Nebraska LB 324 was heard before the State Agriculture Committee, and we hear that the hearing went well. The committee may be voting very quickly and we need your help contacting members of the committee with your support.

 
LB 324 would modify the Nebraska Meat and Poultry Inspection Act to allow for the investment in meat share arrangements similar to that currently allowed in Wyoming.

LB 324 Section 10 would allow local producers to enter into meat share arrangements with the end consumer and provide meat from livestock directly to the consumer without violating the state meat inspection law. An informed end consumer would not violate state law by obtaining, and a producer would not violate the law by producing, meat obtained through a meat share agreement. This avoids the problem of long waits at local state inspection facilities.

Under the bill, the end consumer must take ownership of the share prior to slaughter, the meat cannot be adulterated or misbranded, and only the owners of the herd can obtain the meat for their personal use and that of their families. The producer must include a warning label, and end consumers would not be able to resell or donate the meat obtained through a meat share. The law would limit producers in one year to no more than 25 swine, 10 cattle, or 50 sheep or goats.

This bill would go a long way towards assisting local producers and consumers in working together to safely have livestock processed and provided to an informed end consumer.

Please see action steps below and share this alert with friends and family in Nebraska.