With losses mounting for Iowa hog farmers and many faced with depopulating their herds, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) last week announced a program to reimburse farmers for market-weight hogs depopulated since May 1.

“We’re working to support Iowa’s farmers and producers during this challenging time,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a press conference. “They’re the foundation of our economy, and when they’re hurting, we’re all hurting. And though we can’t make the situation any less challenging, we can do our part to help.”

COVID-19-related slowdowns...