Page 18 - MWC 4-23-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · April 23, 2020 · P18
Smithfield Foods To Close Sioux Falls, SD

Plant Indefinitely Amid COVID-19

Smithfield Foods, Inc. an- in terms of our meat supply. plants across the country rection is received from local,
nounced today (April 12, It is impossible to keep our have COVID-19 positive em- state and federal officials.
2020) that its Sioux Falls, grocery stores stocked if our ployees. We have continued The company will continue to
SD facility will remain closed plants are not running. These to run our facilities for one compensate its employees for
until further notice. The plant facility closures will also reason: to sustain our na- the next two weeks and hopes
is one of the largest pork pro- have severe, perhaps disas- tion’s food supply during this to keep them from joining the
cessing facilities in the U.S., trous, repercussions for many pandemic. We believe it is our ranks of the tens of millions
representing four to five per- in the supply chain, first and obligation to help feed the of unemployed Americans
cent of U.S. pork production. foremost our nation’s live- country, now more than ever. across the country.
It supplies nearly 130 million stock farmers. These farmers We have a stark choice as a According to the U.S. Food &
servings of food per week, or have nowhere to send their nation: we are either going Drug Administration (FDA),
about 18 million servings per animals,” said Kenneth M. to produce food or not, even there is no evidence of food or
day, and employs 3,700 peo- Sullivan, president and chief in the face of COVID-19,” he food packaging being associ-
ple. More than 550 indepen- executive officer, for Smith- concluded. ated with the transmission of
dent family farmers supply field. In preparation for a full COVID-19. More information
the plant. “Unfortunately, COVID- shutdown, some activity will on Smithfield’s COVID-19 re-
“The closure of this facility, 19 cases are now ubiquitous occur at the plant on Tuesday sponse can be found at smith-
combined with a growing list across our country. The virus to process product in inven- fieldfoods.com.
of other protein plants that is afflicting communities ev- tory, consisting of millions of smithfieldfoods.com
have shuttered across our in- erywhere. The agriculture servings of protein. Smith-
dustry, is pushing our country and food sectors have not field will resume operations
perilously close to the edge been immune. Numerous in Sioux Falls once further di-

WEANING tect their operation’s finan-
continued from page 7 cial return and take care not
to feed away all their profits.
from nursing. Do the math ahead of time
“This is not a new concept, and determine the best avail-
but it has been improved able option.”
upon over the years,” Ward Post-weaning performance
said. “Replacing the milk with is greatly dependent on the
a nutrient-dense diet prior to quality and quantity of the
placement of a nose flap will feed or forage supplied to the
help manage weight loss and animal. If forage is low in ei-
allow the animal to transition ther quality or quantity, the
faster. Producers should mon- addition of supplemental pro-
itor their calf nutrition pro- tein or energy may be neces-
grams once the nose flaps are sary.
in place.” “If hay will be the prima-
Typically, it is recommend- ry forage option, a producer’s
ed a nose flap be installed five first step would be to eval-
to seven days prior to wean- uate forage quality using a
ing. forage test,” Zook said. “A ing forage while they are still while also being among the
“Be sure to inspect the flap forage test will remove the nursing,” Ward said. “This can riskiest for a cow-calf produc-
to eliminate any sharp edges guesswork and help a produc- help with the transition if a er,” Zook said. “This is not a
before installation so as to er determine what additional producer is planning to turn time for short cuts. Practice
lessen the likelihood of nose feed options are needed. OSU weaned calves out onto small- due diligence, do all the nec-
sores in a calf,” said Dana Extension county offices can grain pastures during the essary work ahead of time
Zook, OSU Extension area help a producer through the preconditioning period.” and make the best possible
livestock specialist for north- process.” Fall-calving herds have decision based on specific op-
western Oklahoma. Zook and Ward stressed an opportunity to utilize erational needs.”
Zook added it is important forage options should be rel- high-quality cool season OSU Extension is one of
to remember that while two- atively high in nutritional grasses present in native two state agencies adminis-
stage weaning will reduce a quality and palatable. Calves range or small-grain pastures tered by the university’s Divi-
calf’s stress level, the produc- should have access to this for- in graze-out situations. Re- sion of Agricultural Sciences
er needs to keep a close eye age prior to weaning. gardless of forage type, pro- and Natural Resources and is
on the animal’s nutrition to “If a producer has access to ducers need to make sure they a key part of OSU’s state and
ensure animal performance is some high-quality pastures provide a high-quality min- federally mandated teaching,
maintained. such as wheat or rye in the vi- eral that will offset any gaps research and Extension land-
“Producers should evalu- cinity of the cow-calf herd, he that may exist in the mineral grant mission.
ate post-weaning nutrition or she might consider using profile of their animals’ diet.
options prior to weaning,” she a creep gate to allow calves “Weaning is often the most
said. “Producers need to pro- access to some of this grow- stressful time in a calf’s life