Meat suppliers contend with pandemic-related plant closures On Sunday April 12, Smithfield Foods announced its decision to close a major pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to stem the local impact of an outbreak of COVID-19 infections among at least 238 of the facility's 3,700 employees. Other meat processors have closed plants for the same reason – including Cargill, JBS, and Tyson Foods – and more are likely to close as the virus continues to spread. Already facing falling demand due to government-mandated restaurant closures, livestock farmers are now finding these limitations in the food processing market. This is likely to affect supplies of retail chains as well; for instance, the closed Smithfield pork processing plant represents up to 5% of US pork production. Want to learn more?