COVID-19

USDA invests $700M for farm and food workers impacted by COVID-19

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Sept. 7 that $700 million in competitive grant funding will be available through the new Farm and Food Workers Relief grant program to help farmworkers and meatpacking workers with... more »

Michigan ag department continues migrant housing emergency rules

On Aug. 31, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell issued a continuation of the Pandemic Public Health Measures in Migrant Agricultural Worker Housing Emergency rules through the end of the 2021... more »

USDA updates pandemic assistance for specialty crop growers, others

The USDA is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who... more »

USDA gives $3.4M for another round of produce box contracts

The USDA released the contract recipients for another round of Emergency Food Assistance Program produce box program Aug. 16. A total of $3,419,049 will pay for 436,229 boxes to be delivered from October 1 to... more »

L&I reaches $2M settlement with Central WA farm following worker deaths

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has reached a settlement with Gebbers Farms Operations LP following one of the largest workplace safety and health fines in state history. Under the agreement, Gebbers Farms will... more »

United Fresh salutes official’s visit to COVID-19 vaccination site for workers

United Fresh released the following statement regarding U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra’s July 23 visit to a farmworker COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Salinas, California, hosted by the Grower-Shipper Association of Central California... more »

California farmers’ markets seeing uneven recovery

Farmers' markets have long drawn thousands of shoppers during peak summer season for many crops. But growers say the pandemic upset that trend and its impacts linger, even as markets ease COVID-19 restrictions and try... more »

USDA-NIFA funding used to promote vaccine education by Rutgers Extension

There is significant concern among farmworkers and farmers about on-farm transfer of the COVID-19 virus. The ability to connect with vaccine providers has proven difficult for those language and technology/internet barriers, and those without established... more »

Michigan reverses mandatory testing for ag, food processing employees

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has rescinded its order requiring COVID-19 testing for agricultural employees. This change, announced June 2, is being made in light of increasing vaccination rates; declining COVID-19 cases;... more »

Michigan issues new agricultural worker testing order

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has issued a new agricultural worker testing order, replacing the August 2020 order in its entirety. The June 2021 order includes a new definition for agricultural work, clarifies... more »