Agricultural Economics, Department of
Cornhusker Economics
Beef Packing Resilience and Plant Size during COVID-19
Date of this Version
11-26-2025
Document Type
Newsletter Issue
Citation
Cornhusker Economics (November 26, 2025)
Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
Discusses beef packing resilience and plant size during COVID-19.
This research suggests the current policy focus on small plants, while well-intentioned, may miss the mark. The evidence points toward medium-sized facilities as the backbone of a truly resilient beef processing system.
For policymakers, this means rethinking grant programs and support mechanisms to include medium-scale operations. For producers, it means advocating for policies that build up this middle tier of processing capacity.
The pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in the beef supply chain. The question now is whether we'll learn the right lessons and build the resilience we actually need—not just the resilience we assumed we needed.