The Covid Pandemic revealed how vulnerable the food system was and still is. Praise be to God, Nebraska passed a bill that allows more freedom to small meat producers and farmers, but actions by our federal government may put this new freedom at risk. You see when big businesses start losing money to smaller businesses, they like to pass laws that make it more difficult for others to compete.
Before this new law in Nebraska, farmers had to have meat processed in a USDA facility if they wanted to divide it between more than 4 people and sell it by the pound (many people don’t want a quarter of an animal any more), but the new law would allow people that want to purchase less than a quarter of an animal to have it processed in a inspected facility that is not USDA and divide it up between themselves. This makes it more convenient for the farmer and more frugal for the customer (the producer bringing home meat, sorting it, storing it, and distributing it takes a lot of time and requires a higher price tag). Currently the closest USDA locker is over an hour away from us and has a two-year waiting list. This makes it very difficult to sell meat by the pound directly to the consumer and many farmers are experiencing worse circumstances than us.
Even if you only purchase meat from the big corporations this issue is very important to you too, because you see when there’s little or no competition, big corporations can charge whatever they want and you might see your meat prices soar. Also, what happens when the next crisis happens and this vulnerable system collapses. You no longer have your small local farm to purchase from, because they have been legislated out of business. Farmers need to be able to direct market their products because they only see 11.6 cents for every dollar spent on food when they sell through the huge markets. Many small farmers are losing money and forced to work a job outside the farm, because our government makes it very difficult to direct market with all their rules and regulations. An even worse possibility is that when fewer people are in control of our food, they have more power to tell us what we will eat. Bill Gates controls the most land in Nebraska and he thinks we should all be eating soy burgers. Yuck! This is not about food safety, it’s about big corporations controlling the market. I don’t believe it’s the government’s job to tell us what we can buy or sell, but I truly believe that if they cared about food safety, then the huge processing plants would be out of business and the small local processors would be thriving, because they produce safer meat. Just my observation and opinion.
Be encouraged because God is in control. Please pray for continued freedom for small producers This is the single most important thing we can do. It’s also so important to encourage and support your local farmer, and please consider leaving a comment on the government’s website link below and tell our leaders that you want freedom.
Do you buy products from a local farmer? We love to hear from you!
Link to comment on the USDA website here.