USDA study shows regional shortage of facilities

USDA has recently reported that there are existing gaps in the regional food systems regarding the availability of slaughter facilities to small meat and poultry producers.

The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is attempting to identify areas in America where small livestock and poultry producers are concentrated, but may not have access to a nearby slaughter facility.

The USDA defines "small slaughter establishments" as those having between 10 and 499 employees, and "very small slaughter establishments" as having fewer than 10 employees or less than US$2.5 million in annual sales. For the purpose of the study, small livestock and poultry producers are those who have annual sales of US$250,000 or less.