# USDA Provides Update on Investigation Following 2019 Tyson Beef Plant Closure and COVID-19 Pandemic

> USDA released a report on the boxed beef and fed cattle price spread after the 2019 Tyson Holcomb plant fire and COVID-19 disruptions. The agency says its enforcement work continues to check for Packers and Stockyards Act violations.

- Date: 2020-07-22 · published 2020-07-22T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/52055-usda-provides-update-on-investigation-following-2019-tyson-beef-plant-closure
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A wide packer margin over fed cattle depresses cattle prices, and possible enforcement action could shift packer behavior and cattle bids.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2019-04-18 | [Beef Market Update: USDA Cattle on Feed, calving season, and dry pasture conditions on the Prairies - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5962-beef-market-update-usda-cattle-on-feed-calving-season-and-dry-pasture.md) | -0.3% | -8.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-12-09 | [USDA Cuts Cattle Price Forecast After Tyson Shuts Nebraska Beef Plant - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21622-usda-cuts-cattle-price-forecast-after-tyson-shuts-nebraska-beef-plant-bloomberg.md) | +2.3% | +3.9% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [USDA increases beef production forecasts - Grainews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32852-usda-increases-beef-production-forecasts-grainews.md) | -1.8% | -0.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-09-27 | [U.S. prepared for expanding beef production - Morning Ag Clips](https://feedsoft.ai/events/68905-u-s-prepared-for-expanding-beef-production-morning-ag-clips.md) | +0.2% | +3.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2018-12-14 | [2019 Meat and Poultry Industry Economic Outlook: A mixed bag \| 2018-12-14  \| The National Provisioner](https://feedsoft.ai/events/61720-2019-meat-and-poultry-industry-economic-outlook-a-mixed-bag-2018-12-14-the.md) | +0.3% | +4.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2019-04-18 | [Beef Market Update: USDA Cattle on Feed, calving season, and dry pasture conditions on the Prairies - RealAgriculture](https://feedsoft.ai/events/5962-beef-market-update-usda-cattle-on-feed-calving-season-and-dry-pasture.md) | -1.2% | -7.6% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-12-09 | [USDA Cuts Cattle Price Forecast After Tyson Shuts Nebraska Beef Plant - Bloomberg](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21622-usda-cuts-cattle-price-forecast-after-tyson-shuts-nebraska-beef-plant-bloomberg.md) | +1.3% | +7.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-12-04 | [USDA increases beef production forecasts - Grainews](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32852-usda-increases-beef-production-forecasts-grainews.md) | +0.4% | +5.1% |

## Sources

- usda.gov: https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2020/07/22/usda-provides-update-investigation-following-2019-tyson-beef-plant-closure-and-covid-19-pandemic

---
Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.