Tools for Small and Midsized 

Livestock and Poultry

USDA Resources for 

Producers and Processors
• Background

• Key USDA Programs and 

Examples of Funded 

Projects

• Additional Programs

• Research and Other Tools

• Potential Partners

Table of Contents
 If you are a small or midsized livestock or poultry 

producer or processor or a retailer, community leader 

or local government interested in new opportunities 

for smaller-scale producers and businesses, this guide 

is for you!

Explore USDA programs that can support opportunities in 

small and midsized livestock and poultry 

See examples of how these programs are being used

Explore additional research and tools 

Find partners

Ask questions at your local USDA service center! 

Background: What’s in this guide?

Background 3
• There is unmet consumer demand for meat and 

poultry from small and midsized producers, including 

locally-raised and grassfed animals. 

• Producers may see higher revenues for animals raised 

and branded as local, grassfed, etc. – But there are challenges, including limited slaughter and 

processing capacity or other supply chain limitations.1

• When we resolve these issues and tap into consumer 

demand, it creates jobs. 

– Small slaughterhouses in Iowa created 7+ jobs per 1,000 

cattle processed. 2

The Research Shows...

Background 4

1 Gwin, Thiboumery and Stillman. Local Meat and Poultry Processing: The Importance of Business Commitments for Long-Term Viability. ERR150, USDA Economic Research Service. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research-report/err150.aspx#.Uxc87ONdW7w

2 Swenson, D. Exploring Small-Scale Meat Processing Expansion in Iowa. http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/pubs-andpapers/2011-04-exploring-small-scale-meat-processing-expansions-iowa.pdf 
How can USDA Assist?

Background 5
• Agency: Rural 

Development

• Type of support: Grant

• Uses: Planning, research, 

construction, equipment, 

marketing, working capital

• Typical awards: $200,000 

for working capital; 

$75,000 for planning

• Matching resources

required

• http://www.usda.gov/wps/por

tal/usda/usdahome?contentid 

=kyf_grants_rd1_content.html

Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG)

Program: VAPG 6
• In 2009, Steve Pinnow

wanted to produce fresh 

lamb meat in Southeast 

Wisconsin, but the only 

processing plant had a two 

month waiting period 

• Opened facility with a 

$150,000 VAPG

• Has six full time employees 

and contracts with 30 

producers to process lambs

• http://www.wisconsinlamb.com

Funded Project: VAPG 7

Pinn-Oak Ridge Farm Opens 

Lamb Processing Plant
• Agency: Rural 

Development

• Type of support: 

Guaranteed loans

• Uses: Construction, land, 

equipment, working 

capital; rural 

infrastructure and 

agriculture projects

• Typical awards: $10-40 

million, with exceptions

• http://www.usda.gov/wps/por

tal/usda/usdahome?contentid

=kyf_grants_rd3_content.html

Program: B&I 8

Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan 

Program (B&I)
• Prairieland Foods in Hallam, Nebraska received a B&I 

guaranteed loan for $650,000 to purchase a facility to 

meet the growing demand for local, source-verified milk

• Four jobs saved and at least three more created

• Company plans to produce cheese, yogurt, and other 

dairy foods for nearby markets using local milk

Prairieland Foods Purchases New Dairy 

Processing Facility

Funded Project: B&I 9
• Agency: Rural 

Development

• Type of support: Grant

• Uses: Planning/research, 

construction, land, 

equipment, working 

capital, training

• Typical awards: No 

maximum award

• Smaller projects receive 

priority points 

• http://www.usda.gov/wps/por

tal/usda/usdahome?contentid

=kyf_grants_rd6_content.html

Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG)

Program: RBEG 10
• In 2010, the Center in the NY Hudson River Valley developed a 

mobile slaughter unit, providing local ranchers access to 

slaughter and processing equipment and local markets

• The grant of $99,800 allowed for the hiring of a coordinator 

and for the unit to be winterized

Funded Project: RBEG 11

The Glynwood Center Develops 

Mobile Slaughter Unit

• http://www.glynwood.o

rg/programs/modularharvest-system/
• Agency: Food Safety Inspection Service

• Type of support: Technical assistance

• Uses: Planning, regulation compliance

• Initiative designed to help small processors reduce the 

time and expense of dealing with agency requirements; 

former field inspectors help answer questions on a toll 

free number: 1-877-FSIS-HELP or 1-877-374-7435

• http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/programs-andservices/contact-centers/small-plant-help-desk

Small Plant Help Desk (SPHD)

Program: SPHD 12
• Link Lab Artisan Meats, a Seattle-based sausage company 

that uses local, sustainably-produced meats, opened its 

business in late 2010 thanks largely to the Small Plant 

Help Desk 

• The Help Desk’s information and guidance were crucial in 

allowing owner David Pearlstein’s garage-turned-sausage 

facility to pass inspection

• Pearlstein’s facility was approved immediately following 

the initial visit, and he was able to start production just 

three months later

Example: SPHD 13

Link Lab Artisan Meats Retrofits Garage
• Agency: Food Safety Inspection Service

• Type of support: Technical assistance

• A program from the 2008 Farm Bill that allows small state 

inspected establishments to ship meat and poultry 

products in interstate commerce

• Must be a qualifying state inspected establishment with 

25 or fewer employees

• http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2008-

0039F.pdf

Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program 

(CIS)

Program: CIS 14
• Ohio nominated seven small 

establishments for the interstate 

shipment program in 2012

• All seven were accepted, and the small 

establishments could ship interstate 

with only state inspectors

• http://www.extension.org/sites/default/file

s/CoopInterstateShipment%20webinar%20s

lides%204Feb2014.pdf

Example: CIS 15

Ohio Cooperative Interstate Shipment 

Program
• Agency: Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service

• Type of support: Technical 

assistance 

• Uses: Improving biosecurity for 

non-commercial poultry 

operations, such as backyard flocks 

and bird enthusiasts

• Informational materials and online 

training programs for local poultry 

producers available in several 

languages

• http://www.healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov

Biosecurity for Birds

Program: BfB 16
• Agency: Grain Inspection, Packers and 

Stockyards Administration (GIPSA)

• Type of support: Enforcement

• Uses: GIPSA encourages producers, 

consumers, and members of the 

livestock, meat, and poultry industries 

to report incidents of slow, insufficient, 

or non-payment for livestock, meat, or 

poultry; potential antitrust practices; or 

unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent 

practices by entities subject to the P&S 

Act. 

