WASHINGTON - Today, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) following Secretary Tom Vilsack's announcement of over $223 million in grants and loans to support small to mid-sized processing facilities.
"NCBA has long advocated for expanded processing capacity to provide cattle producers with additional options for turning their cattle into high-quality beef. Today, the cattle industry needs more targeted capacity in high-need areas, and we look forward to these facilities launching and expanding operations," said NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer. "We appreciate USDA working with NCBA to strengthen the marketplace and support America's cattle producers."
Today's announcement is the first round of investments in additional meat processing capacity totaling $73 million across 21 grant projects. NCBA has advocated for funds in the form of grants and low-interest loans to help small and mid-sized processing facilities open their doors and expand existing capabilities, all to increase competition and strengthen the beef supply chain. In total, the federal government has announced a combined investment of $1 billion allocated to the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, workforce development, and technical assistance.
