Earlier this year, President Biden announced he was adding $1 billion dollars in aid and funding for smaller, local meat processors to get the business back up and running or get it up to speed. Until the COVID-19 breakout, the local butcher shop was fast becoming a thing of the past. Since the pandemic, people were looking for other options to get the meat products they wanted, and farmers needed a place to take animals. This has caused a resurgence in the need for local meat lockers, and many communities are welcoming back this blast from the past.
Audio: Full interview with USDA RD Iowa State Director Theresa Greenfield
During the Cornbelt Cow/Calf Conference in Ottumwa this past weekend, I had the chance to talk with Iowa State Director of USA Rural Development, Theresa Greenfield. She was making the rounds talking to Ag Lenders and banks who were at the conference about what programs are available through USDA-RD. She was also talking to producers about their options for current funding and how to help get loans for their communities.
She talks about the scope of the funding for rural meatpacking. While it is great to see larger facilities spring up and take on the big 4, they have different funding programs available. Greenfield was highlighting the need for getting the small to medium processors going or getting them updated so they can expand their business models to include selling across state lines.
Greenfield adds that there has been more demand from consumers to have that local link back in their towns. Customers like knowing where their food products are coming from and want to support the local farmers in their communities as much as possible. Maybe that is by buying a side of beef, or a processed hog from a producer. With more options available, it will be easier to get that meat safely from the farm back to their freezers. Much like it was for many of us when we were growing up.
Greenfield concluded by saying that this is just the latest part of the efforts being made to keep making rural America vital. She highlights other programs that they have and how much they invested in rural Iowa last year.
For more information on funding available from USDA-Rural Development, visit their Iowa website.
