Pork Industry Reeling From Coronavirus Impacts

The coronavirus outbreak has hit the agricultural economy hard, particularly the pork sector. During a news conference Tuesday, National Pork Producers Council President Howard Roth says the pork industry needs some help…

As pork processing plants have slowed production or shut down entirely, hogs are backing up on farms across the country. Labor shortages on U.S. pork farms are only making the problem worse. Roth says things are getting so backed up that farmers may have to start euthanizing their hogs…

NPPC President Howard Roth says the group has a list of things it needs from the government to bring some stability back to the industry. One suggestion from Roth is for USDA to purchase over one billion dollars in pork to clear out a backed-up meat supply, supplementing food bank programs facing increased demand due to rising unemployment. NPPC also hopes to see China remove retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork, which would get American farmers back on a level playing field with its international competitors.