Industry Prepares for Hurricane Dorian 

Hurricane Dorian has devastated the Bahamas, and is now regaining strength as the storm is coming up the U.S. Atlantic coast. The storm may make landfall later today in South Carolina. Record storm surge potentially reaching a height of 8 feet and wind gusts of up to 58 mph are expected to reach South Carolina, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The USDA sent out a reminder that assistance is available in the wake of disasters, and has partnered with FEMA to help those in need recover. The USDA advised to protect livestock, plan for an evacuation in case necessary, but if it is not feasible to relocate livestock, provide shelter with adequate food and water until it is safe to return.

Smithfield Foods shared that the company is fully prepared for the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian, specifically the Carolinas and Virginia. Smithfield has multiple operations, both facilities and farms, and more than...

Smithfield Foods Launches Plant-Based Protein Portfolio Under Pure Farmland Brand

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced that it is launching a plant-based protein portfolio under the company’s Pure Farmland brand. The new line comes in a variety of breakfast patties, meatballs, burger patties, and pre-seasoned protein starters to help consumers grow their plant-based protein options for all meal occasions, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and appetizers.

The brand-new Pure Farmland soy-based line features eight fresh, versatile, juicy, and flavorful products. Proudly crafted in the USA, all items are made with natural flavors, are gluten and dairy free, and serve as a good source of protein. Given that soy is a complete protein, it provides levels of all essential...

Smithfield Foods Donates More Than 50,000 Pounds Of Protein To Central Illinois Foodbank

Smithfield Foods, Inc. donated more than 50,000 pounds of protein to Central Illinois Foodbank. Smithfield’s contribution is part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour, Smithfield’s signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 200,000 servings of protein, will help families fight hunger across the state.

“Central Illinois Foodbank aims to provide food and develop awareness of and creative solutions for food insecurity throughout our 21-county service area..."

Smithfield Foods Marches Forward with Renewable Energy Projects

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce the construction of new biogas gathering systems in Missouri and Utah, which bring the company steps closer to delivering renewable natural gas (RNG) to communities in multiple states using manure from its hog farms. Detailed in its recently released Sustainability Report, Smithfield’s “manure-to-energy” projects are part of Smithfield Renewables, the company’s platform that unifies and accelerates its renewable energy efforts to help meet its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025.

“By finding innovative ways to reduce GHG emissions and use existing resources to power our planet, we are playing a critical role in providing consumers with nutritious food, as well as...

Senators Raise Concerns that USDA Trade Aid will Continue to Benefit Foreign Corporations

Nine U.S. Senators, led by Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today raised concerns that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue to allow foreign companies to profit from the Trump Administration’s plan to assist American farmers affected by their trade policies.

Last week, the Administration announced it would provide up to $1.4 billion to purchase commodities targeted by retaliatory tariffs. In the previous round of aid, lucrative purchasing contracts were awarded to several foreign entities, including nearly $62.5 million in pork products from JBS USA, which is owned by Brazilian parent company JBS SA.

“…It is counterproductive and contradictory for these companies to receive assistance paid for with U.S. taxpayer dollars intended to help American farmers struggling with this Administration’s trade policy,” the Senators wrote...

Tyson says Hog Disease Impact to Linger for Years

Global meat prices are poised to rise after China culled tens of millions of hogs to contain a fast-spreading swine disease, the chief executive of Tyson Foods Inc. said.

The top U.S. meat processing company already is paying higher prices for U.S. hogs and other meat as Chinese buyers crank up purchases, Tyson executives said Monday. In the months ahead, Tyson anticipates higher meat costs for consumers, as well as stronger profits in its own pork, beef and chicken-processing operations.

Noel White, CEO of the Arkansas-based company, said the potential impact of the past year's African swine fever outbreaks was unprecedented, and could lower global meat supplies by 5% at a time when protein consumption is on the rise world-wide...

Smithfield Foods Brands Company’s Foodservice Business as “Smithfield Culinary”

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced the introduction of Smithfield Culinary, a new branding of the company’s foodservice portfolio. Smithfield Culinary – historically recognized as Smithfield Farmland – leverages the corporation’s position as the world’s largest pork processor and industry leader in sustainability, and highlights the involvement and leadership that it has within the culinary community.

