U.S. Meat Supply Chains Close to Full Capacity

WASHINGTON, DC – Nervous consumers hit the grocery stores hard during the first few weeks of the coronavirus outbreak and economic shutdown. That “run” on the grocery stores also had long, lasting effects on the U.S. meat industry as the supply chains broke and left many Americans without beef, pork, and poultry products in the meat case. An additional challenge appeared when packing plants across the country were forced to close or slow down due to a wave of coronavirus sickness among plant workers. President Trump signed an Executive Order that provided guidelines for processing plants to remain open while practicing social distancing and other health-related requirements. It appears, according to a statement from Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week, that those efforts have paid dividends with more than 95 percent of capacity back online. Perdue explained that beef facilities are operating at 98 percent capacity (compared to 2019), poultry facilities are at 98 percent, and pork plants are running at 95 percent capacity.
(SOURCE: USDA)