Another Massive Loss In The Food Supply Chain Could Spell Disaster For Americans
Supply chain shortages are a very real threat to America right now, though their causes are up for debate, the effects are devastating to some. There have been multiple reports of mysterious fires at meat and food facilities and the baby formula plant at the heart of formula shortage just recently shut down.
The formula plan cites storm damages and flooding as the reason for their recent closure, though the facility just went back online the first week of June. Now, the meat industry has taken another critical blow reportedly losing thousands of cattle to heat.
As many as 10,000 cattle have died amid triple-digit temperatures in Kansas, and more livestock could perish over the next several days, according to reports.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said at least 2,000 head of cattle succumbed to high heat and humidity as of Tuesday, spokesperson Matthew Lara said. The calculation is based on the number of carcasses the agency has been asked to help dispose of.
“It was essentially a perfect storm,” A.J. Tarpoff, beef extension veterinarian for Kansas State University, told Reuters.
The FBI’s Cyber Division published a notice this past week warning about increased cyber-attack threats on agricultural cooperatives, which comes at a time when a curious string of fires and explosions damage major food processing plants across the country.
“Ransomware actors may be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss, and negatively impacting the food supply chain,” the notice read, adding 2021 and early 2022 ransomware attacks on farming co-ops could affect the current planting season “by disrupting the supply of seeds and fertilizer.”
The agency warned, “A significant disruption of grain production could impact the entire food chain, since grain is not only consumed by humans but also used for animal feed … In addition, a significant disruption of grain and corn production could impact commodities trading and stocks. “
Thousands of cattle suddenly died last weekend in Kansas. The reason given - high temperatures. pic.twitter.com/Gd0I5k5eRP
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) June 15, 2022
