The news has been full of stories about how livestock producers are trying their best to cope with the problem of getting animals to the processors, some of which have shut down due to employees testing positive for COVID-19. Unfortunately, it could even lead to the sad point of euthanizing their investment. The plants are doing the best they can to handle the situation, but it continues to be frustrating as the backlog of animals ready for slaughter only gets worse. I decided to visit with people on both ends of the farm to market route to see what they are going through.
According to 2017 information supplied by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, Wright County has 39 percent of its population employed in agriculture and ag-related businesses. In addition, 20 percent of those jobs are in raising of livestock compared to 10 percent in crop production only. Over $1.93 million in total agriculture sales was generated in the county from 735 farms. The average farm size of 485 acres shows that there’s still a place for the smaller operations. The market value of all livestock sold was over $294 million, and of that 818,860 hogs were sold and 2,947 cattle sold for slaughter.
According to a press release from the Iowa Pork Producers Association, this state raises one-third of the nation’s pigs. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it takes approximately 10 months from conception for a pig to be ready for market. The virus has disrupted the food supply chain, and has led to difficult decisions on the farms. An average workday in Iowa would normally see 150,000 pigs delivered to the state’s processing plants. That is simply not the case right now. Processing is down by nearly 40 percent, so farmers cannot get pigs processed and pork products cannot get to stores and ultimately to your table. Pork producers take great pride in putting a nutritious and affordable protein on your table, so this really impacts their life’s work and livelihood.
Both Jere Null, CEO of Prestage Foods of Iowa, and Ryan Pudenz, General Manager of Prestage Farms of Iowa, also contributed updates of their operations during the pandemic.
“In terms of increased capacity at plants across the country, there has been steady progress in the last few weeks,” said Null concerning the current state of the processing industry. “We are currently operating at over 90 percent of our daily capacity.” When asked about the difficulty of getting pigs to market, to the point of even producers being forced to destroy animals, Pudenz bluntly stated “The impacts are real, and they are real for producers all across the country,” he said. “There are current backlog estimates of over 600,000 market pigs in Iowa that may have to be euthanized in the coming weeks.”
Null went on to say that Prestage recognizes that their team plays important roles in producing food that this country needs. “With the health and safety of our team members at the top of our mind during this time of COVID-19, we have put in place numerous additional safety measures at our plant to help maintain a healthy work environment so we can continue operations along with our supply chain partners,” he said. “We are carefully monitoring all aspects of our operations so that we can minimize impacts of this virus. We are doing all we can to help our industry sustain the nation’s food supply. We appreciate and salute our team members for all they are doing, day in and day out.”
Pudenz believes there is already a bit of light at the end of this dark tunnel of uncertainty. “All plants in Iowa are operating at this time, though most are at a reduced capacity,” he said. “That’s something we are grateful for, but we still have a huge backlog of pigs that we have to work through. That is definitely a challenge.” He also admits that not knowing future plant operating capacities is the biggest issue going forward post-pandemic. “If plants are only able to run at 80-90 percent of capacity, producers will be in the position of evaluating the size of their herds.”
Pudenz also has a message for producers at this difficult time. “I would recommend them to reach out and utilize resources available to them through the National Pork Board, Iowa Pork Producers and the Iowa Resources Coordination Center,” he said. “They would be more than happy to help.” Null leaves a message for consumers. “The inventory of pork at some grocery stores might be temporarily limited, but that should not be a long-term issue,” he said. “As operating capacity normalizes, any selection or availability issues should be resolved.”
A recent press release, provided by Communications Director Jen Sorenson with Iowa Select Farms, states in part, “Every U.S. pork producer has been forced to make difficult decisions on how to manage the backlog’s impact on their operation. The thought of euthanizing entire herds is devastating, since a farmer is dedicated to feeding families around the world. Sadly, Iowa Select has been forced to make this heartbreaking decision for some of its herd. Veterinarians and production well-being professionals are overseeing the process to ensure accordance with the American Association of Swine Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association. This is sad and difficult work. Our team members grieve as they implement our plan, and yet, given the devastating effects of COVID-19 on those who work in food supply, there are few options.”
The beef industry has also been affected, but according to Ashley Recknor of Purple Ribbon Beef just not to the same extent as with pork. “There is a longer window for marketing the beef than the pork producers have, and our production is not so closely timed,” stated Recknor. She went on to say that they are moving product through their store (Purple Ribbon General Store), online sales (www.purpleribbonbeef.com) and from their Facebook page. “In addition, we’ve restarted the farmer’s markets in Ames and Clear Lake,” she said. “They have online ordering available for pick up there and those have been going well.”
She feels that the backlog should be a relatively short-term trend as processing facilities open back up. “They’re implementing additional numerous safety precautions and cleaning procedures,” added Recknor. “Additionally, as consumers are buying more regular quantities at any one time this helps the supply chain too.” Unfortunately, she admits this has all had a drastic change for the worse on market prices. “The cattle market is in rebound now,” she said. Recknor admits that there’s always a chance that some producers might not survive when it’s over. “When there is great fluctuation in the markets, and the loss of the corn by-products markets, we will ultimately lose some producers,” she said. “It’s the uncertainty of the future that makes it difficult.”
She asks for everyone to be patient during this time. “It takes all parts of the supply chain to get beef or pork to the consumers table,” said Recknor. “From the farm to the processor or locker, then to the store or retailer. It also takes time to have a quality product. We will get back to having the best and safest consistent supply.” She also wishes to thank everyone who has supported both the beef and pork industries during this time, and continuing to do so. “Whether you are buying locally and direct, or through your favorite grocery store, we truly appreciate it,” said Recknor. “If you ever have questions please reach out as we are happy to answer any questions. We also encourage people, if you can’t find your favorites at the meat counter, to try new and different cuts of meat during this time. For ideas on substitutions, ask us or someone at the meat counter. We’re all happy to help!”
The Fareway Corporate office in Boone also provided a statement for this story. This is from the Market Operations team, and sent to me by Fareway’s Outreach and Communications Manager Emily Toribio. It reads: “Fareway is in constant communication with our great suppliers and we have been preparing for this potential issue. At this time, our supply is steady and we are not seeing dramatic shortages. However, we continue to reserve the right to limit quantities. One of the quickest ways to adversely affect available supply is for people to over-purchase. We are mindful of the fact that people are attempting to shop once per week. Therefore, we ask customers to use responsible judgment, be considerate of others, and not over-purchase. If this occurs, we remain optimistic that our supply will continue to meet demand.”
