Brandon farm equipment manufacturer temporarily closing due to COVID-19

April 17, 2020

BRANDON, S.D. (AP) – A farm equipment manufacturer near Sioux Falls is closing temporarily for health and economic reasons.

The Gates Manufacturing plant in Brandon will close for a week beginning Monday after nine employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

The company says there is also reduced demand for its products. The employees who tested positive and those who were in close contact with them have been told to self-quarantine for 14 days.

The employees will still receive benefits and customers will still be serviced during the closure. About 270 employees work at the Brandon facility.