Small Farmers and Meat Processors Asking for More Support

Sunday, March 12th, 2023 -- 10:00 AM

(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) Small farmers and meat processors are calling for more state support to address a shortage of skilled workers and inspectors that have created delays and challenges with processing animals.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, some meat processors say they have been booked solid for up to two years or more as the COVID-19 pandemic caused shutdowns at the nation’s largest meatpacking plants, spurring demand for local and regional processors.

Jake Sailer owns Sailer’s Food Market & Meat Processing in Elmwood. Sailer, who is also president of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors, said they’re likely booked out for the next 22 months. He said at one point, they were booked out for 3 years.

"We were actually booking animals before they're even born…and it's kind of come around to the point now where we are getting caught up," Sailer said. The reason? Sailer said some processors are seeing cancelations for slaughter as customers are backing away from buying beef due to higher meat prices.

He urged buyers, farmers and processors to communicate about changes in advance to help reduce wait times for others. Despite cancelations, he said they’re still seeing higher demand than prior to the pandemic when wait times for scheduling animals for slaughter were around three to six months.

In far northwestern Wisconsin, leaders say there aren’t enough workers and businesses to serve the needs of smaller farmers and producers.

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