t. (315) 736-3394
e. oneida@cornell.edu
w. cceoneida.com

Farm Reliance during COVID-19

Farm Resiliency:
To support you in this trying time, the Cornell Small Farms Program would like to offer you free access for any two of our online courses through the end of April. These learning opportunities can help build local food security during the COVID-19 pandemic, and beyond. They have set up a farm resilience resource page that brings together information and resources from our partners in CCE and other agencies, as well as learning opportunities to help you adapt for this season. They will also be hosting some themed farmer-to-farmer discussions starting next week. Stay tuned by ensuring you subscribe to our emails, or check their website and social channels often! Learn more: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/


Farmer Tribute Fund to Cover COVID-related Healthcare Costs
If you are a farm owner or farmworker who needs help with COVID-19 related healthcare costs, the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Help is able to financially support you. The maximum support they will provide is $1,000 and will be delivered on a first-come-first-served basis. Please contact Kathy Smith (1-607-547-6023 ext. 2206; kathleen.smith@bassett.org) for more information.


There have been changes to the Paycheck Protection Program. Below are a few main points.

  • A business now has 24 weeks instead of 8 weeks to spend the money and get 100% loan forgiveness (less the EIDL quick grant).
  • You can receive exemptions for documented good-faith efforts to keep your 2020 FTE numbers at the same level as their 2019 FTE, recognizing that some workers don’t want to or can’t come back to work yet.
  • The amount that needs to be spent on payroll has been reduced to 60% from 75%, the other 40% can be used to pay utilities, interest, etc., just as before.
  • There is still over $100 billion left and Congress has voted to extend it.


Online PSA Grower Training Course (6.9.2020)

The Online PSA Grower Training Course is now available. The online experience is not the same as the in-person experience, so it is important that anyone considering this course be aware of how they differ. This page describes the online course experience so potential participants can make an informed decision.

  • The Online PSA Grower Training course is the same curriculum as the in-person training that was accepted by the FDA as meeting the requirements of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’
  • The online course uses the PSA Grower Training Manual as a resource, sent to participants once they register.
  • Successful completion of the online course results in participants receiving a certificate of completion from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) and the PSA.

What to Expect

Current registration requirements:

  • The course is currently only in the English language. You must be fluent in English to register.
  • You must live in a US State, Territory or Commonwealth to enroll because we can currently only ship manuals within the United States.
  • The development team is working on a Spanish-language version and a solution to enable enrollment for international participants.

Cost to attend:

  • The enrollment cost of the Online Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course will be $150 during the COVID-19 crisis (until 31 July 2020) by applying discount code VIRTUAL20. The standard enrollment cost is $450.

Time commitment:


State Guidance for Farms to Prevent/Respond to COVID-19

New York state has released official guidance specific to farms addressing COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus). You can find the document titled “Interim Guidance for Prevention and Response of COVID-19 at Farms” at this link: https://agriculture.ny.gov/interim-guidance-prevention-and-response-covid-19-farms. The document covers: cleaning and disinfection, face coverings, social distancing, high-risk locations, coordination with local health departments, employee health screening, quarantine/isolation, and farm-provided employee housing.

A companion document is a helpful checklist for farms to be sure they have covered every required item: https://agriculture.ny.gov/covid-19-operator-checklist-farms.

NY FORWARD SAFETY PLAN TEMPLATE

Each business or entity, including those that have been designated as essential under Empire State Development’s Essential Business Guidance must develop a written Safety Plan outlining how its workplace will prevent the spread of COVID-19. A business may fill out this template to fulfill the requirement or may develop its own Safety Plan. This plan does not need to be submitted to a state agency for approval but must be retained on the premises of the business and must made available to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) or local health or safety authorities in the event of an inspection. https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/NYS_BusinessReopeningSafetyPlanTemplate.pdf

USDA :  CFAP (Coronavirus Food Assistance Program) 5.13.2020

Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will provide direct relief to producers who have suffered losses during the 2020 marketing year due to COVID-19.
Information is available here on the program and how to appl

SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans ((EIDL):

NY. Eligible small businesses may now apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) online at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Please review the important information about the declaration and EIDL requirements. Businesses can take advantage of free assistance offered by SBA’s network of Resource Partners for help with preparing their loan applications. They may visit www.sba.gov/local-assistance to find local help.


At Home Learning Resources for Families:

In our blog post "At Home Learning: Resources for Families" you can find a curated list of free activities and games from PBS KIDS and more to help keep your little one playing and learning at home. And, if you’re looking for ways to turn screen time into learning time, check out our blog post "Tips for Enhancing TV Learning Experiences."

PBS KIDS is launching a weekday newsletter, PBS KIDS Daily, to help keep the learning going at home. Sign up now here and subscribe to WNET Education updates here!

COVID-19 and Your Dairy Webinar 3.20.2020
A link to the website that has both the recording and a PDF copy of the slides. 

Safety Notices for farms
English version
Spanish version

Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This document provides recommended practices and communication strategies for U-Pick operations for the 2020 season

American Farmland Trust is launching a new Farmer Relief Fund.
https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/
The coronavirus pandemic is impacting businesses that rely on direct contact with their customers, including farmers and ranchers that primarily sell their products through farmers markets and to restaurants, schools, and other institutions.

In fact, a new report estimates that local and regional food systems could lose up to $1.3 billion between just March and May of this year.

To help directly support farmers impacted by the current crisis, American Farmland Trust is launching a new Farmer Relief Fund. 100% of donations to the fund will go directly to farmers.
https://farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund/

Pro-Dairy:  
Dairy Responding to COVID-19

A Limited Podcast Series

  • EPISODE 1: COVID-19 OVERVIEW AND MILK DISTRIBUTION includes interviews with: Rob Lynch, DVM, Dairy Herd Health and Management Specialist, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, and Mark Stevenson, Vice President, Milk Division, Cayuga Marketing.
  • EPISODE 2: FEED AND NUTRITION SERVICES includes interviews with: Scott Lyndaker, General Manager, Mercer Milling Company, and David Horn, DVM, Nutrition Consultant, Poulin Grain.
  • EPISODE 3: DAIRY FARM AND FARM CONSULTANT PERSPECTIVES includes interviews with: Meghan Hauser, Dairy Farm Co-Owner, Table Rock Farms, and Corwin Holtz, Owner, Holtz Nelson Dairy Consultants.
  • EPISODE 4: ANIMAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS includes interviews with: Rick Watters, Regional Director of Quality Milk Production Services, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. Allen Fournier, DVM Large Animal Veterinarian, Co-Owner of Maplewood Veterinary Associates, P. C.
  • EPISODE 5: ESSENTIAL CARE OF COWS AND EQUIPMENT includes interviews with: Bob Church, General Manager of Finger Lakes Dairy Services, Steve Zehr, Premier Select Sires, and Charles Biche, Biche Hoof Care.
  • EPISODE 6: MILK SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGES includes interviews with:
    Andrew M. Novaković, PhD E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics Emeritus
    Chris Wolf, PhD Applied Economics and Policy, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, SC Johnson College of Business, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University

Additional Resources can be found here

Fact Sheets are often shared between counties. Please contact your local Cooperative Extension for more information on this topic.