In addition to MFBF, a broad-based coalition of agricultural and farm organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the Montana Association of Livestock Auction Markets and the Montana Chamber of Commerce, has urged Congress to take prompt action on bipartisan legislation that would allow interstate sales of state-inspected meat and poultry products.

H.R. 6130, the New Markets for State-Inspected Meat and Poultry Act, was introduced by House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (MO) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah) introduced a similar bill, S. 3519, in Congress. Currently, interstate shipment of state-inspected meat and poultry is not permitted.

“It's high time that our food producers can ship their beef, lamb, poultry any meat commodity from one state to another,” notes MFBF President Dave McClure. “Bills S. 3519 and H.R. 6130 provide open, free and fair trade opportunities in the market, as well as expanding small business and promoting rural economic growth and regional trade. What's curious is that game such as venison, quail, pheasant and rabbit, which are state-inspected, can be shipped across state lines without any restrictions.”

Source: The Prairie Star