May 11, 2020

PRIME Act unveiled

Topic: Issues

BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced on Friday he is cosponsoring the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation which would make it easier for small farms and ranches to provide locally-produced meats to consumers.

“Making it easier for local producers to get their product to market strengthens our food supply chain,” said Senator Cramer. “In the United States, 80 percent of meat is processed by four companies, two of which are foreign-owned.

Legislation like the PRIME Act is a positive step toward protecting our food supply and preventing pandemics like COVID-19 from further disrupting it.” North Dakota agricultural leaders also voiced their support for the legislation.

“We understand the specific and unique needs of our states meat processing industry and the consumer,” said North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. “We believe that this bill will ensure food security in our communities.”

“It is important to increase opportunities for competition within the highly consolidated harvest and processing industry by reducing roadblocks to allow smaller facilities some much needed flexibility,” said Daryl Lies, President of NDFB. “It is good for farmers and ranchers as well as consumers!”

The PRIME Act – introduced by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) - would give individual states the option to permit intrastate distribution of custom-slaughtered meat. Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) authored companion legislation in the House of Representatives.