News

Nebraska Cattlemen, NEFB support small processing grants, executive order

Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association President Bill Rhea says he supports USDA’s newly announced small meat processing grants. “It’s a good way to leverage money that is available out there to help support our supply chain and the ag industry, production agriculture food chain.  It looks like it’s going to be a good program.”

USDA announced last week that $500 million were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act for small meat processors through grants and guaranteed loans.

Rhea tells Brownfield cattle supplies are likely to tighten and prices will rise before the grants have a significant impact on the market. “I think the cycle will happen quicker than it will to be honest because I think we are just about ready to turn the curve on cattle supplies.”

The Nebraska Farm Bureau (NEFB) says the group is pleased with the announcement but it’s not a “silver bullet” and asks Congress and the Biden administration to think “creatively about solutions to the current capacity issues.”

In a statement, NEFB also says the organization is “happy to see the administration’s focus on the livestock industry and markets” through last week’s executive order but wants the administration to ensure regulations don’t limit contracts and marketing arrangements.

The statement also says NEFB is encouraged by the Right to Repair section of the order but pushes for a private non-government solution to the issue.