Meat-processing grants available

Bayfield County has gone on record supporting local meat processors in rural areas of the state. At present local producers schedule harvest dates for livestock years in advance.

In 2022 Bayfield County passed a resolution urging the state to add state inspectors to help smaller rural processors and to encourage the state and UW Extension to support succession planning for current meat processors.

It sounds like support for the topic has resonated with the state as funding will increase four and a half times this year and next.

In 2022 and 2023 the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection made $200,000 in funding available each year for a total of $400,000. In 2024 and 2025 this amount has jumped to $1.8 million for the biennial.

Grants up to $50,000 per processor are available to help expand capacity or throughput. Processors must match grant requests.

Applications should be submitted to DATCP Grants Manager Brian Williams at datcpdadgrants@wisconsin.gov. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in May. The grant application and materials are available at datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/MeatProcessorInfrastructureGrants.aspx

Bayfield County Administrator Mark Abeles-Allison noted that there is significant interest in local foods and a shortage of butchering options within an hour of the county.

Information provided by Bayfield County.