Cattle on the range -- LNN

By The Canadian Press

No beef shortage expected, despite plant closure amid COVID-19 outbreak

Apr 22, 2020 | 5:14 PM

OTTAWA, AB. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the country shouldn’t expect beef shortages due to the temporary closure of a large processing facility after a COVID-19 outbreak, but prices may go up.

Cargill Inc.’s High River, plant temporarily shuttered operations after a worker died because of the coronavirus and hundreds of other employees tested positive.

Trudeau says beef producers and associations have said they will prioritize ensuring Canadian supply before exports, so no beef shortage is anticipated currently.

University of Guelph associate professor Mike Von Massow says Canada would have to see months-long closures of multiple plants before seeing beef shortages at grocery stores.

He says farmers, however, will feel the brunt of the closures as they will have to pay the price to send their cattle further for processing or to feed their herds longer.

first cohort starts this month

RDP launches solar photovoltaic installation micro-credential

17h ago

Saturday and Sunday

AHS reports temporary closure to Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service

Jan 05, 2025

LAST SEEN DECEMBER 30, 2024

Missing: Peyton Chilton, 15, of Red Deer

Jan 03, 2025

The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association called for federal government assistance in a statement Monday as its economic scenarios project the industry could lose more than $500 million in revenue by the end of June.

Meantime, a union is warning that another meat packing plant in southern Alberta is postponing the inevitable by staying open after Cargill temporarily shut down Monday, after an outbreak linked to 484 cases of the illness, including the death of a worker.

The JBS plant in Brooks had recorded 67 cases as of Monday and is trying to ensure the facility remains open, but won’t operate if it isn’t safe, or absentee levels result in an ability to operate safely.

The president of the Agriculture Union that represents federal meat inspectors says it’s a matter of time before JBS is forced to temporarily halt production as well.

Fabian Murphy says a 14-day shutdown would allow all employees to self-isolate. After that, production at the facility could resume.