The closure of the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls due to COVID-19 worker illnesses is devastating for producers in the region. Minnesota Pork Producers Association CEO Dave Preisler says the plant handles 4% to 5% of the nation’s daily hog slaughter and it will be difficult to shift that production to other facilities. It’s also complicated because Tyson’s pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa has been down.
USDA had declared the agriculture as an essential industry during the pandemic and Preisler says that included meat processing, so this is a real disappointment for producers.
Preisler says they’re concerned this could put some producers out of business, which will trickle down to the whole economy.
He says public health needs to be protected, but people must aslo to be fed and businesses need to be protected. Preisler believes some type of federal aid will be needed or the pork industry could be ruined.
