Small livestock farmers and custom meat processors would love to sell more meat locally. And consumers want to buy meat from local farms. The problem is federal policy makes this exchange extremely difficult.
There are two bills on the table that will support the supply of farm-raised meats by improving access to local meat processing facilities. The proposed Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption Act or PRIME Act (H.R. 2859/ S. 907) could dramatically reduce barriers for local producers and processors by decentralizing meat slaughter and allowing the legal sale of locally-produced-and-processed pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb, and goat.
In addition to the Prime Act, an amendment is being proposed for the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The proposed amendment would require more accountability and put the burden of proof on the USDA if the agency determines a state inspection program is not “equal to” or better than federal law.
Alexia Kulwiec, Executive Director of Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) urges those who are pro-local meats to contact representatives and ask them to sign on to the PRIME Act and to support the proposed amendment to the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). There are currently 55 co-sponsors of the bill of the PRIME Act, including 45 Republicans, nine Democrats, and one Libertarian.
“Getting new co-sponsors this month gives us a better chance to get this important bill included in the Farm Bill,” says Kulwiec. “By giving just five minutes of your time, you are taking significant steps to ensure small, family farmers are able to sell their meat to the consumers who want it!”
WHAT IS THE PRIME ACT?
The PRIME Act allows farmers to use nearby custom slaughterhouses in their community, and sell the processed meat within their own state, either direct to consumers or to restaurants and retailers. Currently, such sales are prohibited by federal law unless the meat is inspected by a USDA-certified processor There are only 90 USDA slaughter facilities in the U.S., and some states have none at all.
For a small processing facility, the road to becoming USDA certified is long, expensive, and takes at least two years. There are not enough USDA meat inspectors to go around. Under current regulations a small farmer working with a non-USDA custom processor is not allowed to sell processed meat to anyone. The farmer can sell meat in bulk, within the state, but cannot have the meat processed into, for example, ground, roasts, steaks, and stew, and sell those packages of meat. Even if a small producer does get an appointment with a USDA processor, the service may not be as good as a smaller, custom processor.
“My experience has been that USDA processors do not value smaller producers. Cut sheets get processed incorrectly, there’s no flexibility with scheduling, and it’s an overall ‘take it or leave it’ attitude. These days the animals do not get proper rest time once arriving at the facility and I believe when they are rushed through processing without a break after transport to the facility it leads to poor quality meat. Processing prices keep increasing and yet the processors can’t seem to find enough skilled labor to keep up with demand. Unfortunately, when my customers get bone, gristle or poorly cut steaks it is our business that suffers,” says FTCLDF Member, Josh Ciardullo of Ciardullo Ranch in Colorado.
The PRIME Act supports local food production, helps meet consumer demand for local meats, strengthens our nation’s food supply, boosts small businesses, improves animal welfare, while also reducing vehicle miles traveled with trucks and livestock trailers.
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the vulnerability that has existed in the U.S consolidated meat industry for quite some time. More small-scale farmers and independent processors will increase access to meat raised locally by independent producers.
The PRIME Act does not decrease food safety. Custom slaughterhouses must still meet federal and state standards, but without some of the requirements that are unduly expensive and not-necessary for small-scale operations, because a typical custom slaughterhouse processes fewer animals in an entire year than a typical large plant does in a single day.
“Custom slaughterhouses have shown that scale-sensitive regulations work well—the USDA has no records of any foodborne illness traced to any custom slaughterhouse since 2012,” says FTCLDF’s Kulwiec.
AMENDMENT TO THE FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION ACT
While the PRIME Act is critical for independent farms and ranches, advocates are also presenting a proposed amendment to the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), This proposed amendment would simply shift the burden of proof to the USDA if the agency determines that a state inspection program is not “equal to” or better than federal law. This would require accountability on the part of the USDA and require that USDA has proof before accusing states’ programs of noncompliance with federal regulation. We encourage readers to support this amendment as well.
HOW TO TAKE ACTION
- Call your U.S Representativeas well as both of your S. Senators and urge them to sign on to the Prime Act, H.R. 2814/S.907, as a co-sponsor, as well as support the proposed amendment to FMIA. Find your U.S. Representative and Senators’ contact information at Find Your Legislators. FTCLDF provides a sample message in a recent Action Alert.
- Learn more about the FMIA and sign the petition in support of the amendment.
In addition, you can watch the recording of The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust hearing held June 13, 2023, about the PRIME Act.
HELP US TO HELP YOU
The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has been and will continue to work to update the state-by-state laws maps on our website to reflect the changes brought about by changes to laws.
We ask that you continue to keep an eye out for policy communications from us, including Action Alerts letting you know when input from the public is needed to support a bill, or to oppose one that would further restrict food freedom. Your voices matter and can be invaluable in impacting a bill’s outcome!
With your help, FTCLDF will continue to fight for farmers, artisanal producers, homesteaders, and consumers and support policy efforts that seek to increase food freedom across the country.