INDUSTRY OUTLOOK Mark Agnor - stock.adobe.com The top issues are the challenges created by COVID-19, including labor shortages and varying channels of demand for all products, said Henry Davis, president of Greater Omaha Packing Co. Brian Coelho, president of Central Valley Meat, also cited having to navigate fluctuating demand for products and labor issues related to COVID-19. Higher-than-normal turnover and absenteeism has made it difficult to operate plants at capacity, he said. The broader challenge in the coming year is to ensure that a new surge in COVID-19 illnesses does not disrupt production levels and impact livestock supplies and red meat demand. Neither will the poultry sector be immune to this challenge. Therefore, COVID19 will cloud this year's outlook for the meat and poultry industry. But anxiety over renewed worker illnesses will be alleviated when all plant workers are vaccinated. The North American Meat Institute, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and National Pork Producers Council in early December called for COVID-19 CUSTOM MADE CONVEYOR BELTING DERCO'S EXTENSIVE LINE OF BELTING AND ACCESSORIES PROVIDE CUSTOM SOLUTIONS TO THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY. * Sealed edges and frayless fabric * NGB-USA Plastic Modular * Custom top cover profiling * Belts for shredders, flatterners and slicers * Monolithic sprocket driven options * Plastic molded shackles * ANB wash down bearings FOR MORE INFORMATION: 800-761-2358 * sales@dercousa.com * www.dercousa.com 20 MEAT+ POULTRY | 01.21 | www.meatpoultry.com PLASTIC MODULAR. MONOLITHIC. LIGHTWEIGHT THERMOPLASTIChttp://www.dercousa.com