Minnesota Federal Judge Kills Hog Slaughter Line Speed Increase

A federal judge in Minnesota has thrown out a U.S. Department of Agriculture rule that sped up swine slaughter line speeds for some companies.

In an order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Joan N. Ericksen in Minneapolis decided the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it eliminated limits on line speeds. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union challenged the USDA’s move to increase line speeds at pork slaughterhouses in a 2019 lawsuit.

“Plaintiffs have standing to bring this case and have shown that the agency violated the APA,” Ericksen said in her order, remanding the rule back ...