(Photo by Phillip Davis, ©2020 Heifer International)

The ramifications of the Coronavirus pandemic have reached far and wide in the meat and poultry processing industry. The virus has caused many large packing plants to shut down for periods of time, and the resulting closures led to problems in the production side as well. Pig farmers in particular have been stuck with animals who are ready for slaughter, but they cannot find a facility to take them. Groups like the National Pork Producers Council have called for legislative relief to assist the farmers who have in some cases been forced to euthanize their animals.