SW Minnesota Today

Minnesota’s top agriculture official said farmers are having to kill off their livestock of hogs and chickens.

According to AP News, this is because many slaughterhouses are shutting down nationwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Minnesota’s food supply chain remains constant, Minnesota’s top agriculture official said.

Moreover, Thom Petersen, state agriculture commissioner, said that consumers may see a hike in the price of meat, especially if the coronavirus pandemic maintains its momentum.

The AP reports that Minnesota’s meat processing position has been impacted due to slaughterhouses temporarily shutting down. The AP said workers were reportedly sick with the coronavirus.

As of April 26, Minnesota has recorded 175 cases of coronavirus that are associated with meat processing plants. Kris Ehresmann, infectious disease director at the Minnesota Department of Health said there have been no deaths reported. Ehresmann also confirms the case numbers as well.

Petersen confirmed in an April 27 press conference that that Comfrey Farm Prime Pork in Windom, which temporarily closed in April after an employee was diagnosed with COVID-19, has since reopened and is running the plant with more safety measures in place.

Petersen said it is hard on the farmers when the processing plants shut down.

“This continues to be a very difficult situation for our farmers with these plants being down,” Petersen said, according to AP News..

Petersen said euthanizing large numbers of animals isn't an easy task. He said there are emotions involved.

“The decision to euthanize animals is not done easily, and it’s very emotional,” Petersen said.

He said while some farmers are euthanizing livestock, Minnesota’s food supply is constant. Petersen attributes this to a good amount of product in stores and in storage. However, he warns that there could be occasional interruptions in the supply chain.

“Our goal is to get the plants running and keep them running,” Petersen said.