The USDA is making investments to increase independent meat and poultry processing capacity, expand market opportunities for farmers, and support a growing workforce in rural areas.
“While American farmers and ranchers have been responding to the demand to produce more, their communities have struggled to see their share of benefits,” says Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We’re committed to championing meat and poultry processors, increasing competition, and lowering the costs for working families.”
USDA is providing 15 awards totaling $115 million in 17 states. The agency is also providing another five awards totaling $38 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). USDA will also provide ten awards totaling $77 million under the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program.
The announcement supports projects from Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, Maryland, Montana, and other states. The investments will build a pipeline of well-trained meat processing workers and support safe workspaces with fair wages.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)
This webinar is for potential applicants of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) to provide notification of an extended application deadline and to clarify other key topics of interest.