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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
<< 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 […]
If you are a meat producer or processor and thinking about making a foray into wholesaling meat, this new guide is for you! Read the one page Executive Summary here. Download the newly published Wholesale Meat Guide 2024 here! This 32 page guide covers the following topics:
Meat Producer Resources Western Meat school Now available as a self-paced online course, take anytime! Click on the link to learn more. Regulations for selling meat Inspected or not inspected? Live animal or meat? Here are the basic rules. Building a Brand Tools for scaling up and building a branded meat company, including how to […]
One-on-One Marketing Assistance In partnership with the Good Meat Project, we are providing done-for-you marketing packages for farmers, butchers, and retailers to elevate their game. Each participant of Hands-Free Marketing will get a chance to “hire” a marketing professional, courtesy of GMP! Our professionals will help participants with either branding and design or strategic writing for […]
Here you’ll find links to research papers by NMPAN staff and others. If you have research papers you’d like to see listed here, please send us an email: thistler@oregonstate.edu. Citations listed by order of publication (newest to oldest). Gwin, L. & Thistlethwaite, R. (2024). Meat and Poultry Processing Regulations in Oregon: A Short Guide. OSU […]
By David Zarling, NMPAN’s Program Manager Contact: zarlingd@oregonstate.edu Continued from the newsletter: The Backbone of Operational Excellence Imagine this: It’s a regular day at the plant. The machinery is humming, the crew is banging through beef sides ahead of schedule, and the cutting, packing and grind lines are running at capacity. Suddenly, the rollstock (thermoformer) […]
By Rebecca Thistlethwaite, Director of the Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network at Oregon State University, and Timothy Delbridge, PhD., Agricultural Economist in the Dept. of Applied Economics at Oregon State University Contact: thistler@oregonstate.edu, timothy.delbridge@oregonstate.edu Continued from the newsletter: Obviously, there are a lot of factors at play, which this short article can’t get into. However, […]
Got a problem or opportunity that you need more assistance with over a longer period of time? Have you reached out to any of our technical assistance providers with a phone call or two, but want more hand-holding and support? We are bringing back an old program with a new focus and funding, called the […]
Put HER in the RTE Room by Denise Perry, PhD, of Single Shot Consulting and NMPAN Advisory Board Member …continued from the newsletter The reality is that MOST of the men I have worked for, with and who have worked for me are some of my biggest advocates, cheerleaders and fans, very much like the […]
Celebrating the Holidays at a Meat Processing Plant: A Balance of Work and Joy by Chris Fuller, Founder of Fuller Consulting and NMPAN Technical Assistance As the holiday season approaches, meat processing plants face the dual challenge of meeting increased demand and ensuring their employees can celebrate this festive time. This period, marked by diverse […]
Planning a New Facility or Expansion Plant Design page Guidance on facility design (mobile & fixed), water and wastewater management, and equipment selection. Business Planning page Business planning guide, model business plans, feasibility study library, cash flow templates, archived webinars and more. Workforce Management page Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce, tips about creating a […]
A Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network webinar. Date: November 30th, 2023 Duration: 60 Minutes Building and scaling meat businesses: how to determine which market channels are right for you, price your products, find and keep customers, deliver, fulfill and get paid! Please join us for our new series, ‘Ask Me Anything’, where NMPAN’s team of boots-on-the-ground […]