712 Digital Group - top

Meatpacking rebounds but high prices and backlogs to persist

Ag/Outdoor, News

June 11th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Meat production has rebounded from its low point during the coronavirus pandemic when dozens of plants were closed, but experts say consumer prices are likely to remain high. They also say it will take months to work through the backlog of millions of pigs and cattle that was created this spring, creating headaches for producers.

Mike Drinnin reaches out to a cow at a feedlot in Columbus, Neb., Wednesday, June 10, 2020. Drinnin, who owns feedlots in Nebraska, said everyone involved in raising and feeding cattle felt the squeeze this spring when beef and pork processing plants were operating at roughly 60 percent of capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic. It’s welcome news that production is now above 95 percent of last year’s level, but a backlog of millions of pigs and cattle remains. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

The U.S. Agriculture Department says beef, pork and poultry plants were operating at more than 95% of last year’s levels earlier this week. That was up from about 60% in April at the height of plant closures and slowdowns at the height of the plant closures and slowdowns.