The U-S-D-A will spend half a BILLION dollars to help establish smaller-scale meat processing plants to compete with the four major corporations that dominate the industry. U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says spurring development of more meat processing facilities addresses some of the supply chain issues that cropped up as large pork, beef and poultry processing plants shut down early in the pandemic. In addition, Vilsack says smaller plants, closer to where animals are raised, give farmers more options for selling their livestock.

The 500 million will be distributed as grants, loans and technical assistance.