Farmers Union Processing & Meats

Farmers Union Processing + Meats operates at 901 Praire Ave NW in Staples, Wadena County, Minnesota, under USDA FSIS establishment number M3386. The federal record lists the plant for meat slaughter and meat processing, classifies it as a small establishment, and shows a grant of inspection date on file of July 27, 2026. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packages are marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The website describes a facility of more than 10,000 square feet serving cattle, hog, and sheep producers, with slaughter, fabrication, portion cutting, and grinding in one location. It states the plant accepts livestock from throughout the state of Minnesota for custom-exempt processing, and describes itself as offering both custom-exempt and USDA-inspected processing while working toward USDA certification. Ground was broken in June 2025, and news coverage reports the facility opened for business June 2, with a grand opening held Tuesday, August 18.

The site names project partners including the Minnesota State Agricultural Centers of Excellence, Region 5 Development Commission, the United States Economic Development Administration, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Happy Dancing Turtle, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Central Telephone Company, the Small Business Development Center, and Cass County. Hours of operation are not stated in the sources on file.

The plant states it accepts livestock from throughout Minnesota for custom-exempt processing of cattle, hogs, and sheep, with slaughter, fabrication, portion cutting, and grinding available at one location. Posted pricing lists a beef slaughter fee of $65 per head, beef processing at $0.92 per pound, and beef grinding at $0.40 per pound; pork slaughter at $45 per head, pork processing at $0.92 per pound, and pork grinding at $0.55 per pound; and a sheep slaughter fee of $125 per head. Beef, pork, and lamb cutting order forms can be submitted online or downloaded, filled out, and dropped off at livestock delivery. The site directs producers to contact the facility about scheduling. Head minimums, lead times, and hanging weight billing details beyond the posted per pound and per head fees are not stated in the sources on file.

Farmers Union Processing & Meats reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The sources describe the business primarily as custom-exempt processing for livestock owners, with packages from custom work marked Not for Sale under federal rules. The federal record also shows the establishment reports retail-exempt sales. The sources on file do not state retail counter hours, halves or quarters for sale, bundles, delivery, or shipping.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.