New state program available to Iowa pork farmers to alleviate issues caused by COVID-19

In Iowa, pork farmers are running into major issues as COVID-19 causes worker shortages that reduce the production capacity of meat processing facilities. As a result, farmers are unable to harvest their pigs and send them to market.

According to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), "When producers are unable to harvest their livestock, they may be forced to humanely euthanize their animals to prevent welfare issues."

Farmers are taking steps to make sure euthanization is the last resort through "changing the animals' diets to slow the rate of growth, contacting other meat lockers, and making donations to Pass the Pork program" which then gives the pigs to Iowa food banks (IDALS).

However, these measures don't entirely cover the backlog of 600,000 pigs, resulting in the creation of the Disposal Assistance Program (IDAP). The program offers producers $40 per hog to help cover disposal costs after euthanization. To qualify for coverage, the IDALS requires producers to "provide documentation, including proof of proper disposal, and an affidavit from their herd veterinarian confirming impending welfare issues."  

"Producers are being forced to make very difficult decisions and this is one way the state is working to support them during these extremely challenging times," says Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.  

Applications for the first round of funding must be submitted to the Iowa Department of Agriculture by tomorrow. The second and third round of applications open on June 1 and June 9, respectively.

For further specifications about the program, visit iowaagriculture.gov/news/idap-pork-producers-covid-19.

To apply, go to iowaagriculture.gov/idap. Questions about the program can be directed to (515) 281-5321 or IDAP@iowaagriculture.gov.

For information about the Pass the Pork program, go to iowaagriculture.gov/news/passthepork.