The United States livestock industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus, from the negative impact on the markets to the disruption of the supply chain. South Dakota Pork Producers Council President Craig Andersen says the pork sector can’t afford any supply chain backups in feed distribution, trucking or product processing. This is why keeping a healthy labor supply at packing plants is critical.

He says they also need immigrant labor and they are concerned with the Trump Administration’s announcement it would stop processing most visas for U.S. entry in offices across Mexico as the coronavirus spreads.

Andersen says USDA’s assurance they’ll keep USDA inspectors working in processing plants and facilities up and running is at least some good news for the industry.

He most of the workers in the food supply chain can’t work from home they have to be hands on to keep food on the tables of American citizens.