UNL Small Meat Locker Training Offered

OMAHA (DTN) -- Small meat processing plants both in Nebraska and across the country have the opportunity to apply for the University of Nebraska Extension 2025 Small Meat Processor Management Training Program. Those who take this course will enhance their skills and industry knowledge as part of a cohort learning experience with other processors.

The program is centered around a week-long, in-person experience, Sept. 7-13, 2025, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's (UNL) East Campus. Sessions will guide participants in working to ensure a successful and profitable business through a better understanding of the industry, their employees, financial management and more. The course also includes a pre- and post-program virtual meeting as well as required virtual Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification training.

The course is designed and led by faculty from UNL's Center for Agricultural Profitability and Meat Science program and is produced in collaboration with the College of Business at Nebraska and the Nebraska Manufacturing Extension Partnership. It will include sessions with leading experts from other university departments and industry, covering topics like business operations, processing practices, data optimization, retail strategies, regulatory compliance, human resources, marketing and more.

"This program is set up to provide small processors with the practical, actionable tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the complexities of the industry while building confidence in a continuous growth mindset," Elliott Dennis, UNL associate professor in agricultural economics, said in a press release.

It is tailored for owners, managers and management-track employees of small meat processing plants, with custom-exempt, federally inspected and state inspected plants invited to apply. All experience levels are welcome.

"We've worked with plant managers and owners with decades of experience, and we've worked with people who are brand new to the industry," Gary Sullivan, UNL professor of meat science, said. "They all have gained something new from this program to improve their business, and the varied backgrounds really add to the group learning experience."

One day during the week of Sept. 7-13 will be dedicated to touring meat processing plants in eastern Nebraska, a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives from others in the industry, according to Jordan Wicks, an assistant professor of meat science at UNL.

"It's important for us to get out of the classroom and meat lab on campus because stepping inside another facility and seeing how they operate sparks ideas and inspires participants to address bottlenecks and issues in their own businesses," Wicks said.

A per-plant fee of $6,750 will cover up to two participants. The program will cover transportation, lodging and meal expenses.

Applications for the course are due by June 7, 2025. They are available, along with more details about the program, on the Nebraska Center Agricultural Profitability's website at https://cap.unl.edu/….

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