10-24 IAT Feds Back

The government shutdown, even though it was averted, did impact the meat industry. As the furlough of many government employees continued into its second week, the impact grew as processors and entities like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange had to scramble to keep coming up with meaningful data upon which to conclude pricing transactions.

In another development, ranchers caught in an early snowstorm in the West are suffering from a lack of information and support from USDA field offices. In addition, people are starting to worry — whether legitimately or not — about foodborne illness tracking, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to temporarily reduce staff who monitor outbreak data streams. "Early estimates just in the state of South Dakota are showing losses of 15 to 20 percent of entire herds," according to sources. They were forced to operate with limited information, as USDA offices were not collecting or receiving data. Wyatt Prescott of the Idaho Cattlemen's Association: "As far as the South Dakota thing, I believe that it is probably going to take some time for the government to get back on their feet. Now that folks are no longer furloughed, it is going to take a solid week of paperwork just to get them back to being productive again."