United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) welcomes the recent announcement of USDA’s Small Processors Action Plan and the commitment of $60 million in new funding for meat and poultry processors.
“Providing cattle producers with more local and regional processing options is essential to restoring competition, strengthening the cattle marketplace, and delivering affordable, high-quality protein to American families. For years, USCA has advocated for policies that expand local and regional processing capacity and reduce the choke points created by excessive consolidation in the packing sector,” said USCA President Justin Tupper. “Small and very small processors are the backbone of rural America. When they have the tools and support they need to succeed, producers gain real market access, consumers gain access to local, reliable food options, and our rural communities grow stronger.”
As Secretary Rollins referenced in her announcement, small and very small processors account for more than 90% of federally inspected facilities, yet they have long been constrained by limited access to capital, burdensome regulatory hurdles, and an uneven playing field in a highly consolidated marketplace. USCA applauds USDA’s stated focus on clearer guidance, faster approvals, improved customer service, and greater transparency for these processors, and appreciates the Department’s recognition that a more diverse, resilient processing sector benefits both producers and consumers.
“This announcement matters because processing capacity is not just a small business issue — it is a cattle market issue. When independent and regional processors are held back by capital barriers, regulatory delays, or inconsistent guidance, cattle producers lose options, and the marketplace becomes more dependent on a handful of large packers. USDA’s Small Processors Action Plan is an important step toward rebuilding competition from the ground up, but the real test will be implementation. These funds and reforms need to reach the plants that are actually serving producers, rural communities, and consumers who want access to American beef,” said
USCA Independent Processing Committee Chair Patrick Robinette.
USCA stands ready to work with USDA and its partners to ensure that the Small Processors Action Plan and associated funding are implemented in a way that truly empowers independent processors, delivers on the promise of expanded capacity and competition, and keeps cattle producers at the center of a fair and transparent marketplace.
View this press release on the USCA website here.
