USDA's Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA)

What does the MPPTA Offer?
Access to technical experts from across industry, academia and state and federal government.
Focused content for diverse stakeholders, including family-owned, rural, minority-owned, Native American and Tribal-owned businesses, and other underserved entities seeking to build or expand meat and poultry processing and supply chain capacity.
General assistance with navigating USDA grant application and award processes, and successful post-award grant management
One-one-one advising, including project and proposal reviews tailored to the specific needs of diverse stakeholders, from small and very small processors and new enterprise startups to organizations developing regional concepts and established mid-sized processing companies.
Educational resources, events, and webinars covering topics of interest for meat and poultry processing enterprises of all types.
Note: The MPPTA Program does not offer or provide contractor services or financial capital. It does not offer grant writing or project management services, nor does the voluntary use of MPPTA guarantee the success of a grant application or the grant-funded project.
In March 2022, AMS identified the following organizations to serve as TA Providers:
Oregon State University- Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network
Intertribal Agriculture Council
American Association of Meat Processors
American Meat Science Association
Agricultural Utilization Research Institute
Upcoming Events
Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora
October 21, 2025 : Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora
East Aurora, NY
This workshop will explain why regularly testing fecal egg counts can help you with understanding your animals' parasite loads and dewormer resistance. Attendees have the opportunity to prepare and evaluate fresh fecal samples under the microscope and practice interpretations.
Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - Jamestown
October 30, 2025 : Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - Jamestown
Jamestown, NY
This workshop will explain why regularly testing fecal egg counts can help you with understanding your animals' parasite loads and dewormer resistance. Attendees have the opportunity to prepare and evaluate fresh fecal samples under the microscope and practice interpretations.
2025 Annual Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium Day 1
October 31, 2025 : 2025 Annual Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium Day 1
Join sheep and goat production experts for three days of informational lectures, hands-on experiences, and demonstrations around sheep and goat production and management. The symposium starts on Friday, October 31 and runs through Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Announcements
Herbicide Resistance Screening
We are screening weed species for herbicide resistance.Species we are looking for include, but aren't limited to:
- Tall Waterhemp
- Palmer Amaranth
- Marestail
- Redroot Pigweed
- Foxtails
- Common Lambsquarters
- Common Ragweed
Reach out to Katelyn Miller at 716-640-2047 or km753@cornell.edu for more information.