COVID-19 Hits Many Industries, Ag Included

B Y MANDY UNDERWOOD COVID-19 Hits Many Industries, Ag Included

With many bu s i n e s s e s, schools and organizations closed down and seeing the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture industry is no exception.

Many meat packing plants have halted operations, such as Smithfield Foods plants in South Dakota, Wisconsin and Missouri; JBS USA in Minnesota; and closer to home, Tyson Fresh Meats packing plant in Logansport, and Indiana Packers Corp. of Delphi.

With these closures comes struggles for livestock farmers who planned to butcher, package and sell the meat of their herds. The closures have caused farmers to have to do the unspeakable and euthanize some animals that were causing overcrowding due to not being able to follow the original business methods.

Recently, Indiana’s Congressional delegation sent a letter to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter T. Gaynor in support of the state of Indiana’s request for FEMA assistance for depopulation activities resulting from COVID-19 disruptions. The letter requests eligibility for existing resources under FEMA as livestock and poultry producers struggle to combat severe supply chain issues due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Most affected is the pork industry, which includes 2,800 Hoosier farms marketing $1 billion worth of hogs every year.

“Livestock and poultry production is a vital part of Indiana’s economy with a $3.9 billion market value. Over 14,000 Hoosiers are employed by the pork industry, and another 7,000 are employed by the poultry industry. The impact of the coronavirus has been detrimental to supply chains as meat processing facilities cease operations to combat the spread of the virus. Livestock and poultry production is entirely dependent on exact timing, and disruptions due to temporary closures are extremely challenging for producers deeply concerned about animal welfare and economic stability,” the delegation wrote.

“Further, the use of proper depopulation and mortality management is necessary to protect the environmental health of the communities affected by this disaster. As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes, during depopulation events, safeguards must be taken to prevent the transmission of livestock disease and to protect air and water quality. While the State of Indiana has committed resources to assist in this process, FEMA assistance is critical to ensure disposal events are conducted in a manner that best protects public health,” they added.

Also, during this unprecedented time, many organizations, such as Wabash County Purdue Extension are providing information and tips for farmers on how to go about these trying times.

According to an article found on the Wabash County Purdue Extension webpage:

“Now is the time to determine the best methods for you to find and connect you’re your customers during a time of confusion and challenge. You can play an important role in improving this connectivity along the supply chain and ensuring continued access to fresh produce and products in local economies, and it is imperative to establish and implement plans before any additional drastic measure occurs that could affect your bottom line.

Farmers markets across Indiana are considered “essential” under the executive order issued by Governor Eric J. Holcomb. However, they are subject to changes in infrastructure and best practices. Additionally, many of your businesses may derive income from sales to Indiana restaurants — which shifted to takeout or delivery orders only by government mandate in the early stages of the pandemic. In line with criteria posted at Indiana’s Back