U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.) plan to reintroduce the Strengthening Local Processing Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which will be formally reintroduced tomorrow, would provide support to America’s small meat and poultry processors and help strengthen and streamline their operations. The bill would also give small meat processors more access to information that is critical to food safety planning, allow for more inspector-approved meat products to be sold across state lines, and funnel federal dollars toward training, education, and technical assistance grants.
“South Dakota’s producers work hard to raise high-quality livestock, and it is imperative that we invest in expanding processing capacity to help them meet consumer demands,” said Thune. “My bill would support small meat and poultry processors’ operations and provide more local marketing opportunities for livestock producers.”
The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).
The legislation is supported by South Dakota Farm Bureau, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, and the National Bison Association. Read their statements of support for this bipartisan legislation here.
Thune, who has helped write four farm bills throughout his time in Congress, will continue introducing farm bill proposals ahead of the current bill’s expiration, which is set for September 2023.
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