Do farmers have to kill 700,000 healthy pigs a week because of the coronavirus?
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
By William Boger
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
YES
The spread of coronavirus among pork-processing workers is severely disrupting the industry. The Centers for Disease Control notes that "work environments" in the industry, with crowded conditions during long shifts, "may contribute substantially" to spread of the virus among employees.
In the week ending May 4, pork production in the U.S. fell 34.7% from the year earlier.
Iowa state leaders say farms nationwide are producing a surplus of 700,000 pigs per week, and are seeking federal relief to offset lost sales and to help "efficiently depopulate" the animals.
Sources
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