Major meatpackers have taken in more than half a billion in tax subsidies since 2006

Over the past two decades, state and local governments have doled out over half a billion dollars in tax breaks to major meatpacking companies to lure new processing plants, despite industry consolidation leading to plant closures and restructuring. This trend highlights the ongoing economic incentives offered to attract big agribusiness, raising questions about the sustainability and fairness of such support. With just eight companies dominating the sector, these subsidies underscore the broader implications for rural economies and local communities that rely on these plants for jobs and economic activity.