Following the executive order given by President Trump, the Crete, Nebraska Smithfield plant will remain open. Originally, the plant was looking to shut down for two weeks; now, they will be reducing hours, cutting back productions, and staggering shifts.
Another Smithfield plant in Clinton, North Carolina has reported COVID-19 cases and will remain open.
George’s Inc has reported cases in three out of its eight facilities; the locations of these plants were not disclosed. A JBS facility in Louisville, Kentucky and a Butterball facility in Mt. Olive, North Carolina also have reported cases.
No major poultry plants have been idled by coronavirus cases and only two beef plants have been closed. However, 18 pork plants have been affected by confirmed cases resulting in a loss capacity of an estimated 170 thousand head a day.
The largest plant closures, so far, have been JBS in Minnesota, Smithfield in South Dakota, Tyson in Iowa, Indiana Packers and Tyson in Indiana.
For all updates on the Coronavirus and how it impacts Rural America, visit our Coronavirus outbreak hub.
