This information is from the Tennessee Nursery Crop listserve – but as the rules are federal, I believe it applies to NYS.  As it mentions, you should be checking with agents/recruiters as – we have certainly learned – things change frequently!

On Wednesday, we released the factsheet entitled “Updates on the H-2A program in the midst of COVID-19”all of the information in this publication still holds, including the fact that farmers should be consulting with their agents/recruiters about any updates. Nonetheless, we need to provide an update on the expansion of the categories of H-2 visa applicants whose applications can be adjudicated, or decided on, without an in-person interview. 

Spanish version of this update is attached.

A statement from the State Department released March 26, 2020 says:

“Consular officers can, if they so choose, now waive the visa interview requirement for first-time and returning H-2 applicants who have no apparent ineligibility or potential ineligibility. This expansion also increases the period in which returning workers may qualify for an interview waiver. Applicants whose previous visas expired in the last 48 months, and who did not require a waiver of ineligibility the last time they applied, do not need to be interviewed in-person if they are applying for the same visa classification as their previous visa.”

What does this mean for the workers coming from Mexico (Mission Mexico issued 88.2% of all H-2A visas in 2019)? What workers now classify for an interview waiver?

1. A worker that held an H-2A visa within the last 2 years (this is up one year).
2. They had no illegal presence (they were in the US without proper documentation) since April 1, 1997. Illegal presence means that an individual stay in the US without legal documentation.
3. They have not been arrested or convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude. (Note:  Traffic infractions and fines that did not involve an arrest would not meet this definition.) 
4. They have not been arrested for an alcohol-related offense (such as DUI) within the past 5 years, unless they have received clearance from a panel physician since the arrest. 
5. They not been granted a waiver of ineligibility in the past. This means the workers that have to interview and apply for a waiver every year will not be able to come.
6. Workers that have never held an H-2A visa but fulfill requirements 2 to 5.

Workers need an updated recent photo. That means a picture from this year (2020).

Instructions at the consulates are changing on a daily basis, and therefore, we recommend farmers contacting their agents/recruiters for additional information.

1. From Nora Catlin:

Steve Weir, formerly from Farm Credit East and currently a professor at SUNY Cobleskill, prepared a presentation Crisis and Liquidity which gives a quick discussion of cash flow management.  He’s offered this as a resource to us and also offered that it can be shared with stakeholders. 

https://www.cobleskill.edu/academics/schools/agriculture-and-natural-resources/agriculture-food-management/agricultural-business-management.aspx

1. As part of Friday’s webinar, Richard Stup, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development on steps that employers should take to protect employees, how to manage cleaning and disinfection in the workplace and employee housing, state and federal sick leave and workforce reduction policies, and disaster contingency planning to manage and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on-farm.

Link to live webinar on April 3 at 2:00PM:  https://cornell.zoom.us/j/512811331

1. From Elise Lobdell

(Note from Betsy – bleach is listed as a pesticide so you must follow label instructions)

I thought this article has very good information esp. re. mixing &/or substituting cleaning products.

7 coronavirus cleaning questions, answered by an expert
What you can and can’t use bleach for, and more.

Read in Vox: https://apple.news/AoTqNfR1PTeOQqrAEkYym4g

Life – and insects – go on, thank heavens!  Who ever thought that thinking about 6 legged bugs would be a pleasure!

GDD 3/27/20                                      Predicted GDD 4/1/20 (we’ll see if they are fooling)

Champlain           2                                                              2

Geneva                 9                                                              14 (sounds good to me 😊)

Riverhead           17                                                           17

No new information today – you’ve had enough emails from me!

I appreciate hearing from you – and to know you are keeping open and optimistic minds in this crazy time!  Thanks for the inspiration!

Yet more help on dealing with COVID for your businesses.  Many of these resources are aimed at the food industry – which some of you will fall under – but there are many that are useful for every business.  It’s a lot to cover but they are at least arranged under headings to help.  The second link is Frequently Asked Questions – like “Is Ag and Markets still doing inspections?” (by the way – yes, they are).

https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/food-industry-resources/

https://instituteforfoodsafety.cornell.edu/coronavirus-covid-19/frequently-asked-questions/

Rutgers version – which has a lot of resources in Spanish

https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/covid-19-information/

I’m still trying to distill the provisions of the emergency assistance act – so I hope someone more knowledgeable does it so I can send it along.

Keep well and happy!

I’m hoping all this information helps.  Maybe I should send a daily joke, too, to have something else to read 😊 (oops, now I will have to learn some jokes…..)

Betsy

From Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory:

Business social distancing:

Social distancing for customers will include but is not limited to: signage for customers to remain 6 feet apart from one another as well as a concerted effort by owners/employees to sanitize frequently used carts, doors, loading equipment, etc.

• Commonly touched hard surfaces should be routinely disinfected while wearing disposable gloves with 70% alcohol, or other common EPA-registered household disinfectants (see previous email). Soft/porous surfaces should be cleaned with EPA-approved spray/aerosol sanitizers. Any fabric that can be laundered (uniforms, table cloths, etc.) should be done so separately from household laundry. The use of non-clothing linens should be discouraged. For example the use of tablecloths under cash registers is discouraged.

Employee social distancing:

These same efforts must be applied for social distancing amongst employees, including but not limited to: prohibit sharing of vehicles between different work crews or tightly packing single vehicles, routinely sanitizing commonly used tools and equipment, prohibiting congregations around break/lunch areas, etc.

• Travelers per vehicle should be limited to maximize physical distance between employees/occupants. If possible 1 crew per vehicle for the duration of COVID-19 concerns should be implemented. While conducting business, employee sanitation efforts should be constantly minded. This would include cleaning hard vehicle interiors with disinfectant solutions (70% alcohol, and most common EPA-registered household disinfectants) as well as soft interior surfaces with EPA-approved spray/aerosol sanitizers while wearing disposable gloves. Any fabric that can be laundered (seat covers, work uniform, bibs, etc.) should be done so separately from household laundry.

Businesses are encouraged to give each employee a letter indicating that the employee works in an industry permitted to continue operations.

Employees reporting to work are permitted to travel to and from their place of business. This would also apply when nursery deliveries or landscapers services are being performed.

Ideas to generate more business during COVID-19:

• Increase social media marketing, targeting local audiences
• Offer delivery services or order online-pick up at store
• Generate ‘kits’ of easy to grow plants for a new wave of horticulture enthusiasts
• Offer online demonstrations or classes, branding your business as top-notch
• Promote different horticulture techniques that should spur purchases
• Promote unique plants that the average person has not seen and may take interest in

In the case of economic disaster: 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has been approved for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, which includes businesses, agricultural cooperatives, and non-profits. Application filing deadline is 12/18/2020.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

phone: (800) 659-2955

email: disastercustomerservice@sba.gov

Sun’s out here and I am getting better at working from home.  I hope the flurry of emails is helpful!

Today’s first email is from DEC via the NYS Turf Association:

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pesticide Information: Pesticide products used to disinfect surfaces or objects must first be registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and then by DEC. EPA has activated its Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance for Antimicrobial Products in order to enable the use of certain EPA-registered disinfectant products against COVID-19. EPA identified products which can be used against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. EPA strongly recommends following the virucidal use directions with the longest contact time on the product label.

DEC has created a list of products registered in New York State that correspond to the list of products identified by the EPA. The list can be downloaded below:

DEC List of Products to Disinfect COVID-19 (Updated March 24, 2020)(PDF)

Note: This list is subject to change. DEC recommends users check back regularly for an updated list.

DEC reminds users to strictