A PLAN IN THE IOWA HOUSE WOULD PROVIDE 750-THOUSAND DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO HELP EXPAND SMALL MEAT LOCKERS WITH FEWER THAN 50 EMPLOYEES.
IN ADDITION TO THE MONEY, A BILL THAT’S PASSED THE HOUSE WOULD SET UP A TASK FORCE TO STUDY CREATION OF A BUTCHER PROGRAM AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE OR IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY.
REPRESENTATIVE PHIL THOMPSON OF JEFFERSON SAYS THE PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED FOR SMALL-SCALE, LOCAL MEAT PROCESSING.
MEATLOCKER1 OC….WITH DEMAND :09
THE PROPOSED STATE GRANTS COULD BE USED TO BUY MORE SPACE OR EQUIPMENT, FOR MEAT LOCKERS.
THE MONEY IS INCLUDED IN A SEPARATE BILL FOR THE IOWA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY — THE STATE AGENCY THAT WOULD HAND OUT THE GRANTS.
REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS HALL OF SIOUX CITY SAYS THERE’S A DEFINITE NEED, SINCE MANY IOWA MEAT LOCKERS AREN’T TAKING ORDERS UNTIL 2022 OR 2023.
MEATLOCKER2 OC….COMES FROM :10
REPRESENTATIVE CHAD INGELS, A FARMER FROM RANDALIA, IS THE BILL’S SPONSOR.
MEATLOCKER3 OC….TO A HEAD :19
NEBRASKA’S LEGISLATURE IS CONSIDERING A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
THAT BILL WOULD LET CONSUMERS BUY SHARES IN LIVE ANIMALS,
THE LIVESTOCK WOULD BE SLAUGHTERED AND PROCESSED BY A CUSTOM BUTCHER AND THE MEAT WOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL INSPECTION.
RADIO IOWA
