Bill allowing direct sales of meat to consumers is one step closer

Rep. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, is close to seeing his first bill of the 2021 session on its way to the governor’s office, on allowing direct sales of meat to consumers.

Senate Bill 79 will allow livestock producers to sell shares of their livestock directly to consumers, bypassing U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections, among other things.

During the COVID-19 shutdown, there were issues found in the supply chain, and while this won’t solve it, it’ll help local producers sell shares in their livestock to consumers. This isn’t a new practice, Pelton told the House Agriculture, Livestock and Water Committee on March 17, but this bill will make it legal.

Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, said in his area, people are making calls to find out where they can buy half a cow. The consumers are very pleased, because they get a chance to say how that livestock would be processed, as well as impressed by the quality, Catlin said. Rep. Don Valdez, D-La Jara, said local producers say they’re backed up a year on processing, which this bill would help alleviate.

The bill applies to cattle, calves, sheep, elk, hogs, rabbits, bison and goats. It excludes fish and chicken.

The full article is available in our e-Edition. Click here to subscribe.