The federal government says it will help U.S. pork producers find new processors — or potentially destroy thousands of pigs that have backed up on farms — because large meatpacking plants have slowed or closed due to COVID-19.

Pat McGonegle, CEO of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, said farmers "will need help in a significant way," including culling herds, if the state continues to see a widespread loss of processing capacity.

Iowa pig producers have warned they may be forced to euthanize animals they're unable to move to packing houses. Iowa, the nation's largest pork producer, has about 25 million pigs.

"The clock is ticking … it's days not weeks" when pork producers will face destroying animals because there's no longer room for them on farms, McGonegle said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said late Friday that livestock and poultry producers face an "unprecedented emergency" after large processing plants have slowed or closed as more than 6,000 U.S. meatpacking workers have become ill or been exposed to the coronavirus.

The USDA said it would work with state officials and veterinarians to help farmers "identify potential alternative markets … and if necessary, advise and assist on depopulation and disposal methods."

It's unclear if the USDA's assistance could reach the massive effort Iowa saw in 2015, when federal officials and contractors helped poultry producers destroy and dispose of 31.5 million laying hens, turkeys and other birds during the avian influenza outbreak.

Mike Naig, Iowa's agriculture secretary, said the state is asking USDA to help cover the losses that producers face if they're forced to destroy and dispose of animals.

Officials estimate that Iowa pork producers have lost as much as 40% of their hog production capacity. That means as many as 40,000 hogs in Iowa are not getting processed each day.

Here's the problem that producers face: When pigs reach market weight, they're moved out of a confinement for slaughter, making way for new animals. But now, market-weight hogs remain as hundreds of piglets arrive.

Producers are "double-stacking" young pigs and feeding market-weight pigs a special diet to slow their weight gain to make room for the animals.

"Depopulation is a last resort for any farmer, but it may be necessary to prevent animal welfare issues," Naig said.

Iowa producers have lost access to production at the Tyson plant in Waterloo, a Smithfield plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota, both of which are across the state border. Other plants have closed and reopened, including the Tyson plant in Columbus Junction, which restarted this week.

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Analysts estimate that the U.S. has lost about 25% of its pork processing capacity after large pork processing plants have closed.

Naig said the agency is working to find lockers in other states that can process animals. And the state will provide additional inspectors for Iowa lockers that want to extend their hours.

Iowa lockers say they're already backed up for weeks as producers have looked for additional processing. Naig and McGonegle said producers have been donating that pork to local food banks.

Naig's office is working with federal officials,university experts and pork producer groups to set up a statewide response coordination center for farmers.

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, said Saturday that Iowa's pork industry is in "dire straits."

"Our producers are now facing difficult and devastating decisions that can lead to them literally throwing out their livelihoods," said Ernst, who thanked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for taking action to help livestock producers.

Iowa egg producers have begun destroying birds, the Iowa Poultry Association said, as restaurants, hotels, schools and other institutional demand has plummeted.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

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