The pork industry is awaiting action by USDA ahead of Nov. 30 on whether processing plants can move to the faster line speeds that a few facilities have been allowed to use in a time-limited trial.
“USDA is well aware of its own deadline in relation to the time-limited trials and intends to share an update on next steps no later than Nov. 30, as we've said repeatedly,” a USDA spokesperson told Agri-Pulse. “This is a complex issue that requires careful consideration and the right data to support any decision.”
The agency made the statement in response to an analysis from the Senate Agriculture Committee's Republican staff. The analysis claims "USDA inaction" on the issue has led to tighter margins for producers and higher costs for consumers while limiting the Biden administration's ability to expand meat and poultry processing capacity.
USDA’s New Swine Inspection System, initiated during the Clinton administration and evaluated at five pilot plants over 20 years, was approved for industry-wide adoption in 2019, but a federal judge in March 2021 blocked an increase in line speeds that was part of NSIS.
In November 2021, USDA announced a pilot program to allow for the continued faster line speeds while permitting establishments to experiment with ergonomics and automation to protect food and worker safety while also increasing productivity.
In an email statement to Agri-Pulse, the National Pork Producer Council called on USDA to preserve the higher line speeds.
“For over two decades, harvest facilities have shown that increased inspection speeds can be maintained without compromising food or worker safety,” NPPC said. “Sufficient harvest capacity is critical to allow America's farmers to continue producing high-quality, nutritious American pork.”
NPPC said the expiration at the end of the month poses a “financial threat to pork producers amid current economic challenges.” Estimates from Iowa State University indicate pork processing capacity may need to be reduced by at least 2.5% nationwide – or 260,000 hogs per month – if slower line speeds are reinstated.
The North American Meat Institute told Agri-Pulse they’ve been “working with the agency to bring certainty to processors.”
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Patrick Creamer, spokesperson for Senate Agriculture Committee Republicans, said, “USDA has not been forthcoming with information and has canceled previously scheduled briefings.” The blog post published by the minority staff Friday said six pork processing plants are operating under the time-limited trial in the U.S. and that nearly 40% of the U.S. supply of hogs is within 100 miles of these six processing plants.
“Absent a permanent solution or an extension of the current Time-Limited Trial, these processors will have to reduce their operational capacity, which reduces demand for hogs, disrupts the supply chain for U.S. hog farmers and processors and exacerbates already historically high inflation in the U.S. food supply,” the blog post said.
“For consumers, lower processing capacity will result in higher prices for retail pork as supplies available at grocery stores and in the food service sector are reduced."
The post said the expiration of the time-limited trials could “further erode hog farmer margins – which are already projected to be negative – by an additional $10 per head due to increased operating costs associated with reduced demand.”
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