LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Williams Baptist University, based in Walnut Ridge, Ark., recently opened up the fourth meat processing facility licensed by the Arkansas Meat Inspection Program.

Other meat facilities previously added to the program include JACO Meats, Hope, Ark.; the Arkansas State University Meat Market, Jonesboro, Ark.; and Ferguson’s Packing Company in Atkins, Ark.

“The expansion of state-inspection facilities across the state is great news for Arkansas consumers and the state’s agriculture industry,” said Wes Ward, Arkansas secretary of agriculture. “We are hopeful that this program will continue to increase the availability of locally sourced meat and meat products for Arkansans.”

Williams Baptist University received funding through the Arkansas Meat and Poultry Processing Grant Program in 2020.

During the 2021 regular session of the Arkansas General Assembly, the Arkansas Meat Inspection Program was authorized by Act 418. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) finalized an agreement with Arkansas in 2021 that allows the state to inspect meat products for shipment within Arkansas.

Arkansas and 27 other states have implemented the state meat and poultry inspection (MPI) program that allows the Arkansas Department of Agriculture to inspect meat products shipped within Arkansas.

The MPI programs must develop, administer, and enforce requirements “at least equal to” those outlined in the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA).

During 2020, the Arkansas Department of Agriculture worked with the Arkansas legislature and industry stakeholders to receive and distribute $10.4 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act for the Arkansas Meat and Poultry Processing Grant Program.

Several local government, business and university leaders, including Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, recently dedicated the new facility.