WASHINGTON — Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act (SLPA), which looks to assist in upgrading operations for small meat and poultry processors.

The legislation will give processors additional access to food safety planning, more inspector-approved meat products to be sold across state lines and direct resources toward training, education and technical assistance grants.

“South Dakota’s producers work hard to raise high-quality livestock and play a critical role in our nation’s food supply,” Thune said. “It’s important that we invest in expanding local processing capabilities to help them meet consumer demand. My legislation would help our small meat and poultry processors bolster their operations and provide them with more local marketing opportunities.”

A similar bill was introduced by Represenatives Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Jim Baird (R-Ind.) in the House of Representatives.

“Access to USDA processing facilities remains a significant challenge for livestock producers in Maine and across the country,” Pingree said. “Their livelihoods depend on having somewhere to take their animals, but under the current system, their options are severely limited. Chefs, retailers and consumers want to buy locally raised meat, and they’re frustrated by how difficult it is to get. Our bipartisan Strengthening Local Processing Act will increase processing, enhance opportunities for local producers and help small slaughterhouses and butchers grow their businesses — delivering the quality, locally raised meat and poultry consumers expect at the store.”

Pingree’s bill aims to increase the federal cost share for state facility inspections (50% to 65%) and Cooperative Interstate Shipment (60% to 80%).

“Our 16 years of research, education and providing technical assistance related to the viability of small and mid-scale meat processors shows that the solutions proposed by the Strengthening Local Processing Act are thoughtfully designed and will address persistent challenges that our processor members frequently share with us,” said Rebecca Thistlethwaite, director of the Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network. “SLPA gets at some of the core and complex challenges in the sector that many other bills have not addressed.”

The bill also received support from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and the National Deer Association.

Last month, a group of senators introduced the Meat and Poultry Special Investigators Act to work on anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industry.

In March, the Expanding Local Meat Processing Act was introduced, allowing livestock auction market owners to hold ownership, finance or manage a meatpacking plant.