CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY! (Instructions Below)
Oregon’s already acute lack of meat processing capacity has been severely strained during COVID-19, as industrial meat processing facilities were closed by virus outbreaks and out-of-state producers sent meat to the Pacific Northwest for processing, taking away precious processing slots for Oregon farmers and ranchers. Increased demand for local meat also further taxed an already burdened system, with even seasoned producers lamenting the loss of processing slots.
The Legislature recognized the importance of this issue when it passed HB 4206 last summer, authorizing ODA to begin the process of establishing a State Meat Inspection Program. However, to be truly successful, the State Meat Inspection Program needs a concurrent grant fund to help expand processing capacity, especially in rural Oregon. A variety of federal funds can also amplify the potential state investment. HB 2785 A establishes a $10 million grant program to fund expansion, upgrades, and technical and other necessities, such as equipment, as laid out in the programs in other states. It also includes a $300K allocation for OSU’s Clark Meat Science Center.
Additional facilities boosting Oregon’s processing capacity could:
Increase regional food system security and rural economic development; Support producers’ ability to donate locally produced meat to food banks and other community assistance programs; Support local, direct to consumer meat sales; Give producers greater control over the price they receive for livestock; Diversify processing options and reduce risk of processing bottlenecks; Allow producers to find a local facility to slaughter and process livestock in remote locations across Oregon; Reduce transportation times and costs for producers; Improve rural health outcomes; Help small scale producers, especially BIPOC and beginning and new farmer and ranchers create business models that more easily pencil out; Reduce carbon emissions due to less transport and the expansion of producers implementing environmentally friendly pasture-based production models; Improve animal welfare conditions.
Since HB 4206 became law in June 2020, there has already been considerable public and private outreach to identify processors who are ready to build, upgrade, or expand and it is safe to say there are 4-6 projects ready for funding.
Processors have said they’d use the funds for many things, including: New and expanded facility construction; Increased cooling capacity; Expanded curing capacity; Equipment upgrades/improvements (packaging and labeling); Employee training (cutting classes and in-person HACCP trainings); Enhanced record keeping capacity; Improved traceability technology; One custom exempt facility burned down last fall and wants to rebuild as State Inspected.
As Oregon faces cascading adverse weather and fire events that can lead to similar supply chain disruptions, now is the time to re-regionalize our food system, starting with meat processing.
JOIN OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE! INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMAIL/PHONE OUTREACH –
Email Outreach Template:
Feel free to personalize, though please include the formal opening salutation and your city.
Subject line: Constituent Request – Support HB 2785A Grant Fund to Expand Small Scale Meat Processing
Dear Senator X and Representative X: Find my Legislators link (And/or send an email to the Ways & Means Tri Chairs; Tri Chairs = Sen.ElizabethSteinerHayward@oregonlegislature.gov, Sen.BetsyJohnson@oregonlegislature.gov, Rep.DanRayfield@oregonlegislature.gov)
My name is (fill in). I am a (processor/producer/eater/advocate) in (city). I am a constituent or I am an impacted stakeholder. (If you are not a constituent, remove “Constituent Request” from the email subject line.)
Oregon needs more meat processing capacity, which is why the legislature enacted the State Meat Inspection Program in June 2020. However, to be truly successful, the State Meat Inspection Program needs a concurrent grant fund to help expand processing capacity, especially in rural Oregon.
I am asking you to support HB 2785A, or to ask the Ways and Means Tri Chairs and Legislative Leadership, to support this important one-time food infrastructure investment, which would establish a $10 million grant program to fund expansion, upgrades, and technical and other necessities, such as equipment, like programs in other states. An ARPA request has been submitted for this bill, but it also could receive an appropriation through the General Fund or the budget reconciliation process.
Additional facilities boosting Oregon’s processing capacity could:
- Support local, direct to consumer meat sales
- Increase regional food system resilience and rural economic development
- Support producers’ ability to donate locally produced meat to food banks and other community assistance programs
- Give producers greater control over the price they receive for livestock
- Diversify processing options and reduce risk of processing bottlenecks
- Allow producers to find a local facility to slaughter and process livestock in remote locations across
- Reduce transportation time and costs for producers, and lessening carbon footprints
Oregon’s already acute lack of meat processing capacity has been severely strained during COVID-19, as industrial meat processing facilities were closed by virus outbreaks and out-of-state producers sent meat to the Pacific Northwest for processing, taking away precious processing slots for Oregon farmers and ranchers. Increased demand for local meat also further taxed an already burdened system, with even seasoned producers lamenting the loss of processing slots.
Between the outreach that ODA, OSU’s NMPAN (Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network) and Friends of Family Farmers have done since the State Meat Inspection Program was authorized through HB 4206 last June, it is safe to say there are at least between 4-6 projects ready for funding.
Having a successful State Meat Inspection program is important to me because…
Add a few sentences about your personal experiences with lack of processing capacity in Oregon and how this affects you and your farm or business, your family, and your community. Or how this program could help you and what you would do with a grant and how it would help rural economic development and regional food system security.
Will you please let me know where you stand on this issue and if possible, let me know how and if it will be funded?
Thank you,
Sign with your name and city
Phone Outreach Template:
Hello Senator X and Hello Representative X Find my Legislators link (And/or leave messages for the Ways & Means Tri Chairs; Tri Chairs =
Sen. Steiner Hayward (503) 986-1717
Sen. Johnson (503) 986-1716
Rep. Rayfied (503) 986-1416
My name is (fill in). I am a (processor/producer/eater/advocate) in (city). I am a constituent OR I am an impacted stakeholder.
Oregon needs more meat processing capacity, which is why the legislature enacted the State Meat Inspection Program in June 2020. However, to be truly successful, the State Meat Inspection Program needs a concurrent grant fund to help expand processing capacity, especially in rural Oregon.
I am calling to ask that you support the grant fund to expand small scale meat processing, HB 2785A, or ask the Ways and Means Tri Chairs and Legislative Leadership, to support this important one-time food infrastructure investment, which would establish a $10 million grant program to fund expansion, upgrades, and technical and other necessities, such as equipment, like programs in other states.
An ARPA request has been submitted for this bill, but it also could receive an appropriation through the General Fund or the budget reconciliation process. It is safe to say there are between 4-6 projects ready for funding.
Having a successful State Meat Inspection program is important to me because…
Add a few sentences about your personal experiences with lack of processing capacity in Oregon and how this affects you and your farm or business, your family, and your community. Or how this program could help you and what you would do with a grant and how it would help rural economic development and regional food system security.
Will you please call me back and let me know where you stand on this issue and if possible, let me know how and if it will be funded?
Thank you.
If you need assistance, please contact Friends of Family Farmers Policy Director, Amy Wong, at amy@friendsoffamilyfarmers.org