Sioux Falls pork processing plant closes because of coronavirus; it and other closures threaten supply chain

After more than 230 of its workers were found to be sick with covid-19, Smithfield Foods announced on Sunday that it's shuttering its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls until further notice, Tom Polansek reports for Reuters. The closure and others like it could cause food chain problems; they also highlight the poor work conditions at many meatpacking plants that encourage the spread of infectious diseases.

The Sioux Falls plant is one of the nation's largest pork processing facilities, employing about 3,700 and accounting for 4 to 5 percent of U.S. pork production. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Saturday that sick Smithfield employees account for 55% of the state's total active covid-19 cases.

The company originally said it would close for three days to clean, after health officials confirmed more than 80 sick workers on Thursday, Makenzie Huber reports for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls. Smithfield offered employees a one-time $500 "responsibility bonus," but employees and union representatives told Huber they felt unsafe and wanted hazard pay. 

Smithfield isn't the only meatpacker to shutter because of the pandemic. Tyson, Cargill, and JBS USA have all temporarily closed plants because of infected employees, Danielle Wiener-Bronner reports for CNN Business.

The closures highlight working conditions in meatpacking plants that often encourage the spread of infectious diseases. Workers are frequently required to work in close quarters, and, except for unionized plants, workers rarely get sick pay. "At many companies, including Tyson, workers receive disciplinary points for calling in sick. Because points lead to termination, workers told ProPublica, they and some of their colleagues have continued to work even when sick, despite the coronavirus." Michael Grabell reports.

In a statement Sunday, Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan warned that meatpacking closures will hurt livestock farmers and cause shortages in grocery stores.

Beyond the supply chain problems, the closures could affect trade with China, which has a huge appetite for pork, and is expected to expand pork purchases from the U.S. in 2020 after its own herds have been decimated by disease. U.S. pork processing plant closures could jeopardize that.