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The Midwest Cattleman · April 23, 2020 · P3

April 23, 2020 Volume 26 No. 5

SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS CLOSES NORTH COVID-19: CATTLE INDUSTRY LOSSES
AMERICAN MEAT PLANTS ESTIMATED AT $13.6 BILLION
By Tom Polansek and Rod Nickel A study released last Economic assessment
Major meat com- week (April 14, 2020) es- study conducted by NCBA.
panies in the United timates cattle industry Photo - BLM
States and Canada losses as a result of the
have closed plants tem- COVID-19 pandemic
porarily due to cases will reach $13.6 billion.
of the new coronavi- The study was commis-
rus among employees sioned by NCBA and
and concerns about its conducted by a team of
spread. industry-leading agri-
Here are some facil- cultural economists led
ities that have shut or by Derrell Peel, Breed-
reduced production: love Professor of Agri-
* JBS USA said on business and Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist at
Monday (April 13, 2020) it is closing a beef plant in Gree- Oklahoma State University, to assist USDA in determining
ley, Colorado, until April 24. The plant slaughters about 5,400 continued on page 22
continued on page 12
BEEF CHECKOFF PROGRAMS SHIFT TO
JBS TELLS 6,000 BEEF WORKERS TO SELF- ADDRESS NEW REALITIES
QUARANTINE By Chuck Abbott
By Chuck Abbott Promotion programs being managed by the National Cat-
Meatpacker JBS USA said it will close its cattle slaughter tlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as a contractor to the Beef
plant in Greeley, Colorado, until April 24 while its 6,000 employ- Checkoff have shifted and grown in response to the worldwide
ees self-quarantine in an effort to eradicate a coronavirus out- coronavirus pandemic. These efforts reflect a consumer popula-
break in the community. Two JBS workers have died of COVID- tion that is concerned for their day-to-day health and the avail-
19 and four dozen others have tested positive for the virus. ability of delicious, safe, and wholesome food products, like beef.
“While the Greeley beef fa- “It was only two months ago that Beef Checkoff committees
cility is critical to the U.S. food got together in San Antonio at the Cattle Industry Convention to
supply and local producers, the work collectively to develop plans to improve beef demand,” says
continued spread of coronavi- Buck Wehrbein, a feedlot manager from Nebraska and chairman
rus in Weld County requires of the Federation of State Beef Councils. “In a few short weeks,
decisive action,” said chief ex- our entire world and the way we engage with each other and our
ecutive Andre Nogueria. Near- communities have changed, and our response through the Beef
ly 740 cases of COVID-19 were Checkoff has had to change with it.”
confirmed in Weld County, Wehrbein notes that many events and conferences the Beef
which includes Greeley. JBS Checkoff had a role in have been canceled and some research
USA initially said it would test projects have paused. In addition, the current issues called for

continued on page 15 the program to shift messages to meet the needs of consumers
immediately. “Our market research and market intelligence staff
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AIMS TO BUY members are keeping a close eye on what is going on in retail
MILK, MEAT FOR CORONAVIRUS AID and foodservice channels, as well as how consumers are respond-
April 15 ing and what they need from us,” Wehrbein says.
The Trump administra- Wehrbein says the supply chain is leveling out and beef is
tion plans to buy milk and becoming more available in retail meat cases. According to IRI,
meat from U.S. farmers continued on page 24
as part of an initial $15.5
billion effort to help them
weather the impact of the Coming Sales-38
coronavirus outbreak, Ag- Life is Simple-5
riculture Secretary Sonny Market Report-8
Perdue said recently. Agribusiness
The decision comes amid rising pressure from the U.S. farm
lobby for government purchases as growers and ranchers strug- Directory-36
gle to get their goods to market because of disruptions caused
continued on page 10