Mike Pearson takes a look at the meat processing plant industry in the USA.

In early July, the United States Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made a a trip to Iowa to announce funding for meat processing expansion.

In early 2022, during the COVID pandemic, consumers found something they hadn't seen before-- empty meat cases at many grocers.

This made legislators realize something had to be done so this doesn't happen again.

For some it mean legislation and for others it meant funding to help expand meat processing.

Vilsack announced that 17 states would receive 171 million dollars under the Poultry/Meat Processing Plan which was part of the 2021 COVID Relief fund.

Montana gets $15 million for slaughter house expansion. Three firms in Michigan will split $2 million and the National Farmers Union Foundation will bet $800,000 to lend to other meat processors in Michigan, Montana and the Dakotas.

It's very challenging for meat processors to have success but it's noted that they need to be built near people to have workers in order to be successful.

Farm Progress America is a daily look at key issues in agriculture. It is produced and presented by Mike Pearson, a farm broadcaster and host of This Week in Agribusiness.