Source: US HOUSE AG COMMITTEE, 4/28/20

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson will hold a press conference in Worthington, Minn., Wednesday to discuss the grave challenges facing hog farmers in Minnesota and nationwide as processing facilities continue to shutter following outbreaks of COVID-19 among workers. The closures have caused a significant backup of hogs at operations throughout the region, and farmers are now faced with the potential need to humanely depopulate large numbers of animals to prevent disease.

WHO:                  
Hon. Collin C. Peterson, Chairman, House Agriculture Committee
Hon. Tim Walz, Governor of Minnesota
Thom Petersen, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
Dr. Beth Thompson, State Veterinarian, Minnesota Board of Animal Health
Additional Members of Congress and Minnesota state and local lawmakers invited
Pork producers and other Minnesota agriculture leaders invited

WHAT:                
Elected and State officials discuss current backup of hogs for processing in Minnesota and elsewhere, the role of meatpacking facilities, states and the Federal government in meeting the challenge, and the need for testing, protective equipment, sanitization and contingency planning all along the food supply chain.

WHERE:              
Worthington Airport, Freese Hangar, 1698 Airport Road N., Worthington, Minn. 56187

WHEN:                
1:00 p.m. CDT/2:00 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, April 29, 2020

LIVESTREAM:    
The event will be streamed live at facebook.com/RepCollinPeterson/
VISUALS:            
Elected state and national officials and administrators, farmers
CABLE RUN:      
Satellite truck parking available on site
CONTACTS:        
Patrick Delaney (D.C. Advance), 202-302-9875, patrick.delaney@mail.house.gov
Sue Dieter (On-Site), 218-671-2036, sue.dieter@mail.house.gov