We’ve been asked to share the attached memo from NJDA Secretary Fisher regarding guidance on ag labor housing as it relates to COVID 19.
Commercial Ag Updates + Farm Food Safety
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag Agents provide updates on what they see in the field, upcoming events, and other important news that affects your operation, such as developments in on-farm Food Safety. Subscribe if you wish to be notified about workshops, meetings, and upcoming commercial ag events.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
April 27, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella
Ask the Ag Agent Weekly Online/Call-In Forum and New Web Page
Ask the Ag Agent was created when COVID-19 forced a new normal in communications nationwide. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with “Ask the Ag Agent” education and outreach are c
ommitted to the agriculture industry and all interested in growing plants, raising livestock and essential resources related to agriculture. The program now features a new Ask the Ag Agent website with more information.
Farmers and others are welcome to join a weekly teleconference each Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm. Weekly events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.
This call-in/WebEx event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.
Hosted by Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture. Agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others have participated and added additional discussion with farmers.
This event and other events hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension can be found on the Rutgers NJAES Events website.
To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference:
Use the URL: https://go.rutgers.edu/rc9n3kxt
To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” each week on the Phone:
Call: (650)-429-3300
Access Code: 799-743-872 # followed by #
April 27, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella
Penn State Webinar: H-2A Agricultural Workers in Times of Uncertainty
Penn State Cooperative Extension is hosting a free webinar to discuss the H-2A program in Pennsylvania. This may be helpful for NJ Farmers to listen in to find any updates or tips on how to handle this agricultural worker program. You must register to join this online event. In order to register you will need to create an account on the Penn State advertisement page.
Webinar Date: Thu., May 7, 2020
(6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET)
Registration deadline: May 7, 2020
5:30 p.m.
COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including international travel restrictions and consulate closures, have disrupted the normal functioning of the H-2A visa program for temporary workers. These disruptions to the H-2A program raise questions about the timely arrival of guest workers and the impact on essential food and agricultural businesses. The H-2A Agricultural Workers in Times of Uncertainty Webinar will provide answers and guidance to the many questions surrounding this topic.
The dangers of COVID-19 itself similarly raises questions around how to protect the health and well-being of H-2A visa holders. As front-line workers, the protection of their livelihoods and health are integrally tied to the protection of public health.
Penn State Extension will be holding a townhall-style webinar to address these topics, and to provide answers and guidance to these questions. Join us as we hear from a panel of subject matter experts, including Brook Duer, Staff Attorney at the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law; Grant Meckley, Pennsylvania Keystone Health’s Agricultural Worker Program; Scott Sheely, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Agriculture Council; and Richard Stup, Agricultural Workforce Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension. Also joining us will be Alyssa Charney, Agriculture Legislative Assistant from Senator Casey’s Office.
Attendees will have the opportunity to either send in questions ahead of time, or during the webinar itself, for a Q&A session following the panelists’ overview and update on the H-2A visa program.
There is no cost for this webinar, however registration is required to receive the webinar link. To go to the registration page you can also see https://go.rutgers.edu/if9tsm4h.
April 27, 2020 Rick VanVranken
E-commerce During COVID-19 Webinar – Recording Now Available
From C-FARE, the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics — Whether you registered and were told this webinar was full on Friday, or just couldn’t make it then but are still interested in the topic, the sponsors of E-Commerce During COVID-19: Opportunities for Food Producers to Make Direct Market Sales Online apologized for the limited capacity and invite you to PLEASE WATCH THE WEBINAR HERE.
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The Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (C-FARE) along with the Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association (NAREA), hosted a free webinar at 12 p.m. EST April 24 to discuss the value of e-commerce for farmers, food gatekeepers and retailers at a moment when customers are shifting their buying habits overnight to minimize exposure to COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a situation that is rapidly changing, with guidance for safe gathering thresholds dwindling from thousands, to hundreds, to fewer than 10. The isolation and uncertainty have precipitated changes in consumers’ shopping behaviors, from bulk-buying to e-commerce and more. Limiting in-store interactions is now a chief comparative advantage.
This webinar will discuss ways farmers, food gatekeepers and retailers can benefit (or hedge their losses) by adapting to consumers’ behavioral changes. C-FARE board member and Rutgers University economist Gal Hochman will moderate the 45-minute discussion. He will be joined by three panelists.
