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Nebraska lawmakers advance bill boosting producer to consumer meat sales

Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill allowing consumers to buy meat directly from producers.

Plymouth State Senator Tom Brandt says the idea came when COVID-19 disrupted meat supply chains.

He tells Brownfield consumers and producers would enter a herd share agreement where they both own part of the animal. “The animal would be slaughtered. I would bring it back to my freezers then I would text or call my herd share people,” He says. “If one wants T-Bones, they could buy T-Bones, if one wanted to buy ground beef, they get ground beef or if they wanted a roast. Then I would price that meat accordingly.”

Aunbrea Zeleny works at the Oakland Processing Plant in northeast Nebraska and says their goal is to feed everyone by keeping meat easily available for consumers. “Not everyone can afford a $700 quarter-beef. Not everybody can do that so with a herd share program we can split a cow up into smaller increments still with the quality and safety we have now to benefit the small groups of people who can’t afford or have freezer space for bigger amounts,” she says.

The bill would also sets up a grant program to help small processing plants, with fewer than 25 employees, expand or improve their facilities. The bill needs two more readings before going to the governor.

Zeleny says COVID-19 put meat lockers back on the map and this legislations is another reminder to buy local. “Small lockers are fading out. It’s hard, hard work. You don’t find work like this anymore. This brought awareness to small processors,” she says. “Our goal is to keep Nebraskans and Iowans and Kansans and everyone fed here in the Midwest.”