Javascript is required to use this website.

Remote meat grading pilot program could increasing marketing options at small plants

By Christina Bakker, SDSU Extension
Apr 20, 2024
Apr 20, 2024

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Christina Bakker, SDSU Extension

A new program for remote beef carcass grading has unlocked the potential for certain small meat processing facilities to reap the marketing benefits of U.S. Department of Agriculture-graded beef at a much more affordable price.

kAm%96 &$sp p8C:4F=EFC2= |2C<6E:?8 $6CG:46 =2F?4965 2 A:=@E AC@8C2> 7@C #6>@E6 &$sp q667 r2C42DD vC25:?8 :? y2?F2CJ] w6C6 H6’== 6IA=2:? E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? &$sp :?DA64E:@? 2?5 &$sp 7C25:?8[ 2?5 AC@G:56 D@>6 :?D:89E :?E@ E96 ?6H AC@8C2>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m|62E :?DA64E:@? G6CDFD 8C25:?8k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmx? @C56C 7@C >62E :? E96 &]$] E@ 36 D@=5[ :E >FDE 36 :?DA64E65 2?5 A2DD65] x?DA64E:@? :D 2 >2?52E@CJ D6CG:46 AC@G:565 3J E96 &$sp u@@5 $276EJ x?DA64E:@? $6CG:46 W233C6G:2E65 2D u$x$X E92E :D 7F?565 3J E2I6D E9C@F89 E96 &$sp 2?5 7@4FD6D @? >62E D276EJ 2?5 H9@=6D@>6?6DD]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ E96 &$sp[ D@>6 DE2E6D 2=D@ @A6C2E6 E96:C @H? :?DA64E:@? D6CG:46D E92E C6BF:C6 6BF2= E@ @C DEC:4E6C DE2?52C5D] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE :?DA64E:@?[ D66 E96 2CE:4=6[ |62E x?DA64E:@? :? $@FE9 s2<@E2i #6BF:C6>6?ED 2?5 #6D@FC46D 7@C !C@46DD:?8 2?5 $6==:?8 |62E]k^Am

kAmq667 42C42DD 8C25:?8 :D 2 G@=F?E2CJ D6CG:46 E92E A24<6CD FE:=:K6 E@ 42E68@C:K6 2?5 AC:46 3667 42C42DD6D 2?5 C6E2:= 4FED] %9:D D6CG:46 :D A2:5 7@C 3J E96 A24<6C 2?5 :D AC@G:565 3J E96 &$sp p8C:4F=EFC2= |2C<6E:?8 $6CG:46] q667 42C42DD 8C25:?8 4@?D:56CD E96 2>@F?E @7 >2C3=:?8 :? E96 C:36J6 2D H6== 2D 42C42DD >2EFC:EJ E@ 2DD:8? 2 42C42DD 8C256]k^Am

People are also reading…

County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Virtual fence shows potential for producers
Fertilizer prices seasonally higher, rising globally
Couples partner to open Sasquatch Acres farmstand
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Brooks Chalky Butte Angus Ranch 2026 Production Sale
Upside Robotics builds robots with sensors to fertilize cornfields in tiny doses
2026 Farm Financial Stability loans overwhelm BND
Nations race to secure enough fertilizer
The sacrifice and perseverance of a ranch woman
Quality data, trust key to AI in agriculture
EPA allows summer sales of E15 gasoline
Eastern Iowa woman drawn to new foods and hobbies
Professional photographer captures unique perspective in life

kAm%96 >@DE\4@>>@? 8C256D 2DD:8?65 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2C6 &$sp !C:>6[ r9@:46[ @C $6=64E] u@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? 3667 42C42DD 8C256D[ D66 E96 2CE:4=6[ &$sp q667 "F2=:EJ vC256Di (92E 5@ E96J >62?n]k^Am

kAmp7E6C 3667 42C42DD6D 92G6 366? 8C2565[ E96J 2C6 23=6 E@ 36 >2C<6E65 H:E9 =236=D :?5:42E:?8 E96:C BF2=:EJ 8C256 @C E96J >2J BF2=:7J 7@C 46CE2:? r6CE:7:65 |62E !C@8C2>D[ DF49 2D r6CE:7:65 p?8FD q667]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mx?4C62D:?8 E96 2G2:=23:=:EJ @7 42C42DD 8C25:?8k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm!C6G:@FD=J[ E96 FD6 @7 &$sp 8C256CD 92D 366? 4@DE AC@9:3:E:G6 7@C >@DE D>2== @C G6CJ D>2== >62E AC@46DD@CD] x? @C56C E@ 92G6 2 &$sp 8C256C 2E E96:C 724:=:EJ[ E96 AC@46DD@C :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C A2J:?8 2? 9@FC=J 766[ 2D H6== 2D EC2G6= 6IA6?D6D 7@C E96 8C256C E@ 86E E@ E96:C =@42E:@?]k^Am

kAm%9:D ?6H A:=@E 8C25:?8 AC@8C2> H:== 2==@H AC@46DD@CD E@ 6=64EC@?:42==J DF3>:E A9@E@D @7 42C42DD6D E@ 36 AC6D6?E65 7@C 8C25:?8] %96?[ 2 &$sp 8C256C H:== 6G2=F2E6 E96 42C42DD 2?5 2DD:8? 2 8C256 H:E9:? ac 9@FCD @7 A9@E@ DF3>:DD:@?] %9:D H:== 2==@H D>2== AC@46DD@CD E@ >2C<6E E96:C =@42==J AC@46DD65 3667 H:E9 E96 AC6>:F>D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 &$sp BF2=:EJ 8C256D @C r6CE:7:65 |62E !C@8C2>D]k^Am

kAm!C@46DD:?8 724:=:E:6D :?E6C6DE65 :? 6?E6C:?8 E96 #6>@E6 vC25:?8 !:=@E !C@8C2> >FDE 36 @A6C2E:?8 F?56C 2 u$x$[ r@@A6C2E:G6 x?E6CDE2E6 $9:AA:?8 W233C6G:2E65 2D rx$X[ @C u656C2=\$E2E6 4@@A6C2E:G6 :?DA64E:@? 28C66>6?E] qFD:?6DD6D >FDE 2AA=J 2?5 36 2AAC@G65 7@C &$sp |62E vC25:?8 $6CG:46] !=2?ED FE:=:K:?8 E96 D6CG:46 H:== 36 DF3;64E E@ 9@FC=J 766D 7@C 8C25:?8[ 2D H6== 2D 766D 7@C @?\D:E6 G:D:ED @C 4@>A=:2?46 24E:G:E:6D]k^Am

kAm%9@D6 :?E6C6DE65 :? =62C?:?8 >@C6 23@FE E96 AC@8C2> D9@F=5 G:D:E E96 &$sp #6>@E6 vC25:?8 !:=@E 7@C q667 H63D:E6]k^Am

Christina Bakker is Assistant Professor and SDSU Extension Meat Science Specialist. Reach her at 605-688-5436 or christina.bakker@sdstate.edu. This article first appeared on the SDSU Extension website, updated March 28.

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Marketplace

Recently Listed

Auctions

Featured

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Apr 8, 2026

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

Remote meat grading pilot program could increasing marketing options at small plants

Marketplace

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Marketplace

Farmer Today Auction Calendar

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: