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MISSOURI The Midwest Cattleman · April 1, 2021 · P12
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tion and cost them some busi-
swer any questions custom- ness, Stubblefield has been
ers have. “We’re really good pleased with the speed of in-
about walking customers ternal growth. “Things have
through the cut sheet. I think been better than I thought,
we have a really strong team aside from the inspection,”
with the way the investors she said. “[The grant] helped
are setup,” she said. and we expanded in ways I
When customers pickup, didn’t expect yet.”
they can back up to a building Once approved, Oak Hill
and have their beef loaded up Meats will be the third USDA
for them. “You don’t have to plant in their area and fifth
go into the processing facility processor to offer custom ser-
at all,” Stubblefield said. “You vices. “These facilities are
pay there and everything, so backed up until next year.
you don’t have to wait in line When it’s all settled, there
at the counter. And on the will probably be some compe-
invoice you get back, it says tition. But there’s a good dis-
exactly how many packages tance between each facility,” likely to increase. Like Stub- just have not been able to tap
of each cut you received and she said. blefield, Hertzog agrees that into it, because we've had no-
the exact weight of the total As more plants crop up there is plenty of room for where to go. We're trying to
amount.” across Missouri and nearby individuals to market their reduce that complexity.”
While the delayed certifi- states, opportunities for pri- product. “The beef market is
cation has brought frustra- vate farm labels are just as so big,” he said. “Producers

TRICKLE EFFECT FROM PACKING PLANT EXPANSIONS
Contributing writers Austin Black and Brenda Black
The Missouri Meat and 2027. This will allow proces- Abundant feed supply, ample Other benefits would like-
Poultry Processing Grant sors the opportunity to con- water sources and local mar- ly trickle throughout various
Program was created in re- tinue construction and ex- kets provide an ideal envi- livestock segments. For ex-
sponse to processing de- pansion, resulting in more ronment for producers to ample, should cow-calf pro-
mands highlighted by the jobs and increased beef pro- finish their own cattle or pro- ducers elect to retain calves
COVID-19 pandemic. This cessing in the state. vide the service as a separate to feed and finish, then those
program appropriates $20 Though the boon in pack- enterprise. producers can track finishing
million from the CARES ing plant development is Water alone is a critical performance and be better
Act to support new and ex- happening currently, results and attractive component informed on cow-calf man-
isting meat and processing from a study conducted by since the Ogallala aquifer agement decisions. Knowing
facilities for renovations, ex- the University of Missouri in depletion continues to im- which genetics gain efficient-
pansion and construction. 2016 may well have fanned pact farmland in eight states ly or grade and yield well can
According to the Missouri the flame before the pandem- located through the Great play critical roles in future
Department of Agriculture ic poured on added fuel. The Plains. According to a U.S. breeding decisions.
press release, “The grant is University of Missouri Val- Geological Service (USGS) The UMC 2016 study adds
based on a three-tiered sys- ue-Added Beef Study stated report, within the next 50 a lengthy list of addition-
tem intended to incentivize that the Missouri meat pro- years, the Ogallala aquifer al positives. “If more calves
facilities to increase livestock cessing industry had become is expected to be depleted by were backgrounded and/or
or poultry slaughter and pro- increasingly smaller, creat- nearly 70 percent. In the long finished within Missouri, the
cessing, and to become an in- ing challenges for livestock term, it is reasonable to ex- Missouri economy would be
spected or exempted facility producers who need local pect that cattle feeding will affected. New industry sales
in the near term.” processors to slaughter and shift to areas that have ad- would occur from retaining
Grants were awarded last further process animals that equate water resources and animal ownership past the
year through an application they raise. State-inspected the infrastructure necessary cow-calf stage. Local vendors
process and eligible for reim- and custom-exempt slaugh- to support it. In Missouri, a would provide goods and ser-
bursing workforce assistance, ter plants made up the ma- limited amount of groundwa- vices to these cattle feeding
equipment, capital improve- jority of Missouri slaughter ter is used by the livestock operations. Missouri crop
ments and qualified expens- plants. sector, proving the state to be farmers would have addition-
es incurred from March 1 to According to the Missouri a viable alternative. al markets for selling feeds
Nov 15, 2020. One of such ex- Association of Meat Proces- Given the variable cli- (corn, hay, etc.), and local
penses was the cost of attain- sors, there are more than mate in the state, many pro- biofuel plants could provide
ing USDA inspection approv- 115 meat packing plants ducers may need to consider co-products for feeding beef
al or increasing inspections. throughout the state. Most covered feeding facilities to calves. Additionally, the beef
Facilities employing over 200 of these are custom exempt manage pen conditions and industry would create jobs
employees or receiving cur- or state inspected. Producers cattle comfort. However, ac- and provide labor income to
rent funding and insurance can visit fsis.usda.gov to find cess to more local plants may spend in local economies.”
payments were not eligible. a list of local plants. counterbalance the risks and Packing plants may just
To further encourage plant As this list continues to costs for producers to feed in be the beginning for beef pro-
development, the Meat Pro- grow, there is increased op- Missouri, reducing shipping ducer marketing opportuni-
cessing Facility Investment portunity not only for pro- overhead and increasing ties in Missouri.
Tax Credit was extended cessing meat, but for fin- marketing channels for them
from Dec 31, 2021 to Dec 31, ishing cattle in Missouri. to develop niche markets.