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EPA Awards Funding to Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs for Farmworker Pesticide Training in New York, New Jersey and Puerto Rico

CONTACT: mcbay.stephen@epa.gov   NEW YORK (November 19, 2020) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 office is excited to work with the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs (AFOP) which will receive up to $500,000 annually to conduct pesticide safety training across the country over the next five years. With EPA funding, AFOP will administer […]

Ornamental: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP2) deadline 12/11/20

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept CFAP 2 applications through December 11, 2020.

Ornamental crop producers (Christmas trees, Floriculture/Cut flowers, Nursery crops, Cactus) are eligible for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). The CFAP 2 program is open to all of these operations and is based on sales, inventory, acreage or production in the 2019 or 2020 calendar years (depending on the commodity). Applicants do not need to have suffered a loss or provide any supporting documentation at sign up, unless requested.

Click here to start the process or call 877-508-8364 (or local office, links below) to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.

Additional links:

FSA Offices (numbers and locations)

CFAP2 Factsheet

COVID 19: NJDEP Updates its Alert on Pesticide Paper License Delays – Includes Directions to Print Online Report

[November 12, 2020]. Due to the continued COVID-19 public health emergency, the NJDEP has revised its’ September 28th alert on paper license delays. The updated alert is excerpted in whole below, and has been posted to NJDEP Licensing and Registrations – Pesticide Links and www.pcpnj.org webpages. Revised information is italicised in green.  **PESTICIDE PAPER LICENSE […]

COVID-19: NJDEP Updates Pesticide Certification Exam Launch Date

[November 9, 2020]. The NJDEP has updated its’ September 28th alert on pesticide certification examinations. The update is excerpted in whole below, and has been posted to NJDEP Licensing and Registrations – Pesticide Links and www.pcpnj.org webpages. **PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION EXAMS Revised ALERT (UPDATED issued November 9, 2020)** Please be advised that in response to the ongoing COVID 19 coronavirus […]

NJ PPE Access Program For NJ Businesses

On the New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub, there is news that NJ Businesses can receive discounts to purchase PPE from approved retailers. There is a 10% discount on PPE products for all businesses, and qualified small businesses may receive an additional 25% discount. If you are planning your PPE purchases for the winter or next season, this may be an opportunity to save some money in the process. The site links to participating vendors, has tools to determine if you qualify for additional discounts and estimating your PPE needs, as well as letting you sign up for notifications of future discount programs.

If you have questions about the program, you can ask them at SmallBusinessPPE@njeda.com.

Governor Murphy’s Executive Order No. 192

Governor Murphy issued Executive Order (EO) No. 192 on October 28 which goes into effect November 5, 2020.  Note:  This does not only apply to agriculture, but all employers and employees.  This EO reenforces what has been in several EO over the year.  The main points follow:

  1. Requires that individuals at a worksite maintain at least six feet of distance from one another to the maximum extent possible. If the distance can not be maintained employees must wear masks provided by the employer and install physical barriers between each workstation wherever possible.
  2. Requires employees, customers, visitors, and other individuals entering the worksite to wear cloth or disposable face masks while on the premises. The employer may be required to provide a customer or visitor who declines to wear a mask due to a disability services or goods via a reasonable accommodation unless the accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the employer’s operation.  However, the employer or employee can not ask the individual for medical documentation.
  3. Employers must make available, at their expense, face masks for their employees
  4. Employers may deny entry to the worksite to any employee who declines to wear a face mask. If an employee states, they cannot wear a face mask for medical reasons the employer can require the employee to produce medical documentation.
  5. The employer must provide sanitization materials such as alcohol (at least 60%) hand sanitizers and wipes to employees, customers, and visitors at no cost to those individuals.
  6. Employers may require employees to wear gloves if so, the employer must provide the gloves.
  7. There must be a routine cleaning and disinfect program for high-touch areas in accordance with NJDOH and CDC guidelines.
  8. Prior to beginning to work there must be daily health checks of employees. This can be temperature screenings (temperature below 100.4 F), visual symptoms checking, self-assessment checklists and/or health questionnaires consistent with CDC guidance and confidentiality requirements.
  9. Immediately separate and send home employees who appear to have symptoms and promptly notify all employees of any known exposure, consistent with ADA confidentiality requirements.
  10. Clean and disinfect the worksite in accordance with CDC guidelines when an employee at the site has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
  11. The Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) has setup a complaint system process.
  12. The DOLWD is to provide compliance and safety training for employers and employees plus informational materials.