Livestock Articles
USDA Won’t Re-open the Dairy Margin Coverage Program
Published April 20, 2020
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said the USDA will not reopen the Dairy Margin Coverage program sign-up. "We chose not to do that, because it's an insurance program. We literally begged people to sign up last year," said Perdue. "The DMC…MN Ag and Labor Departments Trying to Help Pork Plants
Published April 20, 2020
On Monday, JBS USA said it will be closing its Worthington, Minnesota pork production plant, because employees tested positive for the coronavirus. There are efforts underway to help those plant workers and Minnesota hog producers impacted by the closure of…What Does COVID-19 Assistance Provide for Livestock Producers?
Published April 20, 2020
Cattle producers will receive $5.1 billion of the $9.6 billion of the USDA direct payments for livestock producers. A study from Oklahoma State University estimates cattle industry losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will reach $13.6 billion, alone.…Closures and Plant Slow Downs for Packer/Processors
Published April 20, 2020
Meat processing plants are in the coronavirus crosshairs. The Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and the JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota are closed indefinitely. In addition to plant closures being seen in the pork, cattle and poultry…Mid-Size and Beginning Dairies Remain Vulnerable
Published April 20, 2020
USDA will provide $16 billion in direct payments to farmers and ranchers through the coronavirus economic stimulus package. From that total, dairy farmers will $2.9 billion. Minnesota Milk Producers Association Executive Director Lucas Sjostrom is pleased USDA is delivering a…ND Dept. of Ag Offering Letters for Essential Businesses
Published April 19, 2020
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is providing letters to critical and essential agriculture businesses for verification purposes. “With more requests coming in from agribusiness and ag sectors asking for proof of being a critical and essential business, we are making letters…MN Hog Market in a “Tough Situation”
Published April 17, 2020
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Thom Petersen says Minnesota's hog market is in a tough situation. "A few of our hogs in Minnesota go to Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. We're trying to find homes for those hogs on the…Smithfield Closing Raises Questions About Food Security
Published April 17, 2020
In a podcast produced by Roll Call, South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson outlined the current shutdown of the Sioux Falls pork processing plant. Johnson was asked about possible food shortages with closures like this one. "We don't have shortages now…Smithfield Plant Closing Has Domino Effect
Published April 16, 2020
With their Sioux Falls plant closed, Smithfield Foods shut down two other facilities. The Cudahy, Wisconsin plant processes bacon and sausage and the Martin City, Missouri plant processes hams. That work cannot be done without the daily supply of hogs…