The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship through its Animal Disposal Program has extended it to assist pork and poultry producers who have had to euthanize animals due to the pandemic. The Ag Department is providing its fourth round of funding. Iowa Pork Producers Association President Mike Paustian says that help has been appreciated and needed by the state’s pork producers.

He says the problem of hogs being backed up is still prevalent although there’s been a little improvement.

Paustian says it’ll take time to get through the backlog although he says the packers have done a good job in dealing with the pandemic.

Iowa is the largest producers of pork and egg products in the United States.