August 27, 2020

OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App

Thanks to our Univ of FL colleague Gene McAvoy for sharing news about this new tool. Would have been very valuable during July’s record heat wave, but there will still be hot, humid days ahead when this will help.

OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool App screenshotWhen you’re working in the heat, safety comes first! With the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool, you have vital safety information available whenever and wherever you need it – right on your mobile phone – for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day. Featuring real-time heat index and hourly forecasts, specific to your location, as well as occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH.

The App allows workers and supervisors to calculate the heat index for their worksite, and, based on the heat index, displays a risk level to outdoor workers. Then, with a simple “click,” you can get reminders about the protective measures that should be taken at that risk level to protect workers from heat-related illness-reminders about drinking enough fluids, scheduling rest breaks, planning for and knowing what to do in an emergency, adjusting work operations, gradually building up the workload for new workers, training on heat illness signs and symptoms, and monitoring each other for signs and symptoms of heat-related illness.

Working in full sunlight can increase heat index values by 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this in mind and plan additional precautions for working in these conditions.

The OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool features:
– A visual indicator of the current heat index and associated risk levels specific to your current geographical location
– Precautionary recommendations specific to heat index-associated risk levels
– An interactive, hourly forecast of heat index values, risk level, and recommendations for planning outdoor work activities in advance
– Editable location, temperature, and humidity controls for calculation of variable conditions
– Signs and symptoms and first aid information for heat-related illnesses

The OSHA NIOSH Heat Index App is available in English and Spanish at the Apple App Store or Google Play. To access the Spanish version, set the phone language to Spanish.

Stay informed and safe in the heat, check your risk level.

For more information about safety while working in the heat, see OSHA’s heat illness webpage, including online guidance about using the heat index to protect workers.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
August 26, 2020

Updated Link: Urban Agriculture Survey: Please Share Your Thoughts!

Update 8/26/20: Correct link to survey is: udc.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3t0bgrmjwRG0WTH.

All NJ counties (except Salem) are classified as urban, so anyone farming in NJ is an Urban agriculturalist. That said, Rutgers University is collaborating with Land Grant schools across the Northeast U.S. to gather your experiences and thoughts about urban agriculture.

I invite you to please fill out this survey to help us get a better understanding of what urban agriculture looks like and how Extension can better serve urban farmers!

The survey should take less than 30 minutes to complete. It is open to all individuals who are at least 18 years old and grow food plants or engage in other agriculture in urban areas in the Northeastern U.S. The survey is available online at udc.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3t0bgrmjwRG0WTH.

This research has been approved by the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board (project # 1013685-4). If you have any questions, please contact Neith Little at nglittle@umd.edu and Dr. Matthew Richardson at matthew.richardson@udc.edu

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf Tagged With: , , ,
August 12, 2020

Additional “Guidance and Compliance Assistance on Farmworker Safety & Pay During the Pandemic” Offered by US Dept of Labor – Wage & Hour

The following message was shared by Shavonne Person, Community Outreach & Resource Planning Specialist (CORPS), and Steven Risko, Assistant District Director, U.S. Department of Labor – Wage & Hour Division, Southern New Jersey District Office in Lawrenceville:

“The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division enforces some of our nation’s most comprehensive labor laws for agricultural workers, [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
August 11, 2020

USDA Announces More Specialty Crops, Nursery Crops, Cut Flowers Eligible for CFAP Payments

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that additional specialty crops, including nursery crops and cut flowers, are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and that the deadline to apply for the program is extended to September 11th. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
July 28, 2020

USDA Farmers To Families Food Box Program – New Round Solicitation

Listening in USDA’s webinar reveals major changes in this latest solicitation for the third round of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. This time they only want multi-commodity ‘combination boxes’, i.e. produce plus meat/dairy plus optional eggs! — check out the specs on page 4 of the solicitation here – https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/FFFB_solicitationRound3.pdf). They are much more specific on items (weights/types) to be included in box.
There is also new emphasis on not passing on costs to food banks/NGOs – the contracted vendor now responsible for covering the cost of delivery from foodbank to individual (the last mile of distribution!?) so that needs to be included in the proposed box price.
There is no deadline for submission and proposals can be submitted immediately. This time the govt will review the proposal and then return for revision if there are questions or missing items (not done in first 2 rounds). They will help identify what is missing or needing revision! This solicitation will close when the Government has enough awardees in each region so it means the faster a complete proposal is submitted, the more likely of receiving a contract. Awards will begin on approval and last through Aug. 15, 2022.
As soon as it’s available a recording of the webinar will be made available.
Key Takeaways:
  • Read the solicitation completely (this is completely different from earlier program so need to reapply)
  • Important to get the most up-to-date information from USDA’s acquisition staff.
  • Two key submissions
    • Adobe pdf
    • Excel spreadsheet (don’t modify the template!)
  • Submit questions to FFFBQuestions@usda.gov
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 28, 2020

Unsolicited Seeds From Foreign Sources

Several states are now reporting and you may have read or heard news reports of packets of seeds arriving in the mail from foreign shipping addresses that were not ordered. If you receive such a packet, DO NOT open or discard them. Rather, follow these directions from the NJ Dept of Agriculture:

UPDATED NJDA ALERT (https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/hottopics/topics200727.html)

We have been receiving reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. Sometimes the seeds are sent in packages stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.

Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:

This is known as agricultural smuggling. Report it to the USDA!

  1. DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging don’t open the sealed package.
  2. Take a photo of the package and seeds and send the photos to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Joseph.zoltowski@ag.nj.gov and USDA SITC at  SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov
  3. Maintain the seeds and packaging and send to the USDA Office located at 1500 Lower Rd, Linden NJ 07036 for evidence. 

If individuals are aware of the potential smuggling of prohibited exotic fruits, vegetables, or meat products into or through the USA, they can help APHIS by contacting the confidential Anti-smuggling Hotline number at 800-877-3835 or by sending an Email to SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov. USDA will make every attempt to protect the confidentiality of any information sources during an investigation within the extent of the law.

One-line email signature graphic: We R Here When You Need Us.

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Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,