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Expanding beef processing capacity is an NCBA priority
An official of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says expanding processing capacity is one of the group’s priorities heading into 2021.
Danielle Beck is NCBA’s director of government affairs.
“We hear the calls of our membership for more processing capacity. Lessons learned from COVID, this absolutely is one of the top, if not the top, issue,” Beck says. “Hook space is key and so we’re going to be pursuing a host of different opportunities.”
Beck says they’ll be working with Congress on the issue.
“There are several different legislative proposals and we’ve got a few in our back pocket that we’ll be looking to work very actively on in the next Congress,” she says. “And then we’re also looking at ways that we can make improvements to the system without having to rely on the folks on Capitol Hill.”
A recent report by Rabo AgriFinance said there is economic incentive to expand U.S. beef packing capacity by five to six thousand head on a daily basis.
The report said that would result in both a larger US beef industry over the long run and more balanced profitability throughout the supply chain.
Beck spoke with Brownfield during the virtual National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention.
