The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing more than $57 million to strengthen America’s meat processing capacity and support livestock producers nationwide. According to USDA, 147 tentative awards across 40 states are expected to be funded through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, commonly known as MPPEP. The announcement was made recently by Vice President J.D. Vance and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.
The funding is designed to help independent meat processors expand operations, increase processing capacity, and create additional market opportunities for ranchers and livestock producers. Secretary Rollins says the investment supports the administration’s goal of strengthening the nation’s livestock sector by providing more local and regional processing options. She noted that expanding small and medium-sized processing facilities can give producers greater confidence and more marketing opportunities close to home.
The program is administered through USDA Rural Development and supports independent and domestically owned processing businesses, cooperatives, tribes, nonprofits, and other eligible entities. USDA says the effort is aimed at increasing competition in the meat industry, building a more resilient supply chain, and creating new economic opportunities for rural communities. Since its creation, USDA reports that the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program has awarded more than $200 million to independent processing businesses nationwide, helping create thousands of jobs while expanding meat and poultry processing capacity across the country.
Audio Reporting by Elizabeth Sanders for Southeast AgNet.