Partnering for success: how local processors strengthen agriculture and community

For farmers, ranchers, and families raising poultry, the journey doesn’t end at the farm gate. It continues through a vital partnership with local processors—often small, USDA-inspected facilities that make it possible for producers to bring high-quality, nutrient-rich poultry to their communities. While processing day may seem like the finish line, true success begins long before then, rooted in preparation, communication, and collaboration.

By many estimates, there are just over 30 small to very small USDA-inspected processors in the U.S. serving farmers, ranchers, and families. These facilities provide essential custom processing services and play a critical role in making locally raised poultry available at farmers’ markets, restaurants, community events, and home dinner tables. Without them, many small producers would lack access to the infrastructure necessary to bring their products to market.

The people who rely on these processors are as diverse as the communities they serve. Established farmers and ranchers raising pasture-raised chickens in mobile coops often sell their birds to local restaurants or directly to consumers. Newer producers may be testing poultry farming as a side business, with the hope of eventually scaling up to full-time production. Meanwhile, many families raise birds for personal consumption, and others support children involved in agricultural programs, such as 4-H and FFA, who show poultry at stock shows and county fairs. In each case, local processors play a key role in helping these efforts succeed.

What ties these groups together is the need for a dependable processing partner. This partnership starts with early and intentional scheduling—aligning processing appointments with farm production timelines. Open communication around expectations, required documentation, and logistical details helps ensure a smooth experience for all parties. When farmers, ranchers, and families arrive prepared, processors can uphold food safety, maintain quality standards, and run efficient operations.

However, even the strongest partnerships can face challenges. It’s not uncommon for producers to lose birds during the growing process due to weather, predators, or illness. These unforeseen losses are not only operationally disruptive but also represent a financial hit to the farmer, rancher, or family who invested time, resources, and care into raising those animals. The processor recognizes and respects the weight of that impact. At the same time, timely communication about changes in flock numbers is critical—it allows processors to adjust staffing and equipment needs, and in some cases, offer open slots to other producers who may be waiting.

Small processors operate with clear limitations. They can only handle a certain number of birds per day, week, or month. When scheduled appointments result in significantly fewer birds than expected, it can disrupt the processor’s planning, reduce revenue, and affect their ability to serve the broader community. Many of these processors run on thin margins and continue this work out of dedication to supporting local agriculture. Accurate and timely information from producers is essential to help them remain viable and continue serving their communities.

Beyond logistics and scheduling, the relationship between producers and processors is foundational to the health of local food systems. These small facilities provide more than a service—they are a bridge between rural farms and local tables. They support economic sustainability, nurture agricultural education, and promote food sovereignty. In doing so, they empower communities to take control of their food sources and preserve regional agricultural traditions.

Ultimately, local processors are indispensable partners in building resilient, community-centered agriculture. Through mutual respect, open communication, and a shared commitment to quality, farmers, ranchers, families, and processors can grow stronger together—one bird, one connection, and one community at a time.

If you’re a producer, consider reaching out to your local processor to build a strong working relationship. If you’re a consumer, support local producers and processors whenever possible—your choices help sustain a resilient and connected food system. Sharing their story, advocating for their services, or simply staying engaged in your regional food system helps preserve this vital link in the chain.

By Matt Milliron, Founder of DRR Processing, a small USDA-inspected poultry processing facility in Burton, Texas, dedicated to supporting local farmers, ranchers, and families through community-focused, sustainable food systems.