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Jeffrey O’Hara will discuss what USDA Agricultural Marketing Service resources are available for producers to develop e-commerce sales, the latest data and research, along with examples of ways farmers have migrated online. He is an AMS specialist.
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Chyi Lyi “Kathleen” Liang will discuss various online platforms, the merits of using digital sales strategies, and sample innovative aggregated venues online. She is the W. K. Kellogg Distinguished Professor of Sustainable Agriculture and the director of the Center for Environmental Farming Systems at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
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Gary Matteson will talk about the need for business planning with clear goals for inputs such as time and money, and clear expectations for sales and profitability when approaching new markets. He is vice president for Young, Beginning, Small Farmer Programs and Outreach at the Farm Credit Council.
The webinar will conclude with questions from attendees. Those who register but cannot attend will be invited to view a recording of the webinar at a later date. Please join C-FARE and the NAREA for this special program.
The Vision of the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Catalyzing informed decisions through applied economics.
The Council on Food Agricultural & Resource Economics, 502 C Street NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States
April 27, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella
Dealing with Stress on the Farm During Trying Times
This is a stressful time for many people in our country and especially on the farm. With constant updates from government officials and media sharing new about the pandemic and the fear of the unknown for the future, it is understandable to feel overwhelmed, stressed and anxious. Seeing other farmers around the nation struggling with crop losses and distribution nightmares makes other farmers wonder what is yet to come. You are not alone and there are resources to help if you are struggling with stress and anxiety.
For assistance contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text MHFA to 741741 to talk to a Crisis Text Line counselor.
Farmers often feel they may be mentally and physically tougher than most people. That may be true. However, it is understandable if you are feeling depressed or anxious right now, just like the millions of people across the country who are facing the same worries and challenges. It’s perfectly understandable since most people have never experienced times like we are facing now. It’s extremely important to take care of your mental health. Helping yourself means you will be able to help others in the future.
While times may not change as quickly as we would like, there are easy self-care strategies that can help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, or prevent anxiety before it even starts.
Here are some tips that may help:
1. Eat healthy foods to keep your body in top working order and avoid foods/beverages that cause issues with underlying health conditions.
2. Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. Exercise is not the same as regular activity at work. Take a brisk walk or jog down a farm road, ride a bike, lift weights (even if you need to make your own out of what you have around the farm and start light).
3. Practice relaxation therapy. Focusing on tensing and relaxing muscle groups can help you relax voluntarily when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. Concentrate on the shoulder and neck regions of the body, where stress often builds.
4. Be kind to yourself. Treat yourself with the same compassion you would a friend and allow others to help as you would help them.
5. Stay connected. Even if you can’t get together face-to-face, you can stay connected to friends, family and neighbors with phone calls, text messages, video chats and social media. If you’re feeling lonely, sad or anxious, reach out to your social support networks – all is kept confidential. Share what you are feeling and offer to listen to friends or family members about their feelings. We are all experiencing this scary and unc
ertain time together.
6. Monitor media consumption. While you might want to stay up-to the minute with COVID-19 news, too much exposure can be overwhelming. Balance media consumption with other activities you enjoy, such as playing with pets, reading, cooking, fishing at the farm pond, playing games with family or listening to music.
Adding small changes to your routine each day can make a big difference to your overall mood and well-being. Just remember, if you need help, help is available.
April 24, 2020 Rick VanVranken
“Buy Fresh” USDA Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP) Announcement of Solicitation
Just in from the United Fresh Produce Association:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) today released its solicitation for proposals for the “Buy Fresh” Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP) to purchase and distribute $100 million a month of fresh fruit and vegetables for approximately six months. USDA will award contracts for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables, the assembly of commodity boxes, and delivery to identified food banks, food pantries, churches, schools, community groups, and other non-profit and governmental organizations that can receive and distribute food items.
- The solicitation and supporting documents can be found at bottom of the page here.
- Request for Proposals (RFP) will be due on May 1, 2020.
- AMS will hold a conference call on Tuesday, April 28th at 12:00 pm EDT (dial-in instructions forthcoming) to field additional questions from the RFP. Any questions should be submitted in the meantime to: USDAFoodBoxDistributionProgram@usda.gov
- A recording of a United Fresh/ARS information webinar conducted on April 23rd can be found here. Additional details and updates can be found on the AMS-CFAP landing page.
