Better for Butchery: USDA Strengthens Local Meat Processing Capacity with Kentucky Facility Acquisition

USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, Travis Burton, joined us to discuss the Princeton facility (formerly Porter Road Meats), now backed by the USDA, and its role in expanding domestic meat processing capacity.

PRINCETON, Ky. (RFD NEWS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working to expand domestic meat processing capacity, supporting local operations and strengthening the food supply chain.

Travis Burton, USDA Rural Development Director for Kentucky, joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to provide an overview of the facility and the benefits it brings to agriculture across the region. Burton also discussed how the acquisition was financed through the Meat and Poultry Intermediary Lending Program backed by the USDA.

Burton highlighted why this effort was important for USDA and spoke to the broader significance of strengthening local meat processing for rural communities and the overall food supply chain.

As part of that work, USDA recently supported Better For Butchery (formerly Porter Road Meats) in acquiring a facility in Kentucky. The site will operate as a scalable co-packing and processing hub.

On Thursday, we were joined on Market Day Report by Better For Butchery CEO Christopher Roach, who provided an overview of the facility and discussed the benefits it brings to agriculture across the region.

In his interview with RFD NEWS, Roach explained how the acquisition was financed through the Meat and USDA’s Poultry Lending Program. He also highlighted that the acquisition marks a turning point for Better For Butchery, as well as the new facility’s potential to strengthen local meat processing and support rural communities and the food supply chain.

Related Stories
Corn export demand remains supportive, but weak pork and rice sales show uneven global demand trends.
Rising poultry supply is pressuring prices despite steady demand.
As part of this effort, USDA will establish a new National Food Safety Center (NFSC) in Urbandale, Iowa, which will serve as the primary hub for FSIS administrative, technical, and support operations.
Kansas row crop farmer Brad Keeler joins us to discuss drought conditions, planting decisions, input costs, and overall farmer sentiment in his region.
AFBF Economist Danny Munch joined us to discuss snowpack levels in the Colorado River Basin, water supply concerns, and the potential impact on agricultural production.
Congressman Gary Palmer of Alabama joined us to discuss federal overreach, transparency efforts, and legislative solutions impacting agriculture on this week’s Champions of Rural America.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

In today’s Performance Through Partnership feature, brought to you by Golden Harvest, we meet farmer Kevin Siffring of Surprise, Nebraska.
Chris Weaver, a sixth generation farmer in Finksburg, Maryland, talks about his successful relationship with his partners on the Golden Harvest Agronomy Team for his soybean and corn operation.
For many in the ag community, these food safety tips might be common knowledge. However, taking the extra precaution is worth avoiding a ‘spoiled’ summertime outing!
According to surveys by the University of Georgia in 2015, feral hogs caused approximately $100 million in agricultural damage just in that state. They continue to be a costly problem for rural communities across the state, reports Damon Jones of Georgia Farm Monitor.