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Small Meat Processors Working Group
Small meat processing plants are necessary for the vitality of Iowa’s agriculture and rural lifestyle. In 1965, there were more than 550 small meat plants in Iowa. Today there are less than 200. To address this decline, interested researchers came together to form the Small Meat Processors Working Group.
For the past 18 months, the Small Meat Processors Working Group has been investigating and mapping out the resources available at the local, state and national levels to assist small Iowa meat processors who seek to begin, upgrade or expand their businesses. The working group has identified five areas where meat lockers struggle:
- Business Planning and Feasibility
- Financing and Financial Assistance
- Plant Design
- Plant Construction
- Labor
A Small Meat Processors’ Resource Guidebook has been compiled that addresses each of these five areas, along with the many rules and regulations that govern small meat plants. In general, each section focuses first on local resources and then moves to state and federal assistance. Section 4 includes a list of contractors who have recently designed and/or constructed a meat processing facility.
The working group is also developing and offering specialty trainings for small meat processors. A cost accounting workshop was offered in the summer of 2007 (with funding from the Leopold Center) and will be offered again in the summer of 2008 (with funding from Value Chain Partnerships for Sustainable Agriculture).
Check back soon for information on additional trainings.
How to Participate in the Working Group
Meetings are held approximately every two months. While the working group welcomes new input, meetings are not open to the public. For more information or to inquire about participating in the working group, contact:
Arion Thiboumery
(515) 294-2882
arion@iastate.edu
Small Meat Processors Working Group
The goal of the Small Meat Processors Working Group is to help small, Iowa meat processors expand, upgrade or build new facilities in order to promote rural development—directly via the processors, and indirectly by helping offer greater market access for livestock producers and greater purchasing options for local and regional household and non-household buyers.
There are serious and persistent problems affecting the success of small meat processors, and while many groups are supporting them or are interested in supporting them, they can’t do it alone. The Small Meat Processors Working Group was formed to bridge the gap between the following groups that are critical to the success of small meat processors:
- Regulators
- Iowa Meat Processors Association
- Small Business Development Professionals
- Extension
- Producer Groups
- Development Groups
North
Central Regional Center for Rural Development
Iowa State University
107 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
(515) 294-8321, (515) 294-3180 fax
For questions, comments or concerns about the NCRCRD website, contact .
Last updated January 29, 2008