South Dakota Allows More Direct-to-Consumer Meat Sales

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South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has signed a bill into law that will make it easier for South Dakotans to buy meat directly from cattle producers, but the law is contingent on Congress first changing a related federal law. Currently, consumers cannot buy cuts of meat directly from producers if the meat was not processed at a state- or federally-inspected facility.

Why it matters

This new law aims to provide more options for consumers to purchase meat directly from local producers, potentially increasing access to locally-sourced meat products. However, the law cannot take effect until the federal government changes its own regulations around meat processing and sales.

The details

The new South Dakota law will allow residents to purchase individual cuts of meat from cattle, sheep, swine or goat producers if the meat was processed at a custom-exempt meat locker. These custom-exempt facilities are reviewed periodically for safety but are exempt from the federal requirement for carcass-by-carcass inspection. The law limits these direct sales to in-person transactions by the producer to a consumer at the producer's home, a farmers market, or another temporary sales venue.

• The bill was signed into law by Governor Larry Rhoden on February 18, 2026.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The new South Dakota law cannot take effect until Congress changes the related federal law that currently prohibits consumers from buying meat directly from producers if it was not processed at a state- or federally-inspected facility.