Northwoods Locker LLC

Northwoods Locker LLC, doing business as Mike's Northwoods, operates at 267 100th Ave. in Clayton, Wisconsin, in Polk County. FSIS lists the plant under establishment numbers M34687 and P34687 for meat processing, meat slaughter, and poultry processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of July 13, 2018. It is classed by FSIS as very small, and its reported slaughter volume falls in the lowest category, under 1,000 head per year. Species reported slaughtered under inspection are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The business website describes a family-owned USDA facility offering full service butchering and processing, with slaughter performed by the owner, described on the site as Mike, Master Meat Crafter. The site states the plant slaughters and processes beef, hogs, buffalo, goats, sheep, deer, bear, elk, and occasionally llama, and lists beef, pork, and lamb or goat processing along with custom processing. Cuts are vacuum sealed using a roll stock machine for longer shelf life. Dates on the site vary: the About Us page states the business was established in 2005, while the home page refers to award winning since 2011. The federal grant of inspection on file is dated 2018.

A separate page describes an on-site farm raising heritage breed pigs without antibiotics, fed non-GMO corn, hay, and alfalfa grown on the farm, with pigs housed outdoors. The site states beef is sourced locally and pork is farm raised by the business. Whole and half pigs, pork cuts, and sausage are sold in a retail space on the farm. Hours are not stated on the website text on file.

The plant reports both federally inspected slaughter and custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, so animals can be processed either for sale under inspection or for the owner's own use with packages marked Not for Sale. Species reported slaughtered under inspection are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats; the website adds buffalo, deer, bear, elk, and occasionally llama to the list of animals handled. FSIS classes the plant as very small, with slaughter volume under 1,000 head per year, so scheduling capacity is limited. A beef processing form on the website collects the farmer's name and the customer's name and lets the customer choose custom or USDA label, Mike's private label, whole, half, or quarter, steak thickness, specific cuts, roasts, hamburger package sizes, organ meats, and additional sausage and smoked items. Booking windows, lead times, minimums, kill day schedules, and fees are not stated in the sources on file. Contact the plant at (715) 948-2554 to confirm.

Northwoods Locker LLC reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The website describes a retail store at the Clayton location and a retail space on the farm where whole and half pigs, pork cuts, and sausage are sold. Beef is described as locally sourced and pork as raised on the business's own farm from heritage breeds fed non-GMO feed and raised without antibiotics. Meat is vacuum sealed for longer shelf life. Halves and quarters of beef can be specified through the beef processing form. Prices, product availability on a given day, online ordering, delivery, and shipping are not stated in the sources on file; the site directs buyers to call or use the contact form.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.