COVID-19 continues to sweep through packing plant workers, leading to severe disruptions in beef processing. Estimated cattle slaughter for the week ending May 2 was 425,000 head, down 38% year over year.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released May 1 says 4,913 cases and 20 deaths have occurred among some 130,578 workers at 115 meat and poultry processing facilities in 19 states. 

Estimating the total economic effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the beef industry requires a number of assumptions based on imperfect information. As a result, any economic impact forecast has a wide confidence interval which can only narrow as the pandemic abates and post-quarantine economic data become available.

Falling cattle prices and both market and consumer unrest has increased the pressure from beef industry groups and lawmakers on the USDA to increase their investigations into the cattle markets.

A study released April 14, 2020, estimates cattle industry losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will reach $13.6 billion.

More tremors are hitting the beef industry as a key packing facility in Colorado will be closing for almost two weeks to address rising COVID-19 health risks to plant employees.

The U.S. meat industry faces unprecedented threats as COVID-19 sweeps through labor forces at meat processing facilities nationwide.

Tyson Foods announced on March 31 that it will pay out approximately $60 million in bonuses to front-line workers and truckers as “a ‘thank you’ for feeding the nation during [the] COVID-19 pandemic.”

In a 13-minute video to members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on Monday, CEO Colin Woodall outlined the steps the association has taken in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak and its aftershocks in beef production.

The cattle and beef industry, along with the rest of the U.S. and global economy, is in uncharted waters with the coronavirus pandemic. There are many unknowns about the timing, severity and aftermath of the disease.