Creating a statewide infrastructure for on-farm/ranch harvesting

Expanding local meat processing with our Mobile Harvest Unit

Extension offers custom and USDA harvest through our Meat Workforce Development Program. This project is directly related to the disruption caused by COVID-19 in meat processing and distribution. In 2020, the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDA) awarded Extension CARES Act funding to provide Nevada residents with access to local meat. The funding included a ground-up build of a mobile harvest unit, Nevada consumer preference research and entrepreneurship for local businesses.

This project was completed in 2021 and evolved into a workforce development program in 2023.

The objectives for this harvest program include:

• Create a statewide infrastructure in Nevada for on-farm/ranch harvest.
• Develop a "Mobile Harvest Trailer" prototype design that can be USDA inspected with Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCPs) plans.
• Facilitate a business development plan with an enterprise budget and cash flow for training purposes.
• Grow a workforce of meat harvesters and processors.

The Mobile Harvest Unit provides valuable solutions for meat producers and processors, offering flexibility, sustainability and compliance with regulatory standards. This unit provides an alternative to traditional harvest facilities, offering lower processing costs, reduced stress on animals and lower capital investment.