An Iowa Congresswoman has concerns about USDA’s 500-million dollar expanded meat and poultry processing grant program. Cindy Axne told a House Ag Committee hearing Thursday more local processing is badly needed. “During the pandemic, cattle prices had declined by 18% while boxed beef prices went up by 80%, so what we’re seeing, of course, is producers being paid less, consumers are paying more, but the packers control over 80% of the market and are making significant profits.”
But, Axne says it is unclear what happens if a small processor utilizes the program, and that processor then sells the business.
