The outgoing USDA administration recently announced grants amounting to $20 million for 26 projects under the Local Meat Capacity (MCap) Program. To date, USDA has funded 97 projects valued at $56 million under this initiative. The objective of the program is to support small-scale and regional livestock production and processing to increase options for farmers. The program is justified by an internal USDA report Competition and Fair Practice in Meat Merchandizing that claims to lower food prices and to assist livestock producers and ranchers.
Over the past four years, USDA has attempted to restructure meat and poultry production using funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and dipping into the Commodity Credit Corporation piggy bank.
What is important is the magnitude of ultimate benefits to both producers and consumers through funding euphemistically referred to as “investment.” USDA has yet to demonstrate or to quantify a return on the use of public funds or to account for expenditures under diverse ‘giveaway’ programs.