Livestock producers, processors and retailers adapt to changing demand.

More than four years after COVID-19 caused disruptions to the international supply chain, farmers, processors and retailers continue to adapt to shifts in consumer preferences.

Panelists discussed the current and future meat supply chain at the 2024 Iowa Farm Bureau Economic Summit June 14 in Ankeny.

“Any of these three speakers could have been a keynote presenter, and we really were blessed to have them all on the stage together,” said 

Christopher Pudenz, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s economics and research manager, when introducing Don Gales, CEO of Friona Industries, Karl Skold, head of agricultural economics at JBS, and Jason Pride, Hy-Vee’s VP of meat and seafood.

Current conditions

Herd size was a major topic of discussion, with...