More than 20 plants across the country have seen closures due to the spread of COVID-19 among plant employees. Meat processors are working with state and local officials to write reopening plans that include coronavirus testing for employees, distancing and sanitization protocols.

The CDC report provided table information on the number of COVID-19 cases emerging from 115 meat packing facilities as a percent of the total employees. Of the 19 states that comprise the 115 affected plants, South Dakota and Iowa rated the highest percentages of COVID-19 cases among all workers, with 17.3% and 18.2%, respectively. Wisconsin (8.8%) and Washington (7.1%) were next highest, all other states rated below 4%. Of the 20 COVID-19-related deaths, the highest number came from five at Colorado (see Table 1).

CDC covid

The CDC report outlines how facility challenges related to operation practices make it hard to maintain the 6-foot distance for workers on production lines. “The pace and physical demands of processing work made adherence to face covering recommendations difficult, with some workers observed covering only their mouths and frequently readjusting their face coverings while working,” the report states. Read the full report.

On April 28, President Donald Trump used the Defense Protection Act (DPA) to keep packing plants open across the country amid the pandemic and while states find ways to start opening businesses. Beef supplies are down as cattle slaughter numbers continued to decline through April. Slaughter slowdown from closed plants led to April’s weekly average fed cattle slaughter figures dropping 24% from April 2019, according to CattleFax analyst Lance Zimmerman. “With reports of employee illness and absenteeism at packing plants throughout the country, expect several more weeks of deficits,” Zimmerman wrote in his weekly report.

The need for producers to see more slaughter capacity must be balanced against spreading COVID-19 cases in the labor pool. Plants won’t operate at the same volume with new safety measures and protocols.

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How each state and packing plant moves back toward operation will be determined on a case by case basis. Concerns remain high in areas where the plant worker exposure has spread quickly in the community. The Waterloo, Iowa, Tyson Foods pork plant closed April 22 after county health officials determined 90% of the area’s 1,326 cases were linked to the plant.

Markup of boxed beef prices continued to surge another $83.27 for Choice cutouts and up $77.27 for Select, according to CattleFax’s weekly report for May 1.

The dynamic of high-selling and high-demand retail cuts must be balanced also with the continuing decline for meat supplies in the foodservice segment. 

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue told Bloomberg News April 30 the national meat supply shortage is now at 20% to 30% estimates, but would drop to 10% to 20% within 10 days.

“There will be some less production, some inefficiency based on line speeds, some employees that will not be able to come back to work,” Perdue said. 

Perdue said the use of the DPA by Trump allows the federal government to legally force the reopening of packing plants, but would instead favor collaboration with companies and health officials. “Worker health and safety is the first priority here. We want to assure the workers and the community of their safety.”

The USDA’s $19 billion rescue component won’t be available to producers for weeks. Anything could happen between now and then.  end mark

U.S. plants that have been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic: 

Pasco, Washington – Tyson Foods, beef plant closure April 23

Greeley, Colorado – JBS, closed April 13 – reopened April 24

Worthington, Minnesota – JBS, pork plant closed April 22 

Willmar, Minnesota - Hormel Corp. Jennie-O turkey plants closed April 24

Windom, Minnesota – Comfrey Prime Pork plant closed April 23

Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Smithfield Foods, closed April 12, to reopen May 4

Dakota City, Nebraska – Tyson Foods, beef facility closed through May 4

Martin City, Missouri – Smithfield Foods, closed April 16

Marshall, Missouri – ConAgra, closed April 17, reopened May 4

Waterloo, Iowa – Tyson Foods, pork plant closed April 22

Tama, Iowa – Iowa Premium beef plant closed April 13-20 

Columbus Junction, Iowa – Tyson Foods, pork plant closed from April 6-21

Monmouth, Illinois – Smithfield Foods, pork plant closed April 24, reopened May 2

St. Charles, Illinois – Smithfield Foods, pork plant closed April 25, rolling reopens until May 19

Green Bay, Wisconsin – JBS, closed April 25

Cudahy, Wisconsin – Smithfield Foods, closed April 16

Darien, Wisconsin – Conagra, closed April 17

Logansport, Indiana – Tyson Foods, pork plant closure April 22, to reopen May 4

Delphi, Indiana – Indiana Packers, closed April 24

Robards, Kentucky – Tyson Foods poultry plant closed April 30 to May 3

Mifflintown, Pennsylvania – Empire Kosher, reopened April 20

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania – CTI Foods, reopened April 14

Souderton, Pennsylvania – JBS, closed April 7, reopened April 20

Hazleton, Pennsylvania – Cargill, closed April 9

David Cooper