South Dakota grain purchasers are taking precautions to minimize the risk of COVID-19, reports The Daily Republic.
Poet's facility near Loomis has made changes with the goals of both matching its corn intake to expected ethanol demand and minimizing contact between people on-site. Only overrun on existing contracts is being bought, and visitors are not currently allowed in the facility's offices or scale house. Checks are also being mailed, rather than available for pickup.
CHS Farmers Alliance put distancing regulations similar to Poet's on its elevators across southeastern South Dakota, with all locations asking people to make contact by phone or email whenever possible. For those who do visit in person, a questionnaire must be completed before they can enter CHS facilities. The company has asked staff to work remotely if possible and has implemented split-shift schedules at some locations. Grain checks are either mailed or delivered to a location outside the office for pickup.
At Farmers Elevator Company in Mount Vernon, some adjustments have been made, but Manager Lynn Deinert said with little grain being sold currently, there hasn't been a need to make major changes.
Read the full report at The Daily Republic.
