April 21, 2020

JBS closes swine plant in US, Cargill idles beef plant in Canada due to COVID-19

JBS USA will close its Worthington, Minnesota pork production facility, while Cargill will idle a beef plant in High River, Alberta, reported Reuters.

The JBS pork production facility in Worthington, Minnesota has 2,000 workers processing 20,000 swine daily. The company advised workers to stay home following state orders to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Cargill's beef-processing plant High River, Alberta, which produces 36% of Canada's processing capacity and supplies McDonald's, will be idled temporarily because of a COVID-19 outbreak and urged workers to be tested for the virus. No date has been announced for operations to resume.

The shutdown of JBS' plant decreases meat production in the United States further and adds pressure on farmers whose market for swine has reduced further. The Worthington facility will steadily slow down operations over the next two days to process pork already in the facility and support food supply in the country.

The US government has labeled agriculture workers as "essential" as they maintain the country's food supply.

Other major companies such as Tyson Foods, National Beef Packing Company and WH Group's Smithfield Foods have closed meat plants due to COVID-19.

-      Reuters