Tyson Board Chairman Says the Food Supply Chain Is 'Breaking' In an ad, board chairman John Tyson wrote that br "millions of pounds of meat" will disappear br due to plants closing over COVID-19. He explained that livestock will be depopulated br and farmers won't have anywhere to sell them. John Tyson, via ad Tyson has shut down plants in Indiana br and Iowa for coronavirus testing. The Iowa closing comes after many employees br called out sick, leading to slower production. According to CNN, authorities say br 182 coronavirus cases originated br from the Iowa plant in Waterloo. The company's chairman wrote that the br plants have been sanitized daily and br moves were made to protect workers. Despite the steps, three employees br tell CNN that more needs to be done. The coronavirus pandemic has also led to br South Dakota's Smithfield Foods and br Minnesota's JBS pork shutting down. Along with Tyson's in Iowa, 15 percent of br pork production comes from those three spots.