In the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, many meatpacking facilities closed down to due health concerns of their employees. After an Executive Order from President Donald Trump declared the meat packing plants critical infrastructure, the plants opened back up to prevent further disruptions to the food supply. A month after the Executive Order, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States.

This week, across the cattle, swine, and broiler sectors, processing facilities are operating more than 95 percent of their average capacity compared to this time last year. In fact, beef facilities are operating at 98 percent, pork facilities are operating at 95 percent, and poultry facilities are operating at 98 percent of their capacity compared to the same time last year.