It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has had a deep impact on
Minnesota farmers, leading many of them to consider new marketing and
processing strategies. Each industry has been affected differently and
University of Minnesota Extension senior economic impact analyst Brigid Tuck,
ag economist Joleen Hadrich and ABM educator Megan Roberts have been researching
COVID-19’s impact on livestock-based agriculture.
The researchers found that an estimated 45 percent of hogs
had no market due to widespread closures and partial closures of hog slaughter
facilities in late April 2020. Read the full
report or a summary of the conclusions.
Minnesota dairy farmers have been faring COVID-19 better than
their peers in other states, the dairy report noted. The use of milk in cheese
production helped provide a buffer for Minnesota dairy farms. Read the full
report or a summary of the
conclusions.
Poultry producers in Minnesota have experienced a variety of
impacts, depending on the type of poultry they farm. Egg and chicken prices
have seen huge swings since the beginning of COVID-19, while turkey growers
have escaped much of the volatility as their demand is seasonal. Read the full report or a summary of the
conclusions.
The researchers' work was also highlighted by the University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research. Read the article.
