Agriculture and COVID-19

   

FARM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Risk Mgmt/EMPLOYEE SAFETY: ALERT:NEW STATE GUIDANCE FOR FARMS TO PREVENT/RESPOND to COVID-19 Reopening:Follow this link to plan template The Farm Business Management Team has developed Guidelines and Recommendations for completing the NYS Safety Plan- This will be made available shortly, please check back. If you or your farmers have questions or would like help with how to be­come compliant with these required measures and guidelines, PLEASE direct them to KELSEY O'SHEA via email at kio3@cornell.edu or phone at 315-955-2795. Business Mgmt and Funding: PPP FORGIVENESS INFORMATION HERE The SBA has posted for­giveness information, the link above will take you to it along with the form to apply for loan forgiveness. PPP and EIDL- expanding to Agricultural Businesses CLICK HERE for Application Information. UPDATED INFORMATION SHEET HERE USDA, Agricultural Marketing Service, and FSA hosted a webinar on CFAP sign ups here it is: CFAP INFO WEBINAR The Pro-Dairy team has developed tools to evaluate the purchase of Dairy Milk Base- - to get access to these tools reach out to KELSEY O'SHEA kio3@cornell.edu Stress Management: NY FarmNet is Open- 1-800-547-3276 and www.nyfarmnet.org National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Crisis Text Line Text “GOT 5” to 741-741, www.crisistextline.org
DAIRY MANAGEMENT
One option to help reduce production is to lengthen the dry period, but before you do that, watch this new YouTube video on considerations for extended dry periods (click hereto watch)
CROPS & SOIL MANAGEMENT
New alfalfa-grass quality report posted to the website, blog and Facebook. Providing farm visits as needed, using face coverings, social distancing and other safety measures. Several troubleshooting calls with farms across the region this week – addressing dry weather concerns, hay field repair plans, first cutting management, corn seedling pests.

General Questions & Links

• https://eden.cce.cornell.edu/

Food Production, Processing & Safety Questions

• https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/
• Recommendations for consumer: https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/food-safety-recommendation-consumer/

Employment & Agricultural Workforce Questions

• http://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/

Cornell Small Farms Resiliency Resources

• https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/farm-resilience/

Financial & Mental Health Resources for Farmers

• https://www.nyfarmnet.org/

Produce Safety AllianceMany resources including templates for farm food safety plans

• https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/

LOANS & GRANTS

ANCA, Local Food System Security GrantFarmers have reported labor issues, market closures, and fears of supply chain disruption due to COVID-19. To bolster local food security and ensure the resilience and sustainability of our local farms, ANCA announced a $100,000 Local Food Security Grant program for 2020 for farms in the 14-county region.This program offers awards of $2,500-$25,000 for projects that aim to enhance food and farm security in the region. Deadline to apply is 4/10/20 at midnight.

• https://adirondack.org/FoodSystemSecurityGrant

John May Safety Fundgrants up to $5,000 to improve work-related safety on the farm, from NYCAMH (New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health), applications accepted on a rolling basis

• https://www.nycamh.org/programs-and-services/john-may-farm-safety-fund.php

American Farmland Trust, Farmer Relief Fund
Grants up to $1,000 per farm for direct marketing farmers impacted by COVID-19

• https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund

Small Business Administration Resources and Disaster Loans
Low-interest loans for working capital are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small aquaculture businesses and most private non-profit organizations suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Information on the program, how to apply, and a webinar can be found on ESD’s website located here:

• https://esd.ny.gov/resource-guide-covid-19-sba-disaster-loans
• https://americassbdc.org/coronavirus-information/

OTHER RESOURCES

Ag and Markets
Includes latest news, interim guidance for animal care handlers, guidance for food manufacturing facilities, waivers, mass gatherings and more

• https://agriculture.ny.gov/coronavirus
• https://agriculture.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/covid19_resourceguide.pdf

University of Vermont (UVM), Ag EngineeringConsiderations for fruit and vegetable growers amid COVID-19, Chris Callahan

• https://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/2020/03/18/considerations-for-fruit-and-vegetable-growers-related-to-coronavirus-covid-19/

FDA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Coronavirus

https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions#food

Food Industry AssociationIncludes short-term best practices for food industry, including sample letter template for ag/food workers traveling during the pandemic

• https://www.fmi.org/food-safety/coronavirus

Farmers Market Federation
Recommendations for markets including best practices, resources and examples

• https://farmersmarketcoalition.org/covid-19-crisis-farmers-market-new-guidelines/

NYS Farmers Market FederationGuidelines in New York State

• http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/

Livestock Sales

• https://www.ansc.purdue.edu/SP/TBC/assets/covid-19-livestock-sale-recommendations.pdf

US Dept.of Transportation, Emergency Declaration

• https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/emergency-declarations

National Young Farmers Coalition List of Online Sales PlatformsCompares features and pricing

• https://www.youngfarmers.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Farm-direct-sales-software-1.pdf

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/disinfecting-building-facility.html

NYS Guidance on Essential Businesses and Executive Order of Workplace Reduction

• https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

Last updated May 29, 2020