Tom Vilsack

USDA gives $73 million to create, expand smaller livestock processors

Published by editor on Sun, 11/06/2022 - 5:27pm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced its first grant awards on Wednesday — totaling about $73 million — to increase the processing capacity of smaller, independent meatpackers in 16 states.

They range from a $292,000 grant to provide independent Montana farmers with a USDA-inspected meat processing facility — which is required to sell the products commercially — to nearly $20 million to help an Omaha, Nebraska, processor increase its capacity about 29%.

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Vilsack confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Ag

Published by editor on Wed, 03/03/2021 - 8:50am

Three weeks after his confirmation hearing, the Senate voted 92 to 7 to approve Tom Vilsack (D-IA) as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Vilsack, who is a former Iowa governor, served eight years in the same position during the Obama administration.

Vilsack’s confirmation received strong support from Republican senators, including the Iowa contingent. Both Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley voted to approve Vilsack after previously speaking out in support of him during the confirmation hearing.