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Senate resolve asks Department to review meat and poultry inspection; producers urge assessment of field inspection practices
Summary
LD 11 98 resolves to have DACF assess its meat and poultry inspection programs and report recommendations; small producers and processors testified alleging uneven enforcement, burdensome paperwork and poor inspector conduct, while the Division of Quality Assurance and Regulation outlined existing federal audits and internal reviews.
Senator Russell Black introduced LD 11 98, a resolve directing the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) to assess the State’s current meat and poultry inspection program and to report recommendations back to the Legislature by January 15, 2026. The bill asks DACF to review exemptions, inspection operations, and stakeholder concerns.
Producer testimony: Multiple small producers and processors testified in support of the resolve, describing operational challenges when seeking inspection and processing services. Scott Graney of Graney’s Turkey Farm described what he and other producers characterized as aggressive or intimidating conduct by some field inspectors, and said enforcement steps had required producers to embargo product and absorb losses. Other small producers said inconsistent enforcement, unclear labeling guidance and extra paperwork had been a barrier to operating and scaling local processing.
Agency testimony: Celeste Poulin, Director of Quality Assurance and Regulation at DACF, testified neither for nor against, noting the program is subject to regular federal and internal audits. She noted annual and triennial USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service audits; the most recent in‑person audit (summer 2024) and paper audit returned no findings. Poulin said DACF conducts quarterly internal management controls and training. The Division asked the committee to note that the State’s meat and poultry inspection program must, by statute and agreement, maintain “at least equal” status to USDA standards and that some variability in inspector communications with producers does occur despite department training and outreach.
Committee concern and next steps: Lawmakers asked DACF to provide clearer information about the number and geographic distribution of state‑licensed slaughter and processing facilities, any staffing or funding gaps, and how many producers currently rely on state inspection versus federal inspection or exempt direct‑to‑consumer pathways. The Department said it would review the committee’s questions as part of the requested assessment. No vote was taken; the resolve, if advanced, would produce a written report with recommendations.
