USDA Rural Development is working together with the Office of Food Safety to help meat processors build their business to meet growing demand. Honoring our commitment to rural America’s prosperity and quality of life, we offer the following Rural Development loans, grants, and loan guarantees.

Important information on the business of running a small meat processing plant, produced by Oregon State University Extension Service.

A list of important tips for building a new USDA-inspected processing plant, produced by the Oregon University Extension Service.

A guide to recommendations for designing small red meat plants, produced by Iowa State University Extension.

Make sure your town’s story is told by responding to the 2020 Census—the count of everyone living in the United States. When you do, you’ll also help your town get the most out of the American dream.

The census is a critical opportunity for Arkansans to step up and be counted to ensure the future growth and prosperity of rural communities. Arkansas currently ranks in the bottom of the best state response rates to date at number 37. For every person who is not counted, it costs your community tens of thousands of dollars.

To ensure continuity of operations of essential functions, CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may be permitted to continue work following potential exposure to COVID-19, provided they remain asymptomatic and additional precautions are implemented to protect them and the community.

Frequently Asked Questions -- ROUND 3 for April 9, 2020

A letter from Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward to those in agriculture assuring that the industry is essential and operations can continue.

COVID-19 Guidance for Farmers Markets is produced by the Arkansas Department of Heatlh and the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.