SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Illinois' meat packing industry is ramping back up after months of supply chain disruptions and working at a much lower capacity because of the pandemic.

Harvest numbers are increasing during the pandemic.

Illinois Pork Producers Association Executive Director Jennifer Tirey said meat packing plants were recently running at 95% capacity.

That's a big jump compared to 60% capacity at the start of the pandemic.

"I don't know that we're ever going to get back to 100% pre COVID-19 because we have had to implement new social distancing guidelines and we've slowed the plant line down a little bit to compensate for that,” Tirey said.

The recent surge of COVID-19 cases has caused them to hit another road block. Packing plants dropped to 90% capacity as an added safety measure.

"Part of it is just being preventative and making sure to keep the workforce as healthy and safe as possible,” Tirey said.

Fewer people working at meat packing plants means there is a smaller number of animals being sent to get processed, but a farmer tell us there is still plenty of supply for you.

"There's nothing to worry about in terms of pork supply,” said Dereke Dunkirk, co-owner of Dunkirk Farms Inc.

Despite the small hit, Dunkirk said packing plants are in good shape.

“It’s working pretty well," Dunkirk said. "The packing plants have continued to keep their daily numbers pretty strong. Our concern moving forward is employee health and keeping the plants open."

Meat packing plant employees are considered essential workers during the pandemic.

Tirey said they sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Illinois, on Tuesday, Nov. 24 asking him to prioritize packing plant employees when there is a COVID-19 vaccine so they can continue working.

Another part of the problem is a labor shortage in the packing plant industry, even before COVID-19.

Tirey said that shortage will continue even after the pandemic