When the USDA established the Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance network in 2022, beef ranchers and other livestock producers were facing delays of more than a year in scheduling their animals for processing.

With apologies to Bob Dylan, the times, they have changed. Driven by drought, trade restrictions, and other factors, the U.S. cattle inventory has dropped to a 70-year low, with only marginal signs indicating any rebuilding is underway.

Silos are valuable on farms and ranches but not in federal agencies. Within USDA and other federal agencies, various departments too often operate in isolation, creating confusion and challenges for constituencies wanting to utilize their resources.

Leaders at USDA AMS understood that when they enlisted Flower Hill Institute and five other organizations to create the Meat and Poultry Processing Technical Assistance (MPPTA) Program in 2022.