Throughout the last several years, Smithfield has experienced significant growth of the company’s foodservice business, prompting the decision to create a dedicated branding that represents all of the company’s culinary-focused initiatives. From establishing chef advisory boards and forming product innovation labs, to partnering with leading culinary schools, Smithfield Culinary has evolved from simply selling products to positioning culinary arts as a key cornerstone of its business model.

“Our company – a leader in pork, value-added protein specialties, and now culinary arts – is driven by those who have a passion for great food blended with insights and ...

Smithfield Foods Achieves Industry-Leading Environmental Commitment

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has successfully engaged 80 percent of its grain supply chain, which is used to feed the company’s hogs, in farming practices that are both sustainable and reduce the cost of production for grain farmers. This exceeded the company’s original goal of 75 percent. In 2018, Smithfield purchased grain from producers who use efficient fertilizer and soil health methods across approximately 560,000 acres of land.

Grain production is the first step in the vertically integrated company’s supply chain, making this accomplishment one of the key ways Smithfield is working toward its ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent by 2025 throughout its entire supply chain – the first commitment of its kind from a protein company.

“This accomplishment is a significant milestone in our company’s holistic approach to reducing carbon emissions across our entire supply chain ...

Smithfield Foods Announces Enhanced Structure and New Leadership Appointments

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce an enhanced organizational structure, which includes new leadership appointments and the addition of a chief operating officer.

The new structure and leadership appointments signify the ultimate realization of “One Smithfield,” an initiative to unify all of Smithfield’s operations, brands, and more than 54,000 employees globally under one corporate umbrella. In addition, it will optimize and simplify Smithfield’s organizational alignment, infuse innovative ideas in ...

Smithfield Foods Opens New North Carolina Distribution Center

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new distribution center in Tar Heel, North Carolina, which will create approximately 250 new jobs in the state. Smithfield invested more than $100 million into the over 500,000-square foot facility, about the size of eight football fields, and its blast cell cold storage capabilities at its processing facility, which will strengthen the company’s supply chain to better serve customers globally.

“We are experiencing an exciting time of growth and this new distribution center will help us continue to optimize our footprint,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “More than 10,000 Smithfield Family members already call North Carolina home, and ...

Smithfield Foods Announces Nearly $45 Million Investment in Sioux Falls Operations

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is investing nearly $45 million and adding 70 new jobs to its Sioux Falls, South Dakota, operations. The investment includes renovating a high-speed bacon line, a ground seasoned pork operation, and the distribution center, as well as the rebuilding of a facility that houses more than 8,000 hogs. This investment and expansion will help Smithfield meet the increasing domestic demand for bacon and international demand for ground seasoned pork, a growing category in export markets.

“At Smithfield, we’re committed to our continual investment in our facilities and farms in Sioux Falls,” said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “In the past five years, we have invested more than ...

Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods Partner to Transform the Future of Sustainable Energy

• Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods form joint venture, Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)℠
• Initial projects announced in North Carolina, Virginia and Utah will capture waste methane from hog farms and convert it into renewable natural gas to heat homes and power local industries
• Transformational partnership will dramatically reduce methane emissions from the agriculture and energy industries in support of state greenhouse gas reduction initiatives
• RNG enhances fuel diversity for natural gas utilities and provides a waste management solution and new revenue stream for family farmers

Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods, Inc. are joining forces in an historic initiative to transform...

Appeals Court Unanimously Strikes Down Gag Order in Hog Farm Nuisance Lawsuits

Ruling says trial judge’s order fails First Amendment scrutiny, has “chilling effect” and  “has already inflicted serious harm”

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled unanimously Monday that the trial judge’s gag order in the North Carolina hog farm nuisance lawsuits was an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The panel granted the request by defendant Murphy-Brown LLC that the gag order be struck down...

Smithfield Foods Marks Significant Step Toward Zero-Waste-to-Landfill in North Carolina

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce a key step toward achieving zero-waste-to-landfill status across its North Carolina processing facilities. Smithfield will achieve this goal with support from its newest partner, Waste Connections, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a food company and waste services provider. The project will create a recycling facility that processes materials specifically from food production facilities. This project is part of Smithfield’s companywide sustainability initiative to reduce solid waste to landfills 10 percent by 2020 across all locations and its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent by 2025 throughout its supply chain.

“At Smithfield, we are the first major protein company to make a significant GHG reduction commitment and are forging innovative new partnerships to help us get there,” said Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. “This project is especially exciting because...