Meat Processor Benchmarking Tool Unveiled & New Grant Opportunities

Are you interested in learning about the development of a new meat processing benchmarking tool and Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Grant Opportunities? If so, plan to join us for the May 14th installment of Webinar Wednesday!

AURI will cover the cost of a one-year benchmarking subscription for the first 40 subscribers who are Minnesota-based meat processors. This webinar will showcase a new meat processor benchmarking tool developed by Christianson Benchmarking in collaboration with the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) and the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Christianson Benchmarking has many years of experience providing benchmarking support to other agricultural industry sectors. The meat processing benchmarking tool will enable very small to small-sized meat processing businesses to compare their financial and operational performance against industry peers, highlighting their strengths and pinpointing areas for improvement. By learning how similar businesses operate and perform, processors can set more informed goals and make more informed decisions about operations, staffing, and equipment investments, and improve overall competitiveness, all while maintaining confidentiality.

The webinar will also feature:

• MN State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence sharing the importance of benchmarking tools and relevant industry examples.

• MN Department of Agriculture staff sharing new grant opportunities available to Minnesota-based meat processors.

Speakers:

Maya Benedict
Food & Ag Business Development Administrator
Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Tina LeBrun
Executive Director
Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence

Connie Lindstrom
Senior Biofuels Analyst
Christianson Benchmarking, LLC

Clay Newton
Meat Innovation Specialist
AURI

The webinar will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 14th. The webinar is free of charge, but registration is required. The 2025 Webinar Wednesday series is sponsored by Bremer Bank and Minnesota Farmers Union.