COVID-19

USDA, others provide update from Washington at PMA’s May 27 virtual event

Produce Marketing Association (PMA) will host its weekly Virtual Town Hall on May 27 with a focus on upcoming and future government resources available to the industry. The conversation will be moderated by PMA’s Chief... more »

Agricultural product supply risk due to COVID-19 worker illnesses charted

The Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, in collaboration with Microsoft, has created the Purdue Food and Agricultural Vulnerability Index online dashboard to quantify the potential risk to the supply of agricultural products as a result... more »

Preparedness resource for growers, shippers and handlers shared by PMA

A new self-check preparedness resource was created by the Produce Marketing Association to help fresh produce growers, shippers, packers and handlers evaluate their organization’s preparedness in mitigating the spread of and preventing COVID-19 in their facilities and... more »

New Jersey outlines COVID-19 guidance for seasonal farm workers and employers

In an effort to help protect the thousands of seasonal farm workers in New Jersey, the state Departments of Health, Agriculture, and Labor and Workforce Development have issued guidance on working conditions as well as... more »

FSA expands set-aside loan provision for customers impacted by COVID-19

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will broaden the use of the Disaster Set-Aside (DSA) loan provision, normally used in the wake of natural disasters, to allow farmers with USDA farm loans who are affected by... more »

Michigan agency offers guidance to U-pick operations in advance of opening

As warmer weather approaches, so does Michigan’s U-pick season. Farm operations across the state are working so they can safely open and operate in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Michigan Department of Agriculture... more »

USDA to provide $1B in loan guarantees for rural businesses, ag producers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced May 21 that the department is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic.... more »

Memorandum eyes interruptions at facilities, including fruit, veg processing

The following statement is attributed to Mindy Brashears, Ph.D., USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, and Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response. "As the COVID-19 pandemic response continues, the U.S. Department... more »

USDA outlines aid to farmers through Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced May 19 details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers... more »

Farmers’ markets across Arkansas getting back to business

It’s farmers’ market season in Arkansas, although this year’s markets are anything but business as usual. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, market managers and vendors have had to rethink their operations to stay in business and... more »