Despite Trump executive order, meat-processing plants struggle to stay open

CNN — Days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at keeping meat-processing facilities open amid the coronavirus pandemic, plants across the country are scrambling to balance worker safety with pressure from the federal government to remain operational. Top Department of Labor officials said in a statement about the order that “good faith attempts” to comply with the new guidance would weigh in a company’s favor in case of an investigation or lawsuit. “It definitely takes a little bit of the concern off of the meat companies.” Plants remain shuttered Some of the nation’s largest meat-packing plants – including Smithfield’s Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pork plant and Tyson’s Waterloo, Iowa, pork plant – are still closed after suffering coronavirus outbreaks. Livestock euthanization still necessary While the President’s executive order came as welcome news to farmers and ranchers as well as to meat companies, pork producers say they will still need support from the Trump administration to euthanize the hogs that grew too large while the processing plants sat idle. Howard “AV” Roth, president of the National Pork Producers Council, said the administration’s move offers hope for farmers struggling to manage a severely backed-up hog supply across the country.