• http://www.gipsa.usda.gov/Publications

/psp/broch/psact.pdf ; call 800-998-

3447 (toll-free)

Reporting Violations of the Packers and 

Stockyards Act

Program: GIPSA 17
• The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative provides information on 

USDA resources and tools for local and regional food systems. 

http://www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

• AMS: Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program helps support local 

food systems with marketing grants, which meat producers can use to educate 

consumers about locally-raised meat, for example. 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/fmpp

• AMS: Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program grants fund programs 

to market, transport and distribute products, including meat and poultry. 

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_ams2_content.ht

ml

• AMS: Market News provides expanded price, volume, supply, and demand 

information. Market News is now collecting price data on grass-fed beef to 

arm producers will real pricing information from the sector and will soon 

begin collecting data about local food prices and volume.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/MARKETNEWS

Additional Programs

Additional Programs 18
• FNS: Farm to School supports efforts by schools and districts, who in the 

recent Census expressed interest in local meat, to source more foods 

locally and provide complementary educational activities to students. 

http://www.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool/farm-school

• FSIS: Meat, Poultry, and Egg Product Inspection Directory catalogs USDAregulated establishments that produce products. 

www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/inspection/mpi-directory 

• NIFA: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grants support research, 

education, and extension efforts, including ranching. 

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri.html

• NIFA: Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program provides 

grants to organizations that train, educate, and provide outreach and 

technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers on such critical 

topics as marketing and legal studies. 

www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa3_content.html

Additional Programs

Additional Programs 19
• NIFA: National Integrated Food Safety Initiative grants fund integrated 

food safety projects addressing research, education, or extension. 

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/foodsafetyicgp.cfm

• NIFA: Small Business Innovation Research grants help small businesses 

(e.g., women-owned, economically disadvantaged) conduct high quality 

research, such as verifying operating procedures for raising natural beef. 

www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa5_content.html

• NIFA: Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education competitive grants 

are given to NGOs, researchers and producers for research and 

professional development to advance sustainable innovations, including 

testing marketing strategies for locally produced meat. 

www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_nifa6_content.html

• NRCS: Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides assistance for 

livestock-related conservation practices and producers shifting to organic. 

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/

Additional Programs

Additional Programs 20
• RD: Rural Business Opportunity Grants promote growth by 

supporting training and technical assistance for businesses in 

rural communities, including those wishing to explore market 

opportunities for local meat. 

www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=kyf_grants_rd2_co

ntent.html

• RD: Small Socially-Disadvantaged Producer Grants provides 

technical assistance to SSDPs (e.g., livestock producers) 

through eligible cooperatives and cooperative development 

centers. 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_SSDPG.html

Additional Programs

Additional Programs 21
• The Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass contains information on USDA 

resources for locally-raised and marketed livestock and poultry and a map of 

projects funded by USDA. Search the map by the “local meat and poultry” theme 

or by keyword to identify resources for your specific type of project. 

http://www.usda.gov/kyfcompass

• Livestock research from USDA’s Economic Research Service: 

– Slaughter and Processing Options and Issues for Locally-Sourced Meat: 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/ldpm-livestock,-dairy,-and-poultry-outlook/ldpm216- 01.aspx#.Uxd3oONdW7w

– Local Meat and Poultry Processing: 

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research- report/err150.aspx#.Uxd32uNdW7w

• Literature and compliance guides from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service

(i.e. mobile slaughter, HAACP and food defense plans): 

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/regulatory-compliance/compliance-guides-index

• ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service resources on 

livestock and pasture: 

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/livestock/

• Resources for small meat processors (including webinar and info on plant design 

and construction) from the Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network: 

http://www.extension.org/small_meat_processors

Research and Other Tools

Research and Tools 22
• All USDA Service Centers: 

http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app

• USDA Farm Service Agency local 

offices:

http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/stateOffices?

area=stoffice&subject=landing&topic=landi

ng

• USDA NRCS Offices: 

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/

main/national/about/org/

• USDA Risk Management Agency 

Regional Offices: 

http://www.rma.usda.gov/aboutrma/fields/

rsos.html 

• USDA Rural Development Offices: 

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/recd_map.htm

l

• Cooperative Extension System 

Contacts:

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ind

ex.html 

• eXtension’s Niche Meat Processor 

Assistance Network: 

http://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/

• Land Grant Colleges and Universities: 

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/partner

s/lgu_map_4_22_13.pdf

Potential Partners

Potential Partners 23
For further information...

Contact Information 24

http://www.usda.gov/kyfcompass

http://www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer

knowyourfarmer@usda.gov

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food is a USDA-wide effort to carry out President Obama's 

commitment to strengthening local and regional food systems, support small and midsized farms 

and ranches, and create opportunities for economic development in Rural America. KYF2 helps 

strengthen USDA programs that serve local food producers, businesses and communities and 

develops tools to help the public access these programs. The initiative is carried out by a task 

force of USDA employees representing every agency within the Department.