USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is providing $500 million in temporary support to help stabilize our domestic small, independent, and mid-size beef processors. These payments are authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act.
The program provides temporary support for small and mid-size beef processors under Federal inspection, including establishments under Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program and the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.
Eligible entities must be U.S. owned and cannot be nationally dominant in beef processing (or owned by an entity that is). For SPUR purposes, nationally dominant is an entity holding a market share greater than or equal to the entity holding the fourth-largest share of the beef processing market.
Establishments are encouraged to register with SAM.gov ahead of the application period being announced. Registering allows entities to conduct business with the federal government.
Additional information, including applications, will be provided to eligible entities using contact information that is currently on file with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
To protect independent and regional beef processing capacity and help processers weather historically high cattle acquisition costs, USDA is providing formula-based payments to eligible entities and individuals to reduce the overall cost burden per head of beef processing.
Payments are intended to provide financial support to eligible beef processors who have faced increased costs of acquiring cattle for processing due to the abnormally low number of cattle being raised in the U.S at this time and other conditions currently impacting the cattle market.
The goal of the program is to preserve independent processing capacity, maintain competition throughout the beef marketplace, strengthen rural economies, and support a resilient domestic beef supply chain that benefits both producers and consumers.
Questions
For more information, processors can send any questions to SPUR@usda.gov.