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U.S. pork processing capacity improving, but still short

The U.S. meatpacking industry is making strides, but plants are still running more than 10 percent short of capacity because of COVID-19.

Economist Steve Meyer says as of June 11^th, 11 percent of pork plant capacity was idled due to absent employees.

Rachel Gantz with the National Pork Producers Council tells Brownfield while the Defense Production Act has improved the situation, hogs are still backed up on farms.

Southeast Minnesota pig farmer Mike Patterson says he’ll be sending out hogs this weekend.

“That’ll be kind of the end of our group, and we’re super excited. I’ve never been more excited to have my barns get empty and refilled.”

The Goodhue County producer says others aren’t as fortunate, pointing to the Hormel plant in Austin.

“I think they’re working towards getting things back up and running, but overall the system is running better.”

Gantz says all pork producers are hurting and immediate action is imperative.  That’s why NPPC has called on the U.S. Senate to expeditiously adopt livestock agriculture provisions included in COVID-relief legislation recently passed by the U.S. House.