Agriculture

• Farmers will have already made production decisions for the year, so despite possible interruptions to the food supply chain, things will have to proceed as 'normal' to an extent.
• Smaller farmers who depend on direct sales will be significantly impacted.
• Some other impacts will be a shortage in labor for in-person operations and a drop in commodity pricing.
•  Smithfield Foods, a major food (meat) processor, has issued its response to the pandemic. For its in-person operations, the company has introduced deeper and more frequent cleaning protocols, paid 14-day quarantines for workers who are exposed, increased social distancing, temperature checks and new plexiglass barriers.
• The company also issued a $500 bonus to its team members to thank them for their hard work.
• Smithfield is also donating $3 million in cash and products to Feeding America and other local food banks.
• The CEO also issued a pledge to "sustain the food system", maintaining its upstream and downstream supply chain relationships.