May 6, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma ‘Wednesday, May 2, 2020 Shortages halted production at its plant the current issue is one of workers with symptoms awaiting test results or have in Sioux Falls, South Da- food waste. or testing positive for CO- been hospitalized, and/or are kota. The 15 largest pork- “Farmers across the nation VID-19 and providing full symptomatic. packing plants account for simply will not have any- paid sick leave workers who On April 26, federal agen- 60% of all pork processed in where to sell their livestock are infected, cies issued guidance for af- Continued from page 1. tions.” the country. to be processed, when they “While we share the con- Food processing giant Shutting down the plants ter meat processing plants John Tyson, chairman of could have fed the nation,” cern over the food supply, Smithfield Foods closed means the farmers have too shuttered across the U.S. be- the board of Tyson Foods, Tyson said. “Millions of ani- today’s executive order to one its largest pork process- many animals and nowhere raised the meat processing mals -- chickens, pigs and force meatpacking plants to cause of multiple employee ing facilities in Sioux Falls, to send them for processing. plant closure issue in full cattle -- will be depopulated stay open must put the safety outbreaks of COVID-19. South Dakota, on April In Michigan, according to page ads published Sunday because of the closure of our of our country’s meatpack- The new guidelines, 14 as hundreds of workers Mary Kelpinski, CEO of the in the Washington Post and processing facilities.” ing workers first,’ Mare which are not mandatory, there tested positive for CO- Michigan Pork Producers the New York Times, saying Delmarva Poultry Industry Perrone, UFCW’s president cover those in the beef, pork VID-19. The South Dakota Association, more than two they are “facing a new set of Inc., a poultry-processing said in statement. “Simply and poultry processing op- plant represents about 5% million pigs a year are pro- challenges,” and that “the plant in Delaware, according put, we cannot have a se- erations who work in close of the pork production in the cessed and there are about food supply chain is break- to Business Insider, recently cure food supply without the contact, often side-by-side, US., supplying nearly 130 2,000 pig farmers in Michi- ing.” decided to euthanize 2 mil- safety of these orkers.” with other workers. The million servings of food per gan. Of the pigs processed “As pork, beef and chick- There have been 20 work- guidelines - from the U.S. lion chickens due to worker week, according to a news In Michigan, typically 30% en plants are being forced to shortages. er deaths in meatpacking and Department of Labor’s Oc- release. goes to food service, 30% close, even for short periods The UFCW called on the food processing, the UCFW cupational Safety and Health “This is a crisis on our to exports (which is not hap- of time, millions of pounds administration to take action said. In addition, the UCFW Administration and the Cen- farms and currently there pening) and 40% to retail. of meat will disappear from and provide the needed safe- estimates at least 5,000 ters for Disease Control and aren’t any supply issues. We Two of the nation’s big- the supply chain. As a result, ty steps and equipment to meatpacking and 1,500 food have plenty of hogs,” Gantz gest pork processing plants there will be limited supply workers including increased processing have been di- Prevention - advise employ- said. “While short term we are currently closed. Meat of our products available in worker testing, priority ac- rectly impacted by the virus. ers on how to reduce worker don’t anticipate supply is- processing giant Tyson grocery stores until we are cess to the federal stockpile That includes workers who risk of exposure to the coro- sues, there could be issues Foods suspended opera- able to reopen our facilities of PPE (personal protec- have tested positive for the navirus. over the long term if we tions at its plant in Waterloo, that are currently closed.” tive equipment) mandating virus, missed work because The Associated Press con- don’t resolve plant disrup- Towa. And Smithfield Foods Tyson further stated that social distancing, isolating of self-quarantine, those tributed to this report. Cattlemen consumers, pay in grocery and seem to be solely work- nounced another plan of ac- are putting all efforts into re- stores, in retail markets, in ing for them [packers and tion to help relieve some of viving the market. restaurants ... and what the producers] and at the end of the struggles farmers and “The single greatest thing beef producers are being ranchers are facing in the we can do is get the econo- year are just thankful to have Continued from page 1. people’s livelihoods at stake paid is a tragedy really,” just gotten by all while the Coronavirus Food Assis- my going again,” Lucas said. said Pokey Varner, livestock processing industries have tance Program, which is a this topic comes up — I and spoke to the reality of “We must get COVID-19 am very sensitive about what the small farmer. buyer for Varner and Varner made multiple millions of $19 billion relief program. Inc. dollars,” Pokey Varner said. While the details have not under control, we need to get they are going through,” Lu- “For some, selling a cow the restaurants open and we There are four major pack- Lucas has recently filed all been released, Lucas was cas said. “Linda and I are at the beginning of Decem- ing companies one can sell