Producers in upstate New York say that a proposed meat processing plant neat Watertown would be a “game-changer” for the state’s beef industry. The $20.6 million facility could eventually handle 100,000 animals per year in an area that has large cattle herds but only a few processing facilities, The Saratogian reports.
“One of the greatest impediments to growing the beef industry in New York is the lack of available USDA-inspected slaughter plants in the state,” said Todd Kusnierz, a Moreau beef producer. “With this new slaughter facility, farmers will be able to offer locally-grown beef directly to consumers, increasing their bottom line, which will provide for expansion of the beef industry in New York.”