Pleasant View Farms Expands Red Angus Beef Capacity
TRANSITION GRANT IN ACTION: PLEASANT VIEW FARMS EXPANDS RED ANGUS BEEF CAPACITY
Pleasant View Farms Inc has been family owned and operated in Somers, Connecticut since 1918. The farm is currently run by brothers Jacob and Louis Lipton, the fourth generation. After developing a niche market for non-GMO grains as a CT Grown value-added product, PVF currently farms nearly 1,200 acres to grow sufficient hay, corn, and grains to meet the feed and hay needs of small and large livestock farmers throughout New England.
As the family business continues to grow, their diversification of products offered does as well. Over the last few years, PVF has begun raising livestock again--focusing on beef cattle. Their goal is to raise high quality grass-fed grain-finished beef for the local community at an affordable price.
Looking to expand their red angus beef herd size and processing capacity, PVF applied for and received a 2023 Farm Transition Grant. Their mission was to purchase a walk-in freezer to expand their capability to store frozen beef and to establish two concrete pads for feeding cattle out of the mud and improving their facilities.
Previously, the farm was limited on freezer space to accommodate their growing demand in beef sales. In addition, PVF wanted to improve their cattle feeding areas to reduce stress on cattle by eliminating mud as well as reduce the herd’s impact on the environment. During project completion, PVF also decided to expand their project by spending additional funds outside of the grant to install 50 headlocks on the concrete pad for their finishing steers. Doing so would make the feeding area more efficient for feeding and allow for the ability to restrain the animals if health/vet work is necessary.
PVF’s grant also included a second 25’x 100’ concrete pad for their brood cows and calves. A priority for PVF is to raise and market high quality registered red angus breeding stock. They also strive to provide excellent Red Angus cattle to a wide range of people, from the commercial cattleman to someone looking for a competitive show heifer. PVF’s breeding program focuses on using artificial insemination and embryo transplant to produce the best possible red angus cattle.
Jacob Lipton says, “Looking back on our original goals and vision, we feel that we have not only achieved but exceeded our intentions. None of this would have been possible without the Transition Grant. Since installing our new freezer, we have advertised and further grown our customer base for beef. Our sales are steadily growing, and we are highly emphasizing CT GROWN. We feel that with our new 20’ x 120’ concrete feeding pad we have not only increased our capacity for our finishing beef pen, but we have created a more comfortable area for our animals to eat and be managed easily out of the mud. Our 25’ x 100’ concrete pad has given us the ability to redesign our cattle working chute corral so that we can more efficiently handle our brood cows when health work is necessary. This has not only made our lives easier but has reduced stress for our cattle.
We feel that these improvements to our operation have improved our sustainability to produce a wholesome and healthy food product for the community in the state of CT for generations to come.”
The FTG is a competitive matching reimbursement grant for Connecticut agricultural producers and agricultural cooperatives. The Farm Transition Grant is provided through the State of Connecticut Farm Transition Grant Program, established in 2005 through Public Act 05-228, An Act Concerning Farmland Preservation, Land Protection, Affordable Housing, and Historic Preservation.
