Personal safety guidelines that were put into place during COVID-19 have been successful in many regards. The number of new cases within our State is steadily declining and becoming much more manageable for the health care system. However, these restrictions have had detrimental effects to the meat industry and the economy, as a whole. Consumers have isolated themselves and stayed at home, employees at meat packing facilities have had their hours slashed and nearly every American has changed how they purchase and consume their meat products.

This combination of factors has gouged prices...