Governors in the Midwest are working to keep large meatpacking plants operating despite coronavirus outbreaks that have sickened hundreds of workers and threaten to disrupt the nation’s supply of pork and beef. (Associated Press)

– Food pantries in Scott and Pike Counties have a little more meat on hand now, thanks to a group of Farm Bureaus. The Pike-Scott Farm Bureau recently teamed up with bureaus from Adams, Brown, and Schuyler counties to distribute ground pork to help stock area food pantries help those in need. (WLDS)

An increasing number of U.S. ethanol plants trying to survive a drop in fuel demand brought on by the coronavirus outbreak have turned to making a product for which demand is soaring: hand sanitizer. At least two dozen producers of the corn-based fuel have switched some of their output to produce a high grade of alcohol required for hand sanitizer since late March. (Reuters)

After enduring extended trade disputes and worker shortages, U.S. hog farmers were poised to finally hit it big this year with expectations of climbing prices amid soaring domestic and foreign demand. Instead, restaurant closures due to the coronavirus have contributed to an estimated $5 billion in losses for the industry, and almost overnight millions of hogs stacking up on farms now have little value. (ABC News)

– Dwindling supplies of carbon dioxide from ethanol plants are sparking concern about shortages of beer, soda, and seltzer water – essentials for many quarantined Americans. (Successful Farming)

More than two dozen lawmakers sent Perdue a letter last week asking him to institute a “Rural COVID-19 Task Force” to focus on rural challenges like limited access to broadband and health care resources that are being exacerbated by the coronavirus. (Politico