile Processing Facilities are Key to Accessing Quality, Local Meat

Over the past several years, there has been a rapidly growing demand in the Hudson Valley and the Northeast for locally grown, humanely processed meat. However, the acute shortage of USDA-licensed processing facilities in the region has made it difficult for producers to meet this demand, resulting in a diminished economic viability for livestock farmers. Dan Barber, Executive Chef at Blue Hill Stone Barns and local food advocate, has said that “Slaughterhouses are the single most important thing that farmers in the region need. This initiative is the most important thing Glynwood can do.”

In 2008, in order to address the situation, Glynwood formed a Regional Slaughterhouse Task Force composed of leaders throughout the region whose expertise included farming, food distribution, the livestock industry, economic development, finance, and the law. Under Glynwood’s leadership, the Task Force worked to conceive and design an effective response to this long-standing problem. The outcome of this work is the Modular Harvest System(TM).

About Glynwood and Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture

Located in the lower Hudson Valley, Glynwood is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help communities save farming. Glynwood’s unique niche is to empower communities to support farming and conserve farmland, while also working their own 225-acre Glynwood Farm to demonstrate the economic viability of environmentally sustainable agriculture.

Glynwood created the non-profit affiliate called Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture [LILA] to be the non-profit owner of the Modular Harvest System(TM) and to oversee the operations of the MHS at each docking location. In addition to these responsibilities, LILA will provide education and training to producers and the community to enhance the quality and viability of livestock and other local agriculture in the Northeast.

For additional information about Glynwood, www.glynwood.org

and Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture www.lila-northeast.org.

To make an appointment to process animals, farmers can call 1.800. 792-4014

FACT SHEET: The Modular Harvest System(TM)

The Need for a Mobile, Modular Harvest System [MHS](TM): The Background

Over the past several years, there has been a rapidly growing demand in the Hudson Valley and the Northeast for locally grown, humanely processed beef, goat, and lamb. However, the acute shortage of USDA licensed processing facilities in the region has made it difficult for producers to meet this demand, which in turn reduces the productivity of their farms and diminishes the economic viability of farming in the region.

In 2008, to address this need, Glynwood formed a Regional Slaughterhouse Task Force composed of leaders throughout the region whose expertise includes farming, food distribution, the livestock industry, economic development, finance, and the law. Under Glynwood’s leadership, the Task Force worked to conceive and design an effective response to this long-standing problem.

The outcome of this work is the MHS(TM), a new and revolutionary design for a mobile, modular processing system.

About the Modular Harvest System(TM)

The Modular Harvest System(TM) is an innovative, next-generation approach to the humane slaughter of livestock. Its unique design includes four mobile modules that come together to form a processing facility that can serve farmers through the region by rotating among specially designed docking sites. The MHS meets all USDA requirements, offering livestock farmers the certification necessary to reach the broadest possible markets in which to sell their products.

The MHS is the first mobile unit for large animals licensed by the USDA east of New Mexico. It is the fifth in the entire country.

The four modules include:

• A 53-foot trailer that provides for inside-unit slaughter, carcass preparation and chilling.
• A refrigeration truck where quartered sides or whole carcasses can be railed after they are chilled and then delivered to a “cut and wrap” facility or as per instruction by each farmer.
• An “inedible parts” trailer that provides for hygienic disposal of offal, manure and other waste.
• A small office trailer with the amenities required by USDA for its inspector as well as MHS employees.

Unique Qualities and Benefits of the Modular Harvest System(TM)

• It is the first and only modular design mobile harvest system in the United States.
• Unlike its predecessors, it is the first and only mobile unit with the capacity for in-unit slaughter of large animals, enabling the entire process to be conducted indoors, which allows for safer, more sanitary processing.
• The cost to build an MHS unit is about a quarter the price of building a slaughter facility in a permanent structure.
• The modular design is highly efficient with a daily processing capacity of 20 cattle and more for smaller animals.
• The MHS isolates different processing functions in separate modules:

• The central functions of slaughter, carcass preparation and chilling are accomplished in the “main” trailer module.
• The “delivery” module allows for a more efficient delivery of processed carcasses to a cut and wrap facility; in essence it becomes a small delivery truck, while the primary trailer remains in place or travels to its next docking location.
• A “waste” module supports separation and disposal of the various waste streams; this is key because disposal requirements and available options may vary at each docking site.
• This independent component system enables an operation flexibility that can adapt to different docking site and municipal requirements, providing an added efficiency that can’t be achieved in a single unit facility.

Where Will the MHS Travel?

The first docking site for the MHS is in Delaware County at the Eklund Farm in Stamford, NY. Glynwood and its affiliate LILA are working with agricultural stakeholders in communities throughout the Hudson Valley, Massachusetts and Connecticut to identify and select additional locations.

• Our goal is to identify three additional docking sites by the end of 2010.
• We hope that five docking sites throughout the region will be developed within two years.

The website www.lila-northeast.org provides additional information on docking site requirements.

What Animals can the MHS Process?

The MHS can process cattle, sheep and goats with the goal of adding a separate module used exclusively for the processing of pigs in the future.

How do Farmers make an appointment?

They can call 800-792-4014 for an appointment.

Additional Information

Launch: Date April, 2010

Project Developer: Glynwood

Owner: Glynwood has created a non-profit affiliate called Local Infrastructure for Local Agriculture [LILA] to provide education and training to professionals and the community to enhance the quality and viability of livestock and other local agriculture in the Northeast. LILA is also the non-profit owner of the MHS.

Glynwood chose a business model for the MHS which incorporates the best features of public/private partnerships. While the assets are contributed by philanthropic and public funding, they will be operated by individuals in the private sector. We created this business model to provide the critical piece of the infrastructure that rarely attracts private investment, in a way that may allow others communities throughout the US to more easily replicate an MHS to support farmers in their region.

Operator LILA oversees the operator of the MHS who runs the MHS according to USDA requirements and animal welfare standards.

About Glynwood

Glynwood’s mission is to help communities save farming. Glynwood’s unique niche is to empower communities to support farming and conserve farmland, while also working our own 225-acre Glynwood Farm to demonstrate the economic viability of environmentally sustainable agriculture. www.glynwood.org