USDA Investing in Agricultural Processing and Supply Chain

USDA Investing in Agricultural Processing and Supply Chain

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
This is Tim Hammerich of the Ag Information Network with your Farm of the Future Report.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says his agency is investing $73 million in 21 projects through the first round of the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. Vilsack says the funds distributed under the program are intended to help increase production capacity across the supply chain.

Vilsack… “Increase competition and expand capacity, strengthen the supply chain, make sure that we fostered a producer-focused business model, strengthen local and regional food systems, reduce barriers to processing, did things at-scale, help to create jobs, and over time, lower costs for consumers by expanding choice. At USDA, we've been focused for the last nine months on developing more, new, and better markets for our producers. And certainly, by expanding capacity and competition, I think we, in fact, are, in essence, creating more, new, and better markets for producers.”

The funding will also get used to help jumpstart independent processing projects.

Vilsack… “This required a comprehensive approach. As we approached this, it required programs that would provide resources for new and expanded capacity and markets, provide resources for strengthening the supply chain between the farmer and the consumer, and making sure that there was the availability of credit when the opportunities or circumstances required it. We announced awards supporting all three aspects of this approach in the President's plan for fair and competitive markets.”

Vilsack added that these investments will create more opportunities for farmers and ranchers to get a fair price for what they produce.

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