When COVID-19 infections forced pork companies to close processing plants, some farmers predicted that it would force them to euthanize millions of hogs. The actual number has been much lower.
Sonny Perdue says he expects "85-90% production in probably a very few days or weeks." He also says the government is stepping up efforts to buy food from farmers and distribute it to families.
Although millions of Americans are out of work or working from home, many are still working at factories nationwide. They have some lessons on what it will take to "reopen" the country safely.
A Smithfield Foods plant in South Dakota that produces 4% to 5% of the nation's pork supply has become the latest meat processing facility to shut down as COVID-19 sickens plant workers.
COVID-19 has turned one end of the food industry, stores and restaurants, on its head. At the other end, though, food production hums along as usual — but that could change if workers catch the virus.
