The COVID Pandemic highlighted many weaknesses in our supply chain and resurrected what was once thought of as a dying service, the local meat locker. Now, we have a long way to go until we see numbers that match the height of their presence, but the USDA is continuing to find ways to boost up the industry. On Friday, USDA Undersecretary Jenny Moffitt came to Des Moines to announce the second round of grants being made available to help upgrade processing operations. She was joined by Iowa 3rd District Representative Cindy Axne
VIDEO: Full conversation with Congresswoman Cindy Axne and USDA Undersecretary Jenny Moffitt.
The USDA announced that $23.6 million would be made available through the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Program. Moffitt told IARN that the first round saw a positive response and that there was a clamor for more grants. Moffit talked about the success of the first round of grants. This included three operations in Axne?s 3rd district.
Axne highlighted the work being done by these small processors have been doing to keep producers moving livestock, keep the supply chain moving, and keep employment opportunities in small rural communities.
Along with the funding announcement, USDA also announced technical assistance to the companies needing help through the entire grant process. These processes can be daunting, and not every local company has a grant writer on staff. This will get the ball rolling on options across the country but also leaves the door open for additional services in the future.
After the announcement, Undersecretary Moffitt and Axne heard from stakeholders across agriculture about the needs they have programs like these supported and what concerns they have to remain competitive in a global marketplace that is facing historical strain and uncertainty. Topics included:
- Immigration reform and guest worker programs
- Childcare availability to get more employees to work
- The astronomical cost for small businesses to offer insurance and benefits to employees.
To learn more about this second round of funding or the technical assistance available, go to www.usda.gov/meat.
