BOISE, Idaho (RFD News) — USDA is looking to put $500 million toward strengthening small and mid-sized beef processors through the SPUR program.
Chanel Tewalt, director of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, said the program could help fill a gap in the beef processing industry. She said where that money is spent will be critical.
“Making sure to invest in packers that are likely to succeed in the future, not just those who are going to go under or likely to be gobbled up by, again, the big four. And that’s not to say the big four aren’t important, obviously, in beef packing in America.”
Tewalt also pointed to the role mid-sized processors play in states like Idaho, where they can handle significant volumes while maintaining close relationships with local producers.
“Which in a lot of ways has been a bit of a donut hole. There is investment with really big processors. There actually has been some investment with really small processors as well, and there were quite a few tranches of money that came through in the previous administration. Mid-size packers, again, this group that I’ve been talking about already, is so pivotally important to Idaho because they’re still processing big enough numbers to be very helpful to us as an industry.”
Tewalt said well-targeted spending could help producers, processors and the broader beef industry.
The SPUR Act cleared the House in February and is currently awaiting action from the Senate Small Business Committee.
