Until 2021, in order to sell individual cuts of meat, farmers in Oregon had to have access to a USDA inspected facility. As of now, Oregon only has 13 of these facilities spread across the state. 

In 2020 FoFF and others advocated for the legislature to authorize ODA to create a USDA approved State Meat Inspection Program which would allow producers the same sales outlets as USDA processed facilities as long as the products were sold within Oregon. This program was developed by ODA and authorized by USDA in 2021, but the state has not prioritized funding staff to adequately run the program. In the 2023 approved budget and in the 2025 Agency Requested Budget, this program is receiving 0 FTE for inspectors in continuing service level.

It is imperative that we get more dedicated staffing for this program now because more firms are coming on line imminently. Let's meet the demand of farmers and community, not leave federal funds on the table, and move Oregon's livestock production in a climate and disaster resilient direction. We need to fund 2 FTE at the Department of Agriculture to serve this programming in the 2025-27 biennium. This can be matched with an additional FTE funded through federal matching from USDA bringing the total to 3 FTE.

SIGN THIS PETITION TO JOIN US IN ASKING FOR 2 FTE FOR ODA TO HIRE AND PHASE-IN STATE MEAT INSPECTORS THIS BIENNIUM AND BEGIN PULLING DOWN FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MORE INSPECTORS IN THE FUTURE!