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Poultry are unique in the meat processing world. There are different regulations, poultry specific processors, allowances for on-farm processing, mobile poultry processing units, and specific food safety research that pertains to poultry. Now you can find all the NMPAN resources on these subjects on one page. For a list of independent USDA-inspected poultry processing plants, […]
Running Your Facility Operational Excellence Learn about ways to process efficiently, know your costs of production, price things accurately, and understand profitability. Deep dive into processor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). This is an evolving page with more added each month. Business Planning Resources Here you’ll find resources for planning a new meat processing business or […]
This 38 page case study paper provides a deep dive into how small to mid scale meat processors successfully track and utilize Key Performance Indicators, or KPIs, to understand, sustain, and grow their business. This case study focuses on actual meat processors, and the KPI they use on a daily basis to make informed decisions […]
Job Postings Experienced Butcher Location: Des Moines, Iowa Maxwell Custom Beef Location: Des Moines, IA (Near 18th and MLK)Hours: Monday – Friday, 5:30 AM – 1:30 PMCompensation: $30-35/hr or Salary (depending on fit) + Performance-Based Quarterly BonusesOvertime: Potential availability when neededBenefits: Great work-life balance, afternoons and weekends off About Us: Maxwell Custom Beef is a locally-owned business located in Des Moines, […]
Rethinking How We Train in Meat Processing, Part II: Some Ready-to-Use Training Tools for Meat Processors By David Zarling, NMPAN Program Manager In our April feature, we explored why traditional “information dump” training often falls short in food manufacturing: without clear goals or hands-on practice, learners struggle to connect new knowledge to their day-to-day tasks. […]
NMPAN is program of the Center for Resilient Agriculture & Food Systems (CRAFS) within the College of Agriculture at Oregon State University. Since 2008, NMPAN has created a robust national community of practice of people and organizations helping small meat processors thrive by sharing information and innovation. Small and mid-sized plants — when available at […]
Read NMPAN’s latest 2025 Annual Report marking 16 years of service to the niche meat industry! 2025 NMPAN Annual Report To mark a decade of operations from 2008-2018, NMPAN conducted a ten-year review in early 2018 to assess its effectiveness to date and adapt for the future. The review included: An online survey of listserv […]
You can use the NMPAN listserv to ask and answer questions and share information about meat and poultry processing. The listserv has 3,500+ members across the nation including small-scale processors, farmers, ranchers, Cooperative Extension personnel, federal and state employees, consultants, suppliers, and others. As one member said, “I find the listserv to be one of […]
Page updated in 2025. What is policy engagement? Well, most of the time you deal with rules after they are made. How about getting involved in the development and interpretation of the rules instead? At NMPAN, we believe it is important for small and very small processors to have a voice and be included in […]
Support NMPAN so we can support you! Too often, very small processors feel like they’re alone out here; like no one else understands and lives our challenges. It’s a rough business to make work; it can be a highly stressful business, economically and bureaucracy-wise. NMPAN matters because it shows that together we do have a […]
Staff Rebecca Thistlethwaite Director Rebecca stepped into the Director role at NMPAN in 2019 after three years as the Program Manager. She has a master’s degree in International Agricultural Development from the University of California – Davis and was formerly co-owner of TLC Ranch, a mid-scale organic pastured poultry and livestock enterprise in California. She […]
NMPAN Staff Office Hours- Ask questions, get advice Rebecca Thistlethwaite Director Click to Schedule 30 Minute with Rebecca Thistlethwaite, NMPAN Director David Zarling Program Manager Click to Schedule 30 minutes with David Zarling, NMPAN Program Manager Kylie Burriss NMPAN Outreach Specialist Click to Schedule 30 Minute with Kylie Burriss, NMPAN Outreach Specialist Meat & Poultry […]
Rebecca ThistlethwaiteDirector of NMPANOregon State UniversityCorvallis, ORthistler@oregonstate.edu David ZarlingNMPAN Program ManagerOregon State UniversityCorvallis, ORzarlingd@oregonstate.edu
Rethinking How We Train in Meat Processing By David Zarling, NMPAN Program Manager A wise plant manager once posed to me the following exchange between she and the owner of the plant she managed: Plant Owner: “What if we spend all of this money to train these people and they take their skills elsewhere?” Plant […]
These companies have designed and built MSUs, from bare bones rigs to complete, fully-equipped systems. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement. Friesla Friesla, located in Everson, Washington, builds both modular and mobile slaughter, cut & wrap units, and cooler/freezer units. They also occasionally sell used equipment on their site. They help walk you […]
Educational Opportunities and Webinars 2025 Check back soon! Conventions, Roundtables, Conferences and More! 2025 April Black Belt Meat Summit Where: Des Moines, IA When: April 9-11 Description: Join us in Tuskegee, Alabama in advancing market opportunities, building connections, and supporting collective skills development and learning across many segments and scales of […]
This page will discuss retail butchering, which is cutting meat for *mostly* direct sales to consumers with perhaps a little wholesaling. These type of facilities generally do not co-pack for independent farmers. Types of Retail Butcher Shops: USDA Exempt– butcher shop buys in all USDA inspected carcasses (or primals/subs) but does retail cutting and processing […]
Freezing Grant Funds Puts a Chill on Rural America and Our Meat Supply By Rebecca Thistlethwaite, NMPAN Director *The views expressed in this article are those of Rebecca Thistlethwaite’s and not those of Oregon State University where NMPAN is housed. Feel free to reach out to Rebecca if you have a different opinion or if […]
Next NMPAN webinar: NMPAN webinars are recorded and archived below, by topic.A few selected webinars from other groups are also listed. Click on a webinar’s title for the slides, speaker info, and recording. Topic Areas (click to jump to a topic): Local Meat and Poultry Processing: the Big Picture Regulations and Policy Plant […]
<< Back This page was created by the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network. Click on the link for more useful meat processing resources. What’s on this page: Why write a customer manual? How to get started Manual outline and sample Next steps and the last word Why write a customer manual? If you’re a meat […]
