By Chris Clayton
DTN Ag Policy Editor
OMAHA (DTN) — While most of corporate America is practicing social distancing and working from home, the cattle industry and other food industries are focusing on keeping thousands of people at meatpacking plants continuing to produce food.
Cattle prices have fallen, and at least one cattlemen’s group has called for direct aid to producers, but a critical element is ensuring food production continues. Late Monday afternoon, after weekend calls and concerns raised by livestock groups, USDA officials sent a statement to industry stakeholders on COVID-19, assuring that USDA is doing everything it can to continue inspecting food and keep packing plants operating.
USDA Undersecretary for Regulatory Affairs Greg Ibach and USDA Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Mindy Brashears wrote that USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are working to ensure the health of agency staff ?while providing timely delivery of the services to maintain the movement of America’s food supply from farm to fork.?
The letter added that the three agencies are working with packers as well as state and local officials ?to handle situations as they arise in your community? and stressed communication with industry.
