[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] - Pig farmers in rural Minnesota are in fear of losing their farms if the pork processing plants don't reopen in the coming weeks, they tell DailyMail.com
- Randy Wiertsema, 56, a third generation farmer from Rushmore, Minnesota. told DailyMail.com he is weeks away from killing several of his healthy pigs
- He said he cares for his animals, so 'the last thing I want to do is euthanize them. To kill a pig, not for food, is a financial, physical, emotional and mental strain'
- The nearby processing plant JBS USA has been down since April 20, after more than 200 employees tested positive for COVID-19
- Another farmer has already faced the same horrific decision, Brad Lonneman, 37, saying he had to euthanize 145 piglets, losing up to $20,000
- 'I didn't have a choice,' he said choking up. 'We find no joy in euthanizing animals here, it's unethical'
- Wiertsema said: 'Animal production needs to open back up or people will starve. It's a matter of national defense and security'
- David Bullerman, 50, CEO of SON-D-FARMS, said the shutdown has been devastating to his family-run business that has more than 100 employees
- He said: 'We have to destroy these animals... Just the mental aspect of it, we are going to have to put down a quality healthy pig for nothing'
Related:
Processing plant: 2020-05-02 Coronavirus roundup
Processing plant: 2020-05-01 Food Supply Issues Means U.S. Can No Longer Sustain Entire Country Being Morbidly Obese
Processing plant: 2020-05-01 Assam: Thousands of pigs die of African Swine Fever, suspected to have come from China, sale of pork banned in 6 affected districts
Processing plant: 2020-05-02 Coronavirus roundup
Processing plant: 2020-05-01 Food Supply Issues Means U.S. Can No Longer Sustain Entire Country Being Morbidly Obese
Processing plant: 2020-05-01 Assam: Thousands of pigs die of African Swine Fever, suspected to have come from China, sale of pork banned in 6 affected districts