USDA Invests $2.4M to Expand Montana Meat Processing Capacity, Strengthen Competition and Support Ranchers

Recently, Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced that processors in 40 states would receive $57 million through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP), this includes $2.4 million for seven Montana processors to expand their capacity and create new and better markets.

“These investments show President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins’ commitment to expanding opportunity for America’s farmers, ranchers, and their rural hometowns,” said USDA Rural Development Montana State Director Bill Warden. “At a time when more consumers want to know where their food comes from, these investments will help make better connections between Montana producers and customers seeking locally raised and locally processed meat.”

In Montana, the following processors have received MPPEP grants: 

• Bear Paw Meats, LLC in Blaine County is awarded a $111,543 grant to upgrade processing systems and purchase equipment. These upgrades will improve temperature control, food safety compliance, product consistency, and workflow efficiency, while supporting increased harvest capacity, expanded production of jerky, snack sticks, bacon, and sausages, and add goat processing to better serve regional producers.
• Big Sky Processing LLC in Fergus County is using a $127,500 grant to buy equipment to expand production capacity and increase access to retail and wholesale markets. The project will eliminate a key packaging bottleneck, allowing the USDA-inspected facility to produce professionally packaged, retail-ready beef, pork, lamb, and value-added products more efficiently.