“Flipped On Its Head” by COVID-19: Some Food Sectors “Scramble” For New Equilibrium
Kevin Rector reported on the front page of Wednesday's Los Angeles Times that, "In less time than it takes a farmer to plant and harvest a head of lettuce, the…
Some Kinks in Food Supply Chain Persist During COVID-19 Fallout
Bloomberg writer Michael Hirtzer reported late last week that, "American beef output is down a lot more than plant closures would have you believe -- a sign that slowdowns at…
China “Very, Very Committed” to Phase 1, But Skepticism Remains as COVID-19 Repercussions Cloud Outlook
Reuters News reported last week that, "China remains 'very, very committed' to meeting its commitments under a Phase 1 trade deal with the United States, despite the unprecedented economic and…
Meatpacking Plants Expected to Open in “Days Not Weeks,” as Protein Markets Adjust to COVID-19
Bloomberg's Mike Dorning reported on Thursday that, "Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said he expects meatpacking plants to reopen in “days not weeks” under President Donald Trump’s executive order invoking the…
Supply Chain Woes Persist After Trump Executive Order, as COVID-19 Impacts Endure
Michael Corkery, David Yaffe-Bellany and Ana Swanson reported in Thursday's New York Times that, "Ever since slaughterhouses became coronavirus hot spots, the meat industry has been asking the Trump administration…
Chairman of Tyson Says Food Chain is “Breaking,” While President Trump Orders Plants to Remain Open
Financial Times writer Gregory Meyer reported this week that, "The largest US meat company has warned of shortages for consumers, saying the country’s complex food chain was 'breaking' as Covid-19…
Decrease in Energy Demand Due to COVID-19 “Crushes Ethanol Market”
Wall Street Journal writer Kirk Maltais reported this week that, "Plummeting energy demand during the coronavirus pandemic has decimated the ethanol industry. The timing for U.S. farmers couldn’t be worse."
Meat Shortages “Dangerously Close,” as COVID-19 Induced Supply Chain Bottlenecks Persist
Bloomberg writers Michael Hirtzer and Tatiana Freitas reported recently that, "Plant shutdowns are leaving the U.S. dangerously close to meat shortages as coronavirus outbreaks now spread to suppliers across the…
As COVID-19 Slows Meat Processing, Meat Shortages a Growing Concern; Livestock Producers Face Tough Choices
Bloomberg writers Deena Shanker, Michael Hirtzer, Jen Skerritt, and Lydia Mulvany reported this week that, "The U.S. is edging closer to possible meat shortages with another major plant taken off…
UN’s World Food Programme: COVID-19 Could Almost Double Acute Hunger
The Financial Times reported this week that, "Governments and international institutions are becoming increasingly worried about the growing constraints on access to food around the world as coronavirus disrupts economies…
COVID19 at Meat-Processing Plants Highlights Key Link, and Vulnerabilities, In Food Supply Chain
Bloomberg writers Stephen Joyce, Michael Hirtzer, and Jen Skerritt reported this week that, "Hundreds of National Guard personnel are being activated in Iowa as coronavirus sweeps through meat-processing plants in…
Trump Administration Announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, $19 Billion Relief Program for Agriculture
Wall Street Journal writers Andrew Restuccia and Jesse Newman reported on Friday that, "President Trump announced a $19 billion relief program for the agriculture sector, which has been hard hit…
Focus on Logistical Disruptions for Food, as USDA Assistance Plan Expected Soon
New York Times writers Michael Corkery and David Yaffe-Bellany reported this week that, "The nation’s food supply chain is showing signs of strain, as increasing numbers of workers are falling…
COVID-19 Effects Persist: Decline in Farm Income Seen, Processing Disruptions Continue, Phase One Trade
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported this week that, "An updated economic analysis looking at the impact of COVID-19 projects crop farmers to see $11.85 billion in lower revenue…
Smithfield Pork Processing Plant Closes, as COVID-19 Cases at Meat Plants an Increasing Worry
The Associated Press reported this week that, "Virginia-based Smithfield Foods announced Sunday that it is closing its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls until further notice after hundreds of employees…
COVID-19 Hits Some Domestic Ag Markets, Disrupts Global Supply, As Pres. Trump Highlights Aid to Farmers
Bloomberg's Mike Dorning reported last week that, "President Donald Trump said he has asked his agriculture secretary to 'use all of the funds and authorities at his disposal,' to aid…
USDA-FAS Reports Provide Updates on Ag Trade, Production, and COVID-19 Impacts
On Thursday, the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) released three reports that provided updated information on agricultural trade, production and recent impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. A focus on wheat…
COVID-19 Hampers Some Markets, as Worker Safety and Well-Being Garner Increased Attention
DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton reported this week that, "As meatpacking plants and other food processors reduce capacity or temporarily close because of coronavirus cases, Vice President Mike Pence…
Prices for Some Food Staples Increase, as COVID-19 Impacts on Labor Remain a Concern
Bloomberg writers Agnieszka de Sousa, Ruth Olurounbi, and Jen Skerritt reported on Monday that, "As the coronavirus pandemic penetrates more deeply into global supply chains, prices for key staples are…
Global Food Markets “Well Balanced” During COVID-19 Outbreak, But Trucking Issues a Concern
The April edition of the Market Monitor, a publication from the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), stated that, "Despite much uncertainty caused by the rapid spread of COVID-19, global food…