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Arkansas Cattlemen urge state inspection options; warn of large backlog and processing limits

Joint House and Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee · May 12, 2020
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Summary

The Arkansas Cattlemen's Association told legislators the COVID-19 shock has renewed interest in state meat inspection and local processing to keep markets operating; the association cited an estimated 600,000 head backlog, noted costs for a state inspection program and recommended pilots and further study rather than an immediate statewide rollout.

The Arkansas Cattlemen's Association told the joint Agriculture Committee that COVID-19–related processing slowdowns have renewed producer interest in state meat inspection as a way to diversify market outlets and reduce supply-chain bottlenecks.

Cody Burkleman, executive vice president of the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association, reviewed mandatory country-of-origin labeling history, WTO disputes and why reinstating mandatory beef/pork labeling is legally and politically difficult. "Mandatory country of origin labeling started in essentially 02/2008..." Burkleman said, and he warned…

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