(Council Bluffs, IA) The U-S-D-A will spend 500-million dollars to help establish smaller-scale meat processing plants to compete with the four major corporations that dominate the industry. U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced in Council Bluffs on Friday.
Vilsack says the executive order adds some of its directives to USDA and has connections with a White House task supply chain Task Force co-chaired by Vilsack.
Vilsack says spurring the development of more meat processing facilities addresses some of the supply chain issues that cropped up as large pork, beef, and poultry processing plants shut down early in the pandemic. Vilsack says smaller plants, closer to where animals are raised, give farmers more options for selling their livestock. The 500 million will be distributed as grants, loans, and technical assistance.
