US to Allow Pork Plants to Operate Faster in Trial Program

US to Allow Pork Plants to Operate Faster in Trial Program
The logo of Seaboard Foods hog processing plant is seen in Guymon, Okla., on May 13, 2020. Andrew Hay/Reuters File Photo
Reuters
Updated:

CHICAGO—The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday that some pork plants can apply to operate faster processing-line speeds under a one-year trial, after a federal judge ended a Trump-era rule that removed line speed limits in March.

Faster slaughtering would help meat companies like WH Group’s Smithfield Foods and JBS to increase pork production at a time of strong demand and high bacon prices.