meatpackers

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack uses a whiteboard to demonstrate the challenges faced by small and midsized farmers from land consolidation and declining profits during a talk in San Francisco at a National Farmers Union conference on Monday, March 6, 2023. (Courtesy photo from the Farmers Union)

U.S. agriculture secretary unveils initiatives aimed at small and midsized operations
BY: - March 6, 2023

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Monday announced new steps the Department of Agriculture is taking to recenter U.S. agriculture and benefit small and midsized operations, including a proposed new “Product of USA” labeling rule and an $89 million expansion of the USDA intermediary lending program.  At the National Farmers Union conference in San Francisco, […]

Photo of pigs in a feedlot to illustrate story about USDA grants to small meatpacking operations.

USDA gives $73 million to create, expand smaller livestock processors
BY: - November 2, 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its first grant awards on Wednesday — totaling about $73 million — to increase the processing capacity of smaller, independent meatpackers in 16 states. They range from a $292,000 grant to provide independent Montana farmers with a USDA-inspected meat processing facility — which is required to sell the products […]

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