Smithfield closes?

[Dunstablegrizzly]

Wonder what this is going to do to pork prices?
I usually buy pork shoulder, butts, in walmart. Just bought this past Friday. It was 1.79 a pound which is great in my neck of the woods.

 

[SmokinEdge]

They are talking about a big protein shortage this year because of all the processing plants shutting down from infected workers with CO I’d-19. No shortage of pork or beef at the farm level, just can’t get it processed now.

 

[Brokenhandle]

It could make things much worse that's for sure. They said Smithfield 's plant in Sioux Falls S.D. processed 4 to 5 percent of the nation's pork. Tysons had a plant in iowa that closed last week I believe. Sad thing is if too many shut down farmers are gonna be in a bad way, no place to go with their fat hogs. And more baby pigs are still being born, can't just stop the production. I guess all we can do is hope for the best and that the closures are short term. But on the other hand the workers are more at risk because of having to go to work, talk about a catch 22.

Ryan

 

[ososmokeshack]

They are dumping milk in Arizona. Heard something about some farmers dumping 12 million gallons of milk cause it had nowhere to go.

 

[chilerelleno]

Run on meat and chest freezers in 5, 4, 3, 2.....

Hmmmm, I need more vacuum sealer bags anyways.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I know producers. I am a producer at the farm level. I suggest everyone get to know your local meat producers and buy direct. Learn, or don’t be afraid to slaughter and butcher.

 

[noboundaries]

Restaurants shutting down cut over 50% of customers for meat processors. Poultry producers are smashing eggs that would have grown into animals for the table. Fields full of millions of pounds of vegetables are being plowed under due to the market shutdown. Hang on. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

 

[indaswamp]

Tyson chicken has shuttered plants in Arkansas too. I hear farmers in florida are leaving produce in the field to rot because there is nowhere to send it to process it for sale.

 

[Fueling Around]

Let's look at this from a sane perspective.
US population is around 330 million.
That has NOT changed from Covid-19.
Death rate leaders are still heart disease and cancer.
Birth rate is still higher than death rate.
We still have 330 million people that need to eat a regular meal.
If we're not eating at a restaurant, we're eating at home?
Does that mean the restaurant industry has that much waste? (I think the rat problem in metro areas shows the (people) waste reduction from restaurant closure.)

I don't know if the numbers are accurate on the Sioux Falls plant closure affecting national pork production. Corporate and media tend to embellish numbers.
Plant should be down 3-4 weeks?

 

[poacherjoe]

I am so glad that my freezer is full with 2 deer and 1 elk plus game fish and birds and fruits and veggies from our big garden . I was the last of 8 kids and we grew up poor so we grew a garden and had an orchard full of every fruit tree. We canned everything so I had good teachers to help my family through these hard times. Sad thing is I don't know how to make toilet paper? Hopefully they can get a vaccine made and we can get back to normal soon.

 

[NashvilleNick]

I understand that a majority of the milk is used at schools, I'm originally from Ohio and they are dumping tons of milk. But cheese and ice cream still need milk and I'm still buying those, I imagine most households haven't given that up. I worry the media is blowing it out of proportion. I have a renter that works at a chicken producer and he is now working 60 hours a week. Those chickens are going somewhere. I guess we do what we always do, take advantage of sales and stock up what we can within reason. No one needs 100 rolls of toilet paper or 100 chicken breasts IMO. Stay safe, we will make it to the other side!

 

[SmokinEdge]

Let's look at this from a sane perspective.
US population is around 330 million.
That has NOT changed from Covid-19.
Death rate leaders are still heart disease and cancer.
Birth rate is still higher than death rate.
We still have 330 million people that need to eat a regular meal.
If we're not eating at a restaurant, we're eating at home?
Does that mean the restaurant industry has that much waste? (I think the rat problem in metro areas shows the (people) waste reduction from restaurant closure.)

I don't know if the numbers are accurate on the Sioux Falls plant closure affecting national pork production. Corporate and media tend to embellish numbers.
Plant should be down 3-4 weeks?

With everyone stuck at home, and grocery stores providing curb side pick up, I can’t imagine food demand going down. In fact I would guess just the opposite. Meat is a problem because of processing. Fruits and vegetables on the other hand should not suffer. I can’t even buy a pound of potatoes in my town Most days.

