A $7.7 million COVID-19 care package that focuses on helping Minnesota farmers and meat processors impacted by the pandemic was announced Oct. 19 by the governor’s office.

Funded through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the financial support will help farmers who experienced market disruptions and had to purchase equipment and supplies necessary for COVID-19.

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage

The funding includes:

Tour highlights need outstate

Following the morning announcement, Gov. Tim Walz, agriculture department officials and several others took a tour of southern Minnesota, making stops at farms and businesses in Northfield, Austin and the Albert Lea area.

Minnesota agricultural commissioner Thom Petersen accompanied the governor on the trip. They stopped at Twin Oaks Farm, Northfield, owned by Mike and Kay Peterson, as well as Tom Cotter’s Austin farm and Renewable Energy Group in Glenville. Along the way, Petersen said Walz had the opportunity to talk with farmers and others about impacts of COVID.

BIOFUEL UPDATE: Gov. Walz visited the Renewable Energy Group, Glenville, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the biofuels and biodiesel industry. Meeting with him were (from left) Scott Hendrick, REG’s executive director of corporate affairs, Rep. Jeanne Poppe and Clay Norrbom, Juhl Clean Energy managing director.

Twin Oaks Farm, which raises corn, soybeans, hogs and ducks, and implements numerous conservation practices including cover crops, earned its Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification designation, Petersen noted. That ag water quality certification program has a goal of enrolling 1 million acres by 2022. It currently has 670,000 acres enrolled, Petersen said.

With Twin Oaks raising hogs for market, that also offered the chance for discussion on the state’s current value added and rapid response grants available to livestock producers, as well as the newly announced funds to reimburse farmers for hogs and turkeys that had to be euthanized due to COVID-19’s impact on the marketing chain. Petersen said more than 50 meat processors grants have been awarded.

SOUND CONSERVATION: Twin Oaks Farm, Northfield, is one of dozens of farms enrolled in the Minnesota Ag Water Quality Certification Program. Conservation is at the heart of this program to protect soil and water. Talking conservation on the farm during the governor’s recent tour were Kristi Pursell (left), Cannon River Watershed Partnership executive director, Rep. Todd Lippert and Gov. Tim Walz.

“Minnesota was hit super hard when the Smith and JBS plants went down,” Petersen said. “There was no place for hogs and turkeys to go.”

Direct payments to turkey and hog farmers will help reimburse them for expenses involved with depopulation and disposing of animals.

“$4.5 million will go for pork and $1,250,000 will go to turkey producers,” he added.

On Cotter’s farm, visitors learned more about his hemp production and marketing. He is one of several owners of the Superior Cannabis Co., which has two hemp product stores and a website business.

BIOFUEL UPDATE: Gov. Walz visited the Renewable Energy Group, Glenville, to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the biofuels and biodiesel industry. Meeting with him were (from left) Scott Hendrick, REG’s executive director of corporate affairs, Rep. Jeanne Poppe and Clay Norrbom, Juhl Clean Energy managing director.

The final stop for the group was at Renewable Energy Group, where visitors saw installation of a new turbine that will provide electrical power for the biodiesel plant.