New act boosts access to locally sourced meat in Kentucky

By Blake Jackson

U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) recently introduced the Livestock Owned by Communities to Advance Local (LOCAL) Foods Act, aimed at updating the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906’s ‘Personal-Use Exemption’ to benefit small-scale meat producers in Kentucky and beyond.

This legislation seeks to codify current USDA guidelines on Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions, enabling consumers to purchase live animals directly from producers and appoint agents to handle the slaughter and processing.

Under the existing Federal Meat Inspection Act, all meat in the U.S. must be inspected by the USDA. However, the limited number of USDA-inspected slaughterhouses often leads to bottlenecks, particularly affecting small producers who struggle to secure time at these facilities against larger operations.

The LOCAL Foods Act proposes amendments to the Personal-Use and Custom Exemptions, allowing consumers to buy live animals and either slaughter them personally or hire someone to do so. This change aims to alleviate bottlenecks, facilitating a steady supply of locally sourced food for communities.

“For generations, Vermonters have depended on their neighbors for locally grown produce and farm-fresh meat. However, regulations tailored toward large-scale farms have made it harder for smaller farms to sell in their own communities. Keeping our small-scale producers competitive means cutting through red tape to help them compete with companies that have massive operations,” said Senator Welch.

The USDA has previously issued guidelines allowing producers to sell livestock without inspection under specific conditions, thus aligning with local farming practices and enhancing consumer access to fresh produce.

The LOCAL Foods Act enjoys support from several organizations, including the Kentucky Black Farmers Association. “Modernizing the personal-use exception reflects the realities of diverse communities demanding access to local food that honors their traditions,” noted Kenya Abraham, a member of the association.

Judith McGeary, Executive Director of the Farmers and Ranchers Freedom Alliance, added, “The LOCAL Foods Act will reduce both financial and regulatory burdens on small farmers and thereby improve consumers’ access to local foods.”

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