3 steps to disaster-proof your poultry supply chain

When it comes to disasters and other emergencies – from tornadoes to snowstorms to COVID-19 to avian influenza – and the poultry supply chain, it’s not the plan, it’s the planning that matters.

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When it comes to disasters and other emergencies – from tornadoes to snowstorms to COVID-19 to avian influenza – and the poultry supply chain, it’s not the plan, it’s the planning that matters.

“We’ve all lived through it, especially over the past couple of years with this phenomenon we call COVID. COVID and climate have really come to the forefront of all of our discussions,” Jeff Witte, New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture, said.

For example, in the early days of COVID-19, consumers shifted demand from eating out to staying in. This disrupted the poultry supply chain. Instead of producing cuts for foodservice, poultry processing plants ramped up retail processing to meet the needs of supermarkets and other stores with empty shelves.

According to the Federal Agency Management Agency (FEMA), 58 Presidential Disaster Declarations were made in 2021. This includes the severe winter storms that had a significant negative impact on poultry operations and processing output in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi in February.

During the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 98th Agricultural Outlook Forum, Witte discussed how supply chains can prevent disruptions and promote resilience in the face of natural disasters.

1. Preparedness is a state of mind

It’s important not just to have an emergency plan, but to constantly reassess the emergency plan.

In New Mexico, “we plan for these. We hold emergency support function meetings once a month to talk about preparations, potential weather down the road and things like that with all of our partners – private sector, public sector and emergency manager,” Witte explained.

2. Prepare for the long-term

The effects of COVID-19 on the poultry supply chain will be felt for long after the pandemic is gone.

“COVID is a phenomenon that I think we’re going to really have to pay attention to in the future,” said Witte. “Not just the COVID pandemic, but the fact of the matter is that when we prepare for emergencies, we typically only anticipate that they will last for a few days or a few weeks.”

Two years later, everyone is experiencing response-fatigue, resulting in reduced compliance for public health guidelines. This is a factor that emergency plans will need to consider for future pandemics, emergencies and disasters.

3. Plan for all hazards

An all-hazards approach does not specifically address every possible threat to the poultry supply chain but ensures the capacity to address a broad range of related emergencies. 

“As we talk about planning, the thing that I want everyone to keep in mind is that you cannot respond effectively if you have not prepared and planned and practiced,” Witte said.

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