Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne is lauding the USDA?s recent announcement that it will make significant investments to expand processing capacity and help level the playing field for family farmers.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said Friday that USDA is investing a minimum of $500 million in American Rescue Plan funds to expand meat and poultry processing capacity so that farmers, ranchers, and consumers have more choices in the marketplace. He made the announcement during a visit to a local butcher shop in Council Bluffs.
Congresswoman Axne was on-hand for the event and said she supports the department?s move to expand the amount of capacity in the country.
?I spent the last three years listening to folks in the southwest corn of this state,? said Axne. ?One thing I can tell you for sure in talking to our farmers and producers is that we need more local and regional processing. We hear it over and over again. It?s something I?ve brought up in the Agriculture Committee. It?s something I?ve talked to our caucus about, especially as it came to light with the big packing plants and the supply chain disruption.?
?For many Americans,? she continued, ?they had no idea our supply chain was so funneled into such a tight number of plants, whether it?s pork, beef, chicken, poultry or whatever it is. I think for many folks, this is exactly what they want to see. It?s so exciting that the Biden administration and Secretary Vilsack understand how important this is.?
Secretary Vilsack also announced more than $150 million for existing small and very small processing facilities to help them weather COVID, compete in the marketplace and get the support they need to reach more customers.
He also said USDA is holding meatpackers accountable by revitalizing the Packers and Stockyards Act, issuing new rules on ?Product of USA? labels, and developing plans to expand farmers? access to new markets.
