The agriculture economy in Iowa is already fragile due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. It is set to absorb some more blows as the virus impacts its supply chain across the country.
Farmer Tim Bardole is also the president of the Iowa Soybean Association. He says the coronavirus is just another roadblock they can't afford.
"There's just so many things beyond our control," Bardole told WHO-TV 13. "As farmers, we're somewhat used to that. We deal with weather, crop diseases and animal diseases, but enough is enough."
He said whether it's a big producer or a small producer, all farmers are feeling the effects of the teetering agriculture economy.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says the combination of historically low oil prices and a reduced demand for fuel as more Iowans are staying home is resulting in damage to the ethanol industry.
"We've seen plants that have now shut down or reducing the amount of ethanol that they're producing," Naig told WHO TV-13. "Of course, that impacts our farmers because they sell grain to those plants."
Those plants are also employers in their communities and Naig says it's "heartbreaking" to see those jobs being lost. He said the "significant disruption" to the food and agriculture supply chain could last for months.
Bardole said even once the pandemic starts to slow down, it's hard to tell how long its impact will last on the ag economy.
"That's something that's not going to be fixed in a week or two weeks. Even at harvest I think there's still going to be a price drag because of the coronavirus," Bardole told WHO TV-13.