Planting season is wrapping up and crops are springing above ground across Southeast Nebraska- a welcome reminder of normalcy in these uncertain times. Make no mistake about it, however, COVID-19 has not spared agriculture.

COVID-19 has created a crisis for livestock owners across Nebraska. With pandemic-related shutdowns of corporate meat packing operations, there is a backlog of market-ready animals accumulating on farms and ranches. The temporary closures of processing plants has cut nationwide processing capacity by nearly one-third. To put it into perspective, it was estimated that on May 1, the shortage of pork processing was up to 100,000 hogs per day across the country. Producers will have no choice but to euthanize millions of healthy animals in the coming weeks. 

I have signed on to a letter, along with many fellow Nebraska state senators, urging Congress and USDA to consider cutting red tape to create opportunities for the producer and consumer. With more flexibility in the rules governing custom slaughter and processing exemption of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, out local, family-owned meat processors will be better able to serve consumers and ease pressure on our livestock owners.

One way the federal government can effectively address this crisis is by allowing consumers to source meat locally as corporate processors are strained. The custom processing exemption would allow producers to sell their products directly to the consumer to cut out the middle man and meet the need for processing during these trying times.

There are countless opportunities available to help our livestock owners. Cutting red tape and country of origin labeling are just a few ways the federal government can ease the negative impacts of this crisis.

The Legislature will have a tentative date set to reconvene announced before the end of this month. I’ll begin previewing the biggest issues for our return to session next week.

As always, I welcome your input on issues important to you. Follow along on my Facebook and Twitter pages, both entitled “Senator Julie Slama” for more updates, or contact me directly at Senator Julie Slama, District 1 State Capitol, PO Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509-4604; telephone 402-471-2733; email: jslama@leg.ne.gov