April 29, 2023: NCBA Opposition to PRIME Act

The PRIME Act has once again made its way into Congress. Current law exempts custom slaughter of animals from federal inspection regulations, only if the meat is for personal, household, guest, and employee use. So, to sell individual cuts of locally raised meats to consumers, farmers and ranchers must send their animals to a USDA-inspected slaughterhouse. Proponents of the bill like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) say it will make it easier for small farms and ranches to serve consumers. However, opponents like the NCBA say those USDA inspections are important for food safety and consumer trust.

In this week’s AgNet Weekly, Sabrina Halvorson talks with Todd Wilkinson, a cattle rancher from South Dakota and President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on why the association is opposing the act.