According to Dr. Pat Westhoff, professor and director of the University of Missouri Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute, COVID-19 restrictions could reduce net farm income by $20 billion in 2020.  An article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on a study conducted by the University of Missouri Institute showing that growth in the agricultural sector of the U.S. economy forecast for 2020 at 2.8 percent will probably decline by 2.2 percent.

Westhoff pointed to 11.5 percent lower prices for feed cattle; live hogs falling by 9.1 percent and milk by 8.8 percent.  The USDA whole-bird index for Southern states fell by 8 percent during the week ending April 10th.  Producers of labor-intensive fruit and vegetable crops will also be affected as there is a shortage of field workers especially with border closings, necessitating the Department of Homeland Security to waive some requirements for H-2 visas.

Reports of outbreaks of COVID-19 in red meat and poultry plants are emerging.  A number of facilities have been closed or are operating at less than capacity, impacting the chain of production from farm to consumer.