USDA Looks To Boost Meat Processing

In the wake of recent Presidential Executive Orders, the Department of Agriculture is moving to boost meat processing capacity.  USDA is pushing to boost production and market access to expand supply, improve competition, and bring down meat prices.

“Our piece is inspection, and there are many components of the Executive Order that deal with inspection and increasing the capacity for our ranchers," said Undersecretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears.  But, she added, that does not mean sacrificing the core mission.

“Both the Secretary and the President said, ‘We’re here to provide access, but we are not compromising food safety, and we’re certainly not getting rid of inspection.”

But, Brashears pointed out there are still challenges for producers.

“Having access to inspected slaughter facilities. In some areas of the country, we’ve been told it can take up to a year to get their animals into a small plant in some of the more remote areas, or they have to drive five hours to take their animal in to get harvested,” said Brashears.

She noted USDA is also moving to update regulations from record keeping all the way down to handwashing.  More importantly, Brashears added, her agency is helping states qualify to do more inspections or move to federal inspection so product can cross state lines.

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