the Agricultural Security confident with what was put need to get people back to cattle producers. We do take ber is the entirety of their to: Minneapolis-based Car- Risk Review Act to address into the CARES Act and the where they are all working our product to the public sale Christmas money,” Melody gill Inc., JBS USA Hold- the foreign ownership of food assistance program, it and can afford the food they barn; we don’t future con- Varner said. ings Inc., Tyson Foods Inc. meat packing facilities in will help the producers in tract. ... We are price takers This huge price drop need everyday. That demand and National Beef Packing. major agricultural industries. the cattle, dairy, hog and will address and stabilize.” just like most of my neigh- hasn’t been echoed on the Because of that, those orga- He believes this will benefit crop industries. Lucas has bors, so I am very sensitive consumer side. In fact, con- nizations have the ability to the livestock industry and is faith the “USDA will move Gaylord News is a report- about that.” sumer prices for beef have control the market. even planning on filing more heaven and earth” to get this ing project of the University Melody Varner, president risen exponentially. “Those of us out here pro- legislation in support of the relief money out in the next of Oklahoma Gaylord Col- and secretary for Varner “The real story is the ducing the product seem to agriculture community. four to five weeks. lege of Journalism and Mass and Varner Inc., said this is gap between what we, as be losing quite significantly The USDA also an- Lucas says the next steps Communication. The pandemic has amplified ageism: ‘It’s open season for discrimination’ against older adults By Laura Newberry, Los study the health of seniors. Koshin Paley Ellison, co- Angeles Times But they fear that this par- founder of The New York LOS ANGELES - On the ticular form of discrimina- Zen Center for Contempla- We have but two words for our good days, Bonnie Reed be- tion has become magnified tive Care, said a photo of the lieves that, for the first time during the pandemic as those sign was circulated among in a long time, just about who have lost income and the community of older local police, fire and EMS heroe: everyone is united in a com- stability look for someone to adults he leads in spiritual mon cause: to protect soci- blame. practice. ety’s most vulnerable citi- “The stigma (against el- “What does that do to those zens against the coronavirus. ders) is growing,” said Dilip who are feeling weak?” Pal- On the bad days, the Sher- Jeste, a geriatric psychiatrist ey Ellison said, “It terrifies man Oaks senior is stunned at the University of Califor- them.” by the carelessness she sees nia, San Diego Center for But no one from the around her. She sees it in Healthy Aging. “Anytime group was surprised. On a the unmasked young people you mention the virus and risk, immediately people who saunter toward her and Facebook chat, they talked her husband, Alton, with think of older adults. They about how a subtler disdain little regard for social dis- think of the people more for older people has been a tancing. She sees it in the likely to be hospitalized, to running thread in American decisions of some governors take up beds in the ICU.” culture. They are well aware to reopen economies despite This rejection of pro- of the prevailing belief that dire warnings from public longed sacrifices made by beauty and productivity _ health officials. all for the sake of the old has the primary measures of Reed, who did not want been voiced from the highest worth in the U.S. _ are the to reveal her age, tries to ranks of government. domains of the young. not take it personally. But “Let’s get back to living,” But this prejudice has be- on those bad days, it can Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick come acute during the pan- feel as though such actions told Fox’s Tucker Carlson in demic, they agreed. “It’s send a clear message about late March, defending Presi- open season for discrimina- how little some people care dent Donald Trump’s push tion against older, vulner- about the well-being of olderat the time to reopen busi- able people,” one person adults, who make up roughly nesses by Easter. commented. 80% of those who die from Patrick, who turned 70 Eight prominent psycholo- COVID-19 complications. in March, said no one had gists from across the globe “Am I the only one feeling asked him if he was willing were so concerned about like they’re ready to throw to risk his survival in order mounting ageism that in us out?” she asks herself. to save the American econ- mid-April they wrote an aca- As the debate rages over omy for future generations. demic paper on the issue for when or how to resume pub- But, he added, “If that’s the lic life, older adults like Reed exchange, I’m all in.” the Gerontological Society have increasingly borne wit- Nationwide anti-lockdown of America. ness to behavior and rhetoric protests show that many “What we are seeing in that implies that their lives have taken that idea to heart. public discourse is an in- are not as valuable as reviv- One woman among the creasing portrayal of those ing the economy. dozens who rallied outside over the age of 70 as being Ageism has been quietly Tennessee’s state capitol on all alike with regard to being pervasive in American cul- April 20 held a sign that read helpless, frail, and unable to ture for decades, according “Sacrifice the weak, reopen contribute to society,” they to those who work with and (Tennessee).” said.