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Revive Spotlight on Meatpacker Expansion, Labeling

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by Chris Scott, meatingplace.com

Several members of the U.S. Congress are taking steps that could change the fortunes of small meatpacking companies and heat up the ongoing debate on mandatory country-of-origin labeling, or MCOOL.

Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Representative Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) reintroduced their “Butcher Block Act” legislation that would establish a permanent grant and loan program that aims to increase competition in the meatpacking industry. Originally launched by the two lawmakers in 2021, the proposal would help boost marketing options for meat processors and livestock companies and establish a grant program through USDA to help eligible organizations launch new construction or expansion projects, according to the proposed bill.

Meanwhile, at least one Capitol Hill lawmaker is responding to calls to reintroduce legislation that would restore MCOOL rules for American-raised beef. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) announced that he plans to push his American Beef Labeling Act proposal as part of the 2023 Farm Bill, just weeks after more than 50 consumers and cattle groups asked U.S. lawmakers to launch such efforts in a letter outlining their concerns.

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Thune told fellow legislators the bill would help small processors expand their capacity, allow for more state-inspected meat products and open new markets overall.

EPA to Study Water Pollution Tied to Livestock Farms

by Marc Heller, E & E News

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said it will study water pollution generated by large livestock farms, a potential first step toward tighter regulations on how industrial agriculture manages animal waste.

Officials announced the study as part of a biennial review of water pollution regulations required by the Clean Water Act. The review, called “Effluent Guidelines Program

Plan 15,” touches on wastewater discharges across many industries, and the study of big livestock farms comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the organization Food & Water Watch.

In a report finalized January 20, the environmental agency said any proposal to revise the regulations — which could take several years — requires the type of updated information the study would provide. That could include changes in the livestock industry since the last major update in 2008, as well as advances in technology and farm practices to reduce manure runoff, EPA said.

“Understanding the nature and frequency of discharges is critical to understanding the

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