 

[ososmokeshack]

With everyone stuck at home, and grocery stores providing curb side pick up, I can’t imagine food demand going down. In fact I would guess just the opposite. Meat is a problem because of processing. Fruits and vegetables on the other hand should not suffer. I can’t even buy a pound of potatoes in my town Most days.

i don’t think it’s the standard joe schmo that isn’t buying the meat and produce. It’s all the restaurants who are no serving half of what they used to because of take out only, or the hotels that have nobody staying there and ordering room service. It’s more on the commercial side. All those people buy8ng the potatoes at your stores used to eat out for lunch everyday and maybe even dinner. Not anymore.

 

[SmokinEdge]

i don’t think it’s the standard joe schmo that isn’t buying the meat and produce. It’s all the restaurants who are no serving half of what they used to because of take out only, or the hotels that have nobody staying there and ordering room service. It’s more on the commercial side. All those people buy8ng the potatoes at your stores used to eat out for lunch everyday and maybe even dinner. Not anymore.

agreed.
However, all those patrons to restaurants and hotels or what not, are still eating, all of them. The produce may not be moving commercial wise, but grocery demand is through the roof. So about the same being consumed, I would guess, or more because they sit home with nothing to do but eat.

 

[ososmokeshack]

agreed.
However, all those patrons to restaurants and hotels or what not, are still eating, all of them. The produce may not be moving commercial wise, but grocery demand is through the roof. So about the same being consumed, I would guess, or more because they sit home with nothing to do but eat.

I don’t know about that. People who eat out all the time, have a reason why they eat out all the time.

 

[MikeFR]

They are dumping milk in Arizona. Heard something about some farmers dumping 12 million gallons of milk cause it had nowhere to go.

We are going to be seeing more of these stories.

Trucking is my industry. I’m only a small operation, but I monitor this the same as a large trucking company would.

The thing people wanted to ignore was what the stoppage of work would do long term to the economy, and ultimately everyone’s lives.

Got freezers? Stock up. Just hope the money is there to pay the electric bill of your not well backed up by solar, and hope the electric companies don’t get hampered by a massive loss of income.

I’m not a conspiracy theorist, not am I really a prepper, just someone who is trying to visualize all of this from a long term perspective.

 

[MikeFR]

Let's look at this from a sane perspective.
US population is around 330 million.
That has NOT changed from Covid-19.
Death rate leaders are still heart disease and cancer.
Birth rate is still higher than death rate.
We still have 330 million people that need to eat a regular meal.
If we're not eating at a restaurant, we're eating at home?
Does that mean the restaurant industry has that much waste? (I think the rat problem in metro areas shows the (people) waste reduction from restaurant closure.)

I don't know if the numbers are accurate on the Sioux Falls plant closure affecting national pork production. Corporate and media tend to embellish numbers.
Plant should be down 3-4 weeks?

The population didn’t change when we entered the Great Depression either. Not saying we are there, but the fact that the same amount of people live here means nothing.

We export a massive amount of food. When those people can’t afford it, production takes a hit.

People don’t have the same amount of money. They are forced to live on less. Production takes a hit.

Plants are in areas that have not peaked in terms of the virus. They are now closing. Not only are we concerned about food availability, but more people are going broke as a result.

The SBA loans and paycheck protection? Easier said than done. I’m living that nightmare right now.

States like Minnesota have already extended their closure of almost everything til mid May now. Other states will follow.

This crap is extremely serious.

 

[Brokenhandle]

I believe the problem is in distribution, all these markets were set up with where they normally go...restaurants, schools and what not. Now with most everything shut down it takes time to get things changed. That's the nice way of putting it...in real life there's too dang much red tape and beaurecrats involved or in the way to get things changed.

Ryan

 

[MikeFR]

I believe the problem is in distribution, all these markets were set up with where they normally go...restaurants, schools and what not. Now with most everything shut down it takes time to get things changed. That's the nice way of putting it...in real life there's too dang much red tape and beaurecrats involved or in the way to get things changed.

Ryan

Red tape always causes issues. Demand also creates issues.
People eating at home results in far less waste. That is a good thing, but something our economy never accounted for.

So much we just don’t know in terms of the future right now.

 

[pineywoods]

So far this thread has been good let's please keep it that way. If you don't agree with something that has been said that's fine and debate is fine as long as it doesn't get personal or nasty. If you find that you can't do that please don't post in this thread at all. Remember you don't have to read or comment on every thread.