Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden is highlighting provisions in the latest farm bill that extend beyond the typical focus areas of environmental programs, food assistance, and agricultural trade enhancements.
Speaking with Brownfield, Van Orden emphasized that the legislation contains funding opportunities specifically designed to support smaller meat processing operations across the country.
“We’ve got the new mobile and expanded meat processing grants. So, there’s only four major processors in the entire country, and what we’re trying to do is” support alternatives to this concentrated industry structure, Van Orden explained.
The congressman’s comments point to efforts aimed at diversifying the meat processing sector, which has faced scrutiny over its limited number of major players controlling much of the nation’s processing capacity.
