Dive Summary:

• The sequester in Washington is set to cause a complete furlough of USDA meat inspectors, however Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking to Congress,  expected it to be months away.
• The Obama administration originally expected there to be a complete furlough for 15 or more days to meet the new budgetary restrictions, however they have since amended that number closer to 12.
• A furlough would take all USDA meat inspectors off the front line, just about halting the meat industry as meat cannot be produced without a USDA inspector present.

From the article:

Pulling USDA meat inspectors off the front lines is a damaging prospect to the industry because meat plants can’t operate without them if they want to ship their meat across state lines. Such distribution without inspection would be against the law.

Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) said the administration’s warnings about furloughing meat inspectors were having a negative impact on the economy.