ISDA Looks to Award Over $5 Million in Grants to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

Jan 22, 2024

The Idaho State Department of Agriculture announced Jan. 16 the competitive solicitation process to award over $5 million in Resilient Food System Infrastructure (RFSI) Grants.

Grants will fund projects that enhance markets for agricultural producers and improve transportation of Idaho food products to local or regional markets.

Agricultural producers, processors, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local government entities, tribal governments and educational institutions are eligible to apply for funding.

Through stakeholder engagement and outreach, Idaho identified top priorities to expand capacity for food and beverage processing and manufacturing.

Priorities include co-pack facilities, support construction of a new facility, modernize or expand an existing facility, as well as improve the aggregation and distribution of agricultural products.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems.

Through this program, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories.

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Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.