U.S. Agriculture Secretary Rollins Visits Georgia to Announce Interstate Meat Compact

Jul 30, 2026

By Sarah Kallis

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited a turf farm in Whitesburg, Ga., on Monday to announce Georgia’s participation in a new program.

Georgia is now part of a cooperative interstate meat shipping agreement that allows Georgia-inspected meat to be shipped to all 50 states with the USDA stamp of approval.

Rollins said that four large companies dominate 85% of the national market, and the program will help smaller meat producers.

"There are about 230 of those small processors here in Georgia," she said. "They are a critical piece of the puzzle as we continue to work to rebuild that cattle herd, which again is at a 75-year low."

Ten other states are already in the compact, including Indiana, Iowa and Maine. The program is only open to states with state meat inspection programs with the same or equal standards to federal programs.

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Video: Genomic Technologies and Public Trust - Dr. Ellen Goddard

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Ellen Goddard, Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta, discusses public acceptance of genomic technologies in pork production. She explains why disease resistance is viewed positively, how labeling affects trust, why farmers remain highly credible messengers, and how communication can shape consumer confidence around gene editing. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Not providing information is a choice that can affect long-term public trust."

Meet the guest: Dr. Ellen Goddard / ellen-goddard-11541138 is Professor Emerita at the University of Alberta and an agricultural economist. Her work focuses on consumer behavior, trust, livestock sectors, and public attitudes toward food technologies. She also specializes in economic modeling for pork, beef, and dairy systems. Learn more from Dr. Ellen Goddard on the Swine in Canada Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.