USDA introduced it could make as much as $125 million in grant funding out there for meat and poultry producers. The funds will likely be allotted via two new grant applications referred to as the Indigenous Animal Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program and the Native Meat Capability Grant Program.
In accordance with a USDA launch, each applications are anticipated to create extra choices for meat and poultry farmers by investing in unbiased, native processing tasks that create competitors and improve the meals provide chain. They are going to be funded via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which included $1 billion to increase processing capability for small and midsized meat and poultry processors.
“That is the newest step in USDA’s transformational work to fill gaps and assist small and underserved producers market their merchandise, help thriving native and regional meals programs by investing in processing capability that’s nearer to farms and alleviate main bottlenecks in meals and agricultural provide chains,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says. “Importantly, we’re additionally taking steps to extend the general availability of protein from indigenous animals like bison, reindeer and salmon, which have been the spine of tribal meals programs for generations.”
The Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program contains as much as $50 million to enhance meals and agriculture provide chain resiliency in tribal nations. It’s going to fund tasks that increase harvesting, processing, manufacturing, storage, transporting and distribution of indigenous meats like bison, reindeer, salmon and others. Eligible candidates embrace tribes acknowledged by the Indian Tribe Checklist Act of 1994 in addition to multi-tribal authorities businesses and different affiliated entities. Functions will likely be accepted via July 19.
“This can be a historic funding to help Indigenous meals provide chains by enhancing neighborhood meals sovereignty and conventional harvesting strategies,” USDA Workplace of Tribal Relations Director Heather Daybreak Thompson says. “Tribal nations have clearly articulated their priorities to USDA over the past two years, and this program instantly responds by specializing in species and actions which have traditionally not had important entry to funding in federal applications.”
The Native Meat Capability Grant Program goals to extend processing availability and selection for native and regional livestock producers. It’s going to distribute as much as $75 million to smaller-scale tasks that give producers extra native processing choices. This system will fund each growth and equipment-only tasks. Functions will likely be accepted via July 19.
“Native and regional meat processing is a crucial a part of a resilient meals provide chain. It not solely offers producers with various processing choices of their areas, nevertheless it additionally provides infrastructure, revenue and jobs in communities and offers extra decisions for customers,” USDA Advertising and marketing and Regulatory Packages Below Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt says. “These Native Meat Capability grants will present native livestock and poultry producers with extra and higher choices by modernizing, diversifying, and decentralizing processing capability.”
