A well-placed Postville source tells me no beef has been killed at Agriprocessors since 12:15 PM Monday, September 8. Beef kill workers confirmed this late today.
Another well-placed Postville source insists Agriprocessors is still buying cattle. But yet another source has watched the plant and tells me he has seen no…
…cattle trucks making deliveries.
Workers say split beef (i.e., sides of beef) is being trucked from Agriprocessors' Nebraska plant, Local Pride, LLC, to Agriprocessors' Postville plant for processing.
And Amanda Eamich of the USDA's FSIS told me Tuesday that the USDA had not shut down Agriprocessors' beef line or any other part of the plant.
What is really happening?
There seems to be one scenario that makes sense:
1. The USDA tells Agriprocessors it intends to shut down beef kill until issues surrounding the second cut are resolved.
2. Agriprocessors voluntarily shuts down beef kill to avoid USDA closure.
3. USDA closure would be public information. Publication of a USDA shutdown could destroy the company.
4. So Agriprocessors continues to buy cattle in Iowa, in part to keep up appearances and in part to augment its Nebraska supply.
This would fit an established pattern where the USDA protects big agribusiness from public scrutiny as it continues to water down its own regulations – all without Congressional approval or meaningful oversight.
Is it factual?
We'll know soon.
UPDATE 9-`12-08– I spoke with a worker who tells me no beef was killed Sunday and most of Monday. But beef was killed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and is being killed today. But only about 200 head of cattle are being killed each day, far fewer than pre-raid.