Lawmakers urge USDA to ensure no disruptions to food supply during pandemic

Federal legislators are urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take all the necessary steps to ensure there are no disruptions to our nation’s food supply chain during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“We encourage you to use all of your available authorities to maximize flexibility to guarantee USDA inspectors are available for on-site inspections and ensure that our processing facilities maintain current productivity levels,” Sen. Thom Tillis and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), wrote in a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue. “Additionally, we ask that you collaborate with industry partners in developing and releasing information to inform the public about USDA’s planned actions.

The two lawmakers encouraged Perdue to maximize flexibility to guarantee USDA inspectors are available for on-site inspections and ensure that processing facilities maintain current productivity levels. They also ask the USDA chief to collaborate with industry partners in releasing information to the public about USDA’s planned actions.

“The protein supply chain for beef, pork, and poultry functions requires consistency,” the lawmakers added in the letter. “Producers and markets are looking for any assurances that the department is taking proactive steps to mitigate any disruptions. Moreover, as some states take proactive steps to limit the spread of the virus, we strongly urge that all meat processing facilities be deemed “essential” operations.”