Planting is getting underway in Minnesota, but the pandemic has knocked down crop prices — and the virus threat has farmers like Betsy Jensen on edge during the busy spring season.
Tyson Foods suspended operations Wednesday at an Iowa plant that is critical to the nation's pork supply but was blamed for fueling a coronavirus outbreak in the community.
Wednesday was the last day of operations at JBS pork processing plant in Worthington before its indefinite closure. This comes after reports of dozens of employees at the plant tested positive for COVID-19.
Health officials said Monday that almost 40 people with ties to the plant — employees and their family members — had confirmed cases of COVID-19. They expect that number to grow, as more people are tested and more positive cases are investigated.
Minnesota health officials said Sunday that more than two dozen employees of the JBS pork processing plant in Worthington have tested positive for COVID-19.
More than a dozen Iowa elected officials on Friday implored Tyson Fresh Meats to close its Waterloo pork processing plant, saying the coronavirus is spreading among workers and is endangering both employees and the surrounding community.
Thousands of Minnesota farms grow food that supply schools, restaurants and families with everything from meat to vegetables to flour. The coronavirus pandemic has turned many of those markets upside down.
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