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
Lewie Pugh, with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report with his insights on the incident and a deeper dive into the issues at hand.
As the Trump Administration seeks out new global trade partnerships, Congress is considering more support for farmers, which comes as the Federal Reserve warns that farmers need a safety net.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins will travel to Europe and Asia to seek new trade partnerships for U.S. crops after China reduced imports due to tariffs.
The $221 million will help farmers and ranchers cover losses from Hurricane Helene that USDA programs didn’t cover. They’ll focus on infrastructure, markets, timber, and future economic losses.
The Tennessee State Fair features a variety of attractions, including rides, tasty foods, and dozens of agricultural competitions to enter and win. But what goes into picking achievements in each category?
Co-Bank Lead Dairy Economist, Corey Geiger, joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report for a further look at the drop in replacement heifers and the trend’s longterm impact on dairy producers and cattle prices.
The agriculture workforce’s struggles with labor issues in recent years have opened the door to more automation and integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
RanchHERs Lyn & Sherrie Ray breed horses and raise cattle in New Mexico, while also helping to mentor the next generation of ag leaders

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Support policies that keep U.S. biofuels at the table—marine demand could materially lift corn grind, crush margins, and rural jobs.
FarmHER Katey Jo Evans joins us to share her journey from farm wife to entrepreneur and advocate for reducing food waste.
China is not one of our top suppliers of cooking oil, according to USDA ERS data, but does export a lot of used cooking oil to the U.S. for biofuel production.
Agriculture Shows
Special 3-part series tells the story of the Claas family’s legacy, which changed agriculture forever.
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.