More Meat: USDA grants are helping expand packing capacity

June 22, 2021 10:23 AM

More meat packing capacity is on the way due to a new round of USDA grants.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $55 million dollars to the “Meat and Poultry Readiness” program. It will help small and mid-sized processors already working towards federal inspection, winning applications will focus on improving slaughter, increasing capacity, and developing new markets or expanding existing ones.

The announcement comes just before a long-awaited hearing on the cattle markets.

Tomorrow the Senate Ag Committee will hear from cattle producers and packing industry experts on pricing practices. It is designed to educate lawmakers who are unfamiliar with the process.

Deputy Ag Secretary Steve Censky on meat processing capacity

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