WHY WE NEED STATE MEAT INSPECTORS
In 2021, Oregon established the State Meat Inspection Program through the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to help bolster our local meat processing capacity — diverting more than 80% of meat production profits back into Oregon’s economy and away from out-of-state shippers, retailers and federal processing facilities. This program has been instrumental in helping farmers and ranchers provide inspected meat products to consumers that meet the same regulatory safeguards that the USDA requires, but on a local scale.
While the passage of HB 2785 has greatly improved our local farming infrastructure and statewide agricultural economy, Oregon farmers – especially those in rural and underserved communities — are still struggling with delays in getting their products inspected.
FEDERAL DOLLARS ARE ON THE TABLE
Although Oregon invested in meat processing facilities with the passage of HB 2785, it has failed to invest in accompanying staff capacity to keep up with the expanding infrastructure, especially in rural areas where the inspection backlog is continuously growing. Right now, the Federal Farm Bill offers a 50% federal match for state-funded inspectors — meaning that for every two State Meat Inspectors Oregon invests in, a third inspector is covered by federal matching. We can’t leave these critical dollars on the table.
JOIN US IN ASKING FOR 2 FTE FOR ODA TO HIRE AND PHASE-IN STATE MEAT INSPECTORS THIS BIENNIUM AND BEGIN PULLING DOWN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MORE INSPECTORS IN THE FUTURE!
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