Two pork packing plants will resume partial operations today in the region. JBS in Worthington, Minnesota is restarting as well as Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls will bring 250 workers back on the line to resume ground seasoned pork production. South Dakota Pork Producers Council president Craig Andersen says this is good news for the industry.

However, he says they’re not sure yet how many hogs Smithfield will be accepting for slaughter this week as it will take some time for the plant to ramp up processing capacity.

Andersen also says those plants may not return to normal chain speeds because of the new guidelines which require six feet between workers on the line and some plants have also installed plexiglass work stations.

So, pork processors may only be able to get back to three quarter capacity, which he says will continue to back up hogs. The packers and producers have been working to find other outlets for pigs ready for market, but producers are still being forced to euthanize some animals.