USDA Grant of $3.3 million boosts South Dakota meat processor with Butcher Block Act
RAPID CITY, S.D. – Representative Dusty Johnson, along with state and federal officials, visited the Wall Meats processing plant today to see firsthand how the Butcher Block Act is benefiting local meat processors. The plant recently received a $3.3 million grant from the USDA under the Butcher Block Act, which Representative Johnson has been working on since 2021. This grant will be used to improve the 50-year-old facility in Wall and construct a new facility in New Underwood.
The Butcher Block Act
The Butcher Block Act is a bill that would allow the United States Department of Agriculture to make loans and award grants for establishing, expanding, and otherwise supporting livestock and poultry processing. While the bill is still working its way through Congress, the USDA enacted some provisions administratively to help get the program off the ground.
Xochitl Torres Small stated, “When you invest in this part of the supply chain, you’re investing in hardworking producers, the ranchers who are working hard to make sure everyone in the country has the protein they need.”
Grant for Wall Meats
After being enacted, Wall Meats was the recipient of a $3.3 million grant under the Butcher Block Act. Nikki Gronli, the State Director of USDA Rural Development, expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity presented to farmers and residents in South Dakota.
“Having this great local meat right here and knowing the care that goes into the raising of the cattle, the processing of the cattle. I’m just so proud to be a part of it,” Gronli stated.
Representative Johnson’s Hopes for the Program
Representative Johnson reintroduced the bill in January with the aim of permanently authorizing the program.
Johnson emphasized the significance of USDA’s investment in the industry, stating, “This kind of investment from USDA. This is not just an investment in this facility and these employees and the new facility and New Underwood…it’s also an investment in making sure that producers and consumers have better marketplaces. This is going to make a major difference.”
The Butcher Block Act and the grant awarded to Wall Meats are promising developments for the livestock and poultry processing industry. The investment from USDA will not only benefit local processors and their employees but also contribute to better marketplaces for producers and consumers alike.
