Iowa Capital Dispatch: The record profits for meatpackers in the past two years were the result of market conditions during the coronavirus pandemic, along with increased consumer demand, according to leaders of the country’s four large meatpacking companies. The meatpacking executives defended their business practices during a lengthy congressional committee hearing on Wednesday. U.S. Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia, chair of the House Agriculture Committee, got straight to the point: “Is there or was there ever an agreement between your four companies to cooperate together on issues impacting supply or pricing? And I need a yes or a no, and also let me remind you that you’re testifying under oath.”There isn’t, said the four chief executive officers, which included David MacLennan of Cargill, Tim Schellpeper of JBS, Tim Klein of National Beef Packing Company, and Donnie King of Tyson Foods.