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The intent of this session is to educate farmers, ranchers and processors on how to set up mobile-slaughter units, receive the federal grant of inspection and meet U.S.D.A. food-safety requirements.
This session is being held in response to the interest in U.S.D.A.'s efforts to support local/regional slaughter through the "Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food" initiative.
"This session will educate small producers and processors on establishing mobile-slaughter units and how to ensure the safety of the products so that they can receive the U.S.D.A. federal mark of inspection," said Jerold Mande, Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety.
Mobile-slaughter units are self-contained slaughter facilities that can travel from site to site. The units typically provide slaughter services to regional small producers at conveniently located host farms. F.S.I.S.-inspected mobile-slaughter units provide a feasible option for small livestock producers wanting to provide safe, wholesome meat product to local and interstate consumer markets.
F.S.I.S. officials will cover how to apply for the federal grant of inspection and discuss inspection issues unique to mobile-slaughter units. The information session will also include presentations by other U.S.D.A. agencies and the University of Maryland on how to market small and very small producer’s grass-fed beef products, how producers can become certified “U.S.D.A. Organic” through the Agricultural Marketing Service's National Organic Program, and a review of federal grant and loan options.
Clickhere to read the meeting agenda.
