# USDA Awards Wisconsin Meat Processing Grants

USDA Rural Development announced **$1.07 million** in MPPEP Phase 4 grants on November 2, 2026, for four meat-processing projects in Wisconsin. The awards support equipment purchases and facility reconfiguration; eligible applicants must primarily process cattle, making the funding relevant to processors expanding beef-processing capacity and local market access.

- The grants went to Durand Smokehouse LLC, Lake Geneva Country Meats, Salcherts Market Inc., and Wilson Farm Meats Inc.
- Processors and equipment suppliers can use the announced project types to identify potential demand for processing equipment and facility reconfiguration services. These are grant-funded projects, not federal contract awards.
- Businesses considering similar funding should note that the stated eligibility focus is applicants that primarily process cattle; the signal does not provide an application deadline or future funding schedule.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development (USDA Rural Development)

### Vendors
- Durand Smokehouse LLC (grant recipient)
- Lake Geneva Country Meats (grant recipient)
- Salcherts Market Inc. (grant recipient)
- Wilson Farm Meats Inc. (grant recipient)

### Key Quotes
> Small and mid-sized meat processors are essential to the strength of Wisconsin agriculture and rural communities. These investments will help processors access new markets, expand local capacity, create jobs, and offer consumers across rural Wisconsin more options.
> — Andrew C. Iverson, Wisconsin State Director, USDA Rural Development

> This investment will increase processing capacity in Wisconsin to lower costs for Wisconsin families.
> — Bryan Steil, Congressman

### Sources
- [USDA Invests More Than $1 Million in Meat and Poultry Processing Projects in Wisconsin | Rural Development](https://www.rd.usda.gov/newsroom/news-release/usda-invests-more-1-million-meat-and-poultry-processing-projects-wisconsin) - USDA