USDA AMS Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program Grant OPEN

What does this program do?
The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity. USDA Rural Development designed the MPPEP to encourage competition.
Sole proprietor businesses or other entities that engage - or want to engage - in meat and poultry processing.
Grant funds can be used to expand processing capacity by supporting activities such as:
· Building new - or modernizing or expanding existing - processing facilities
· Developing, installing, or modernizing equipment and technology
· Ensuring compliance with packaging and labeling requirements
· Upholding occupational and other safety requirements
· Modifying facilities or equipment to protect food safety
· Paying for voluntary grading services on value-added processed products
· Offsetting costs associated with becoming an inspected facility
· Supporting workforce recruitment, training, and retention
The maximum award amount is $25 million, or 20 percent of total project costs, whichever is less. There is no minimum award amount.
Eligible applicants must:
Process - or plan to process - one or more species subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act, or the Poultry Product Inspection Act.
Have - or plan to get - a Federal Grant of Inspection through USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, a Grant of Inspection under the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program, or a federal equivalent Tribal or state-based meat and poultry inspection program
Comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, and all other applicable state, local or Tribal laws.
More information about this grant program can be found on the USDA Rural Development website: https://www.rd.usda.gov/progra...
Upcoming Events
WNY Pastureland Conversion & Soil Health Field Day
July 16, 2025
Middleport, NY
Join American Farmland Trust for the Western New York Soil Health Field Day on July 16, 2025, at Zeliff Farm in Middleport, NY, from 9:00 AM-3:15 PM. Learn about pasture conversion, soil health benchmarking, biochar in grazing systems, and best grazing practices. Plus, enjoy hands-on demos with the NY Soil Health Trailer, drones, and cover crops! Check out the attached agenda for more information about the field day and REGISTER HERE. Zeliff Farms is a regenerative beef operation who has recently partnered with AFT on outreach and education to farmers including learning circles and evaluating biochar effects on soil health.
IPM Strategies to Protect Corn and Soybean Seed in NY

July 30, 2025
Hamburg , NY
SWNYDLFC and Cornell IPM are hosting a grower meeting to discuss integrated pest management strategies for protecting corn and soybean seed in New York.
FAMACHA Training for Sheep and Goat producers in Woodhull NY
August 13, 2025 : FAMACHA Training in Woodhull
Woodhull, NY
Join us for a discussion and hands-on training for internal parasite integrated pest management in sheep and goats. Certification is available to all students participating in the workshop.
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