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Nebraska meat processor says new herd share bill is a break through for consumers
Nebraska lawmakers have unanimously passed legislation allowing farmers and ranchers to offer locally raised meat directly to consumers.
Introduced by Senator Tom Brandt of Plymouth, the bill allows a customer to get their choice cut of meat after entering a herd share agreement where both the consumer and producer have ownership in an animal or herd.
A local meat processor in Northeast Nebraska will be the first to implement the new legislation once it’s signed into law.
Aunbrea Zeleny with the Oakland Processing Plant says even though the bill creates more work for them, it increases access to locally raised meat for consumers. “When you don’t have the $700 for quarter-beef, which is as small as you can go at the custom exempt level. This will open the doors for more people who can’t afford the $700. They might be able to do $100 or $200 or $400.”
The animal share owner, or someone acting on their behalf, must receive the meat, and the farmer or rancher must provide the consumer with a description of their livestock health and processing standards.
A farmer or rancher who offers an animal share must be a Nebraska resident and maintain a record of each animal share sold.
The legislation also creates an independent processor assistance program which provides funding to certain federally or state inspected or custom-exempt processing facilities who employ fewer than 25 people.
Zeleny says to meet increased demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, they began planning an expansion for the business to increase their processing capacity.
She tells Brownfield after money is allocated for the grants, it will help them pay rising construction costs as they continue building. “We’re kind of on this deadline fiasco over here along the lines of prices keep increasing. If we don’t sign by certain days, it’s going up 8 percent, 5 percent or 6 percent. Every day it’s changing.”
Zeleny says their building’s outer shell is scheduled to be completed in October but because of supply shortages and increasing costs finishing the work inside will take an additional six to eight months.
Recipients may use the funds to pay for capital improvements, utilities upgrades, equipment, technology, building rentals, costs associated with increased inspections and educational and workforce training.
