Kentucky Association of Meat Processors

10/04/2026

October is Pork Month!

Celebrate by enjoying your favorite pork products and thanking our Kentucky hog farmers.

10/02/2026

A lot of great folks working on the 2027 AAMP convention! Check out the great representation from KY!
You don’t want to miss this convention!

The 2027 Convention Planning Committee is in Lexington, KY, to discuss details for the 88th American Convention of Meat Processors & Suppliers' Exhibition. It takes place July 22-24, 2027, and we want to make sure we keep raising the bar for every convention!

10/02/2026

Check out this story on KAMP member, Appalachian Meats!

The owner of Appalachian Meats said nationwide recalls are not an issue for his family’s business, who have been raising their own livestock for years ⬇️
Read more about Appalachian Meats: https://www.wkyt.com/2026/09/30/local-butcher-brings-new-meaning-farm-table-amid-nationwide-recalls/

09/09/2026

Per the USDA, the application deadline for the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program has been extended to September 30, 2026. All SPUR applications must be returned to [email protected] by this date.

As a reminder:
* SPUR eligibility is limited to active beef slaughter facilities under federal inspection, including establishments under the Talmadge-Aiken Cooperative Inspection Program and the Cooperative Interstate Shipment Program.
* SPUR applications are being sent directly to the primary contact on the FSIS Public Health Information System listserv.
* Establishments that first became operational in or after February 2025 or during 2026 may be eligible for proration. Eligible establishments will receive a new application no later than Friday, September 11.
* Assuming there are no issues with the application, payments are expected to be issued within 30 days of receipt, using the bank account information you have on file with SAM.gov.
* To avoid processing delays, please ensure that your SAM.gov registration exactly matches the establishment name on file with FSIS.
* As a reminder, your first payment will be 50% of the payment rate multiplied by your eligible head. Once your 2026 slaughter number reaches 60% of the eligible head listed on your application, FSIS will notify FSA to issue your second payment.

If you have questions about SPUR, please email [email protected] . If you have received your application and have questions regarding the application itself, please email [email protected].

09/09/2026

Another KAMP member doing great things!
Keep up the great work Better For Butchery

09/04/2026

The Ranchers First Initiative, announced on August 31 by the USDA, contains some provisions that may be of interest to our members. You can learn more about the initiative at https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2026/08/31/secretary-rollins-announces-ranchers-first-initiatives-rebuild-great-american-beef-herd

The parts that apply to meat processing are:
Following up on the successful Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) program to support small and regional beef slaughter facilities, USDA is creating a SPUR Guaranteed Loan Program to help support regional processing, including establishing processor co-ops, expanding small business footprints, and increasing the variety of animal proteins being processed.

USDA will also establish a Regional Processor Continuity Effort designed to strengthen regional processing capacity and improve business resilience across the agricultural supply chain. With recent processing closure announcements, nearly 20% of beef processing capacity will be available as the herd grows. This is a tremendous opportunity to shift this capacity toward American-owned independent small, mid-size, and new co-ops and keep our critical meat supply out of the hands of foreign control.

We await more details about these new initiatives.

08/27/2026

Looking for local beef? 🥩

The Kentucky Local Beef Directory can connect you with beef farmers selling directly to consumers across the Commonwealth.

Whether you're looking to fill your freezer or just want to see what's available in your area, the directory is a great place to start.

➡️ https://www.kybeef.com/raising-beef/local-beef-directory

Finding local beef is a great start, but we know there can be plenty of questions about what comes next.

Our Pasture to Plate guide is packed with practical information to help you along the way. Learn more about how beef is raised and its role in a healthy diet, what to expect when buying beef in bulk, how to store it, and tips for choosing and cooking different cuts.

📖 Find the full Pasture to Plate guide in the comments below!

08/26/2026