Minnesota direct-to-consumer guide, 2026
Meats
Beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and rabbit: inspection and exemptions.
Inspected Meat Required (Poultry Exemptions)What is covered and what needs a different path
What’s covered
- Red meat from a USDA or MDA Equal-To inspected plant, sold retail
- Poultry you raise and process on your farm: fewer than 1,000 birds a year sold from the farm to consumers
- Poultry under 20,000 birds with records and labels, sold directly from the farm or at farmers markets
Needs a different path
- Custom-exempt meat for sale (it is for the owner and marked not for sale)
- Poultry from other farms or sold off the farm above the 1,000 limit without inspection
- Sausage, jerky, or value-added meat from a home kitchen
Three compliance steps
Pick your exemption
Under 1,000 birds, farm to consumer: no inspection. Up to 20,000: exempt from state licensing with records and labels. Red meat needs inspected slaughter.
Keep records and labels
Keep slaughter and sales records. Label poultry with the required farm and handling information, including safe handling instructions.
License retail cutting
Cutting or selling inspected meat at retail needs an MDA retail food license. Processing sausage or jerky needs a licensed meat plant.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Poultry under 1,000 | No inspection; farm to end consumer | MDA |
| Poultry under 20,000 | Exempt from state licensing with records and labels | MDA |
| Red meat | Must be inspected (USDA or MDA Equal-To) | MDA, USDA |
| Custom exempt | For the owner; marked not for sale | MDA |
| Sales tax | Raw meat is exempt food; prepared food is taxable | MN Revenue |
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell chicken at a farmers market?
MDA says farmers can process their own poultry for sales to end consumers at a farmers market if they meet the exemption requirements.
Can I sell a custom-processed hog by the pound?
No. Custom-exempt meat cannot be sold. Use an inspected plant for retail cuts.
Are rabbits covered?
MDA issues exemption certificates for small-scale poultry and rabbits; verify the rabbit limits with MDA.
Printable checklist
- Exemption tier matches bird count
- Slaughter and sales records kept
- Labels with required statements
- Inspected plant for red meat
- Retail food license if cutting meat
- Safe handling labels on raw packages
Red meat and custom-exempt rules reflect federal and state structure; label wording should be checked with MDA Dairy and Meat Inspection (651-201-6300).