Pandemic continues to impact the ag industry

Posted on September 11, 2020
About 30% of the corn crop goes into ethanol production, according to Rodney Weinzierl,executive director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association. (Facebook/IL Corn)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – The coronavirus pandemic has impacted farmers across the country, including right here in Illinois.

Rodney Weinzierl, executive director of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, spoke with Marc Strauss during the WJBC Ag Hour.

“People are driving less, so a large part of the corn crop, around 30% goes into ethanol production. As gasoline sales drop, ethanol sales drop, and that has a huge impact on farmers profitability.”

Weinzierl said the food system has also changed.

“A lot of food is sold through restaurants, schools, cafeterias, and other avenues, but now a lot of people are eating at home. There is a lot of disruption in the food chains.”

He added that earlier this spring there were a number of issues at pork and beef processing plants because of the virus.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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