West Virginia sees meat-processing programs spread

Programs that prepare high school students for the workforce with meat processing skills are developing in West Virginia, according to a press release.

The state agriculture department said 35 schools statewide have programs in operation that qualify or push beyond requirements for meat-cutting businesses. Two counties - Pleasants and Marshal - are building new facilities. Doddridge County recently opened a new facility.

"The Department has been working for a number of years on getting schools to upgrade their facilities mainly to support the FFA ham and bacon auctions that occur throughout the state," commissioner Gus R. Douglass said. "But the student interest in this profession and the directions these programs are moving has exceeded my expectations. Perhaps the only problem we're seeing is that student demand is outgrowing some of the facilities."

Many schools also offer various levels of classes for meat sciences.

One responsibility for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture is inspecting the programs for sanitation issues and procedures of production while helping ensure products prepared at the facilities are labeled prior to being sold.

Maryland farmer's next effort to establish meat processing is smaller

A Southern Maryland farmer is reasonably confident that his push to implement a meat processing facility on his grounds will meet with swift approval from federal inspectors, according to a published report.

Last year's slaughterhouse plans pursued by Johnny Knott for his land in Mechanicsville, St. Mary's County, ran into local resistance, The County Times reports. But this year's proposal, which he said will be of value to regional farmers and will not be as large an operation as last year's, is sure to please federal officials with the U.S. Agriculture Department, Knott told the publication.

"It's not going to have any impact, no noise, no smell, no traffic," Knott told the publication regarding a trailer that will move carcasses to be processed. "The USDA man will be right there to put his stamp on it."

St. Mary's County's top official for economic development said the issue that the zoning appeals board is tasked with handling is complex and unique but might prove to be a boon for Calvert, St. Mary's and Charles counties.

The St. Mary's County Department of Economic and Community Development works to create a strong economic community for businesses and citizens.