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Farm and Ranch to School Act gives priority to locally produced meat

Congressman Dusty Johnson of South Dakota has introduced a measure to make local meat procurement a priority for school lunch programs.  Johnson tells Brownfield the current Farm to School Program has successfully gotten local fruits and vegetables into school lunches. He says, however, it has unintentionally de-emphasized beef, bison, pork and other proteins.

“What we want to do is make it clear that that funding source should have a set aside for protein, that locally-grown protein is a great way to further the mission of that existing program,” Said Johnson (R-SD), responding to a question from Brownfield Ag News.

The so-called Farm and Ranch to School Act would also enhance educational opportunities related to livestock production and meat processing.