To overcome labor shortages and barriers to upgrading facilities, Iowa lawmakers have passed House File 857, which directs the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to establish a task force to study workforce issues in the meat processing industry.
The legislation also creates a fund to give financial assistance to small processors to upgrade their facilities and mobile slaughter facilities. The task force will study the feasibility of establishing an artisanal butchery program at a community college or university.
“I’m proud that Iowa is taking a multipronged approach to tackling these issues and excited to lead the Artisanal Butchery Task Force to figure out the best path forward to address our locker’s workforce challenges,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “We have assembled a top-tier group of folks who bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the table, and I look forward to what this group comes up with.”
