May 27, 2020

Georgia state in the US is experiencing meat supply shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CBS 46 reported.

The report said the shortage has been apparent in grocery stores and fast-food spots, even as processing plants were reportedly closing due to workers contracting the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Cattle farmer James Vaughn, owner of Angus cattle producer Vaughn Farms L.P. in Monroe County, Georgia, said the meat supply shortage is more of a processing issue, adding that in fact "there are plenty of cattle being produced".

"The system upstream from us has got to catch up with these changes so that the beef products can flow in commerce like they normally do", Vaughn was quoted as saying.

The bottleneck at the food-processing stage, he said, is caused by sick workers, closed plants and safety adjustments.

Meanwhile, beef prices have gone down, and according to Vaughn, "we can't stay at a loss indefinitely".

Vaughn said he's in the process of changing his business model up a bit to cater to domestic demand.