b'Idaho Agricultural ForecastDue to agricultures role as a major driver of theclosed and essential businesses like grocery stores states economy, its important to consider whatremained open. This shift towards food eaten at might happen in the next several years in this sector.1 home necessitated a shift in distribution of goods. Although specic developments and events cannotLarger packages bound for restaurants were still be predicted with certainty, general trends andavailable, but the smaller servings packaged for projections ought to be examined to improve futuregrocery stores were bought out. For example, the planning eorts. potato industry was greatly aected by the COVID-19 shutdown of restaurants, particularly because EFFECTS OF THE COVID\x1e19French fries make up a large portion of sales.5 Some PANDEMIC consumers showed resilience in this situation by Supply chain bottlenecks were experienced in manychanging their buying and cooking habits as they sectors that aected agriculture. Some agriculturaladapted to this availability. This lowered prots products were bought in large quantities, such asfor the industry because of the extra eort in dry beans being scooped up by consumers2 andrepackaging and rerouting, though some labeling other perishable items such as milk, potatoes, andrequirements were temporarily lifted by the FDA onions were not able to be distributed to storesto ease this shift for companies.6 These trends are and restaurants, resulting in producers disposingresulting in falling commodity prices and economic excess product.3 Furthermore, many livestock werelosses for farmers (see Figure 1 and Figure 2).7euthanized due to falling farmgate prices and a glut of output.4 Labor shortages were another result of the pandemic as some workers became ill and others quarantined. While demand for food remained high, producersThe shortage has continued to some extent after were forced to shift selling locations as restaurantsrestrictions ended.8,9Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Commodity Futures PricesCumulative Percent Change in Price Since Outbreak Conrmed By China (January 14)105%100% Wheat, UNCH95% Soybeans, -8%90%85% Corn, -14%80%Live Cattle, -25%75% Class III Milk, -26%70% Cotton, -31%Hogs, -31%65% Ethanol, -35%60% Class IV Milk, -36%1/14/20 1/24/20 2/3/20 2/13/20 2/23/20 3/4/20 3/14/20 3/24/20Source: Barchart, Farm Bureau CompilationsFIGURE 1.Falling commodity prices and economic losses due to COVID-19. 7Idaho Agricultural Forecast 19'