More meatpacking plants affected by Covid-19: Thirty-four workers tested positive for Covid-19 at a JBS Swift plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. And a Tyson plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, resumed limited operations after being shuttered for two weeks during which 148 cases and two deaths were linked to the facility.
Pandemic reaches processed food (Wall Street Journal): Cases of Covid-19 have also temporarily shuttered facilities where packaged foods are made, like a Kraft Heinz macaroni and cheese plant in Missouri.
Tight supplies of PPE on California farms (UCANR): A survey by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation found personal protective equipment to protect farm workers from the coronavirus, pesticides, dust and other health hazards is in short supply in 39 of the state’s 58 counties.
Culling chickens as egg demand shifts (Minneapolis Star Tribune): Kerry Mergen, who produces eggs under contract, says at least four other farmers share his story — his egg-laying hens were killed because demand has plummeted for eggs in the food service sector due to the coronavirus.
Three more states join online SNAP (USDA): Kentucky, Missouri and Texas were approved to join a program that allows SNAP recipients to buy groceries online; the starting date for purchases will be announced later.
Record enrollment for crop subsidies (USDA): Producers signed a record 1.77 million contracts to enroll in the two major crop subsidy programs, Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, for 2019 production; enrollment for 2020 crops ends on June 30.