Nation Meat shortage 2020: Coronavirus has led Smithfield, other plants to close, farmers to dump milk April 16, 2020April 20, 2020Nathan Bomey and Kelly Tyko, USA TODAYComments Off on Meat shortage 2020: Coronavirus has led Smithfield, other plants to close, farmers to dump milk Is Smithfield pork safe to eat? Why are meat plants shutting down? Here's why shoppers are struggling to find chicken, meat and eggs amid COVID-19.