Local
Testing uneven, or nonexistent, at meatpacking plants with COVID-19 outbreaks
The only guidance from the federal government has been that meat processors should "consider" tests.
Agriculture
In French fry heartland, spring turns bitter as coronavirus cuts into global demand
The plight is another ugly impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Local
![Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land OÕLakes, Inc., poses for a portrait. ] LEILA NAVIDI ¥ leila.navidi@startribune.com BACKGROUND INFORMATI](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/7ZXMSUN7RHCAFNNZR25NJHJFRY.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Land O'Lakes opens Wi-Fi spots to help rural broadband access
The hotspots allow students to finish homework and sick people to connect with medical facilities in a time of crisis. More important, it is a step forward for communities, says CEO Beth Ford.
Local
COVID-19 outbreak in St. Cloud sparks fears of spreading virus
Increased testing among local processing plant workers has established the central Minnesota community as a COVID-19 hot zone.
Local
More than 300 USDA meat inspectors sidelined by coronavirus
Some 197 are positive for the virus and another 120 are under quarantine after exposure.
Local
In Minnesota, 10,000 pigs are being euthanized a day
Millions of chickens have been euthanized, too, with turkeys likely to follow suit.
Agriculture
JBS to reopen Worthington pork plant, Smithfield opening in Sioux Falls
Worthington, Sioux Falls processors contending with high absenteeism.
Local
Union fighting reopening of huge Cargill beef plant in Canada
The Alberta plant processes 40% of beef in Canada.
Local
JBS reopens Worthington plant to kill pigs without processing them
Minnesota's biggest pork processing plant reopened for grim duty: killing pigs without turning them into food. The job will help farmers who are contending with barns that are full and crowded by new pigs being born every day.
Local
While JBS limits work in Worthington, plant in small Iowa town still runs
The pork plant in Marshalltown is the same size as Worthington's but has stayed open despite its few dozen virus cases.
Agriculture
![A group of young pigs called out to farmer Kevin Stuedemann near their feeding time at his farm. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE • anthony.souffle@startribun](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/S3XARBNBVS3XG3GRVQK4QKHDKU.jpg?h=91&w=145&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
For pork farmers, the emergency is now. For bacon lovers, it's coming soon
Nearly every day for two weeks, at least one sizable pork-processing plant shut down after the new coronavirus ripped through its workforce.
Now plants that process about 25% of U.S. pork are closed. Consumers in early May should see the effects.
Local
Minn. farmers trying to save livelihoods, find markets for hogs
With processing plants closed because of COVID-19, farmers trying to avoid euthanizing them.
Local
Jennie-O closes 2 Willmar turkey plants after 14 workers test positive for virus
Hormel-owned Jennie-O Turkey Store "out of an abundance of caution" will temporarily close its two Willmar plants. It did not say for how long.
Local
Egg demand shifted, and 61,000 Minnesota chickens euthanized
Demand for eggs in grocery stores is high and the price of a dozen eggs has risen. But much of the egg production system is built to provide fluid eggs to food service companies.
Agriculture
Feds announce $19 billion aid plan for U.S. farmers, food industry
The USDA is taking a new approach to deal with COVID-19 and will spend money with regional and local distributors hit hard by closures.
Local
19 virus cases confirmed at pork plant in Worthington
Nineteen cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the JBS pork plant in Worthington, the union representing workers there said, the latest in a series of meatpacking plants that has become a cluster of the coronavirus in rural communities across the country.
Local
Job losses hitting nearly 20% of Minnesota workers
The stats are a clear sign that the economic crisis brought on by the coronavirus is the worst since the Great Depression.
Local
An egg paradox: As demand soars, a Minnesota egg plant has shut down
Egg producers who serve restaurants can't quickly pivot to supply grocery stores.
Local
Sioux Falls plant closing is risk to pork supply, but plenty of others are open
Smithfield Foods Inc. on Sunday said its Sioux Falls plant, shuttered last Thursday initially for three days, would remain closed after a count of COVID-19 cases among its 3,700 workers jumped from 80 to nearly 300.
Local
Minnesota dairies are suffering too, but haven't dumped milk yet
An initial surge of pandemic-driven milk-buying at grocery stores has subsided and consumption has gone back to normal.
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Agriculture
News coverage and the latest trends in Minnesota agriculture, including dairy, cattle, poultry and wheat, corn, soybean and potato farming.
