How many major meat packing plants are there in America?

There isn't a definitive, publicly available number for the exact amount of "major" meat packing plants in the US. This is because "major" can be interpreted in different ways - by size, production volume, number of employees, or other factors.

However, you can find some helpful information:

* USDA's Meat and Poultry Inspection Directory: This directory lists all federally inspected meat and poultry plants, which includes a wide range of facilities from small local butchers to large processing plants. You can use the directory to filter by state, species, and other criteria to get a sense of the scale. [https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/meat-and-poultry-products/meat-and-poultry-inspection-directory](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/meat-and-poultry-products/meat-and-poultry-inspection-directory)

* Industry Reports: Organizations like the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) sometimes publish reports that provide data on the meatpacking industry, which may include information on the size and distribution of plants.

* News Articles and Reports: News outlets sometimes cover topics related to the meatpacking industry, which may mention the number of major plants.

It's important to keep in mind that this data can change over time due to plant closures, mergers, or new facilities opening.

You can also try contacting the USDA or industry organizations directly to request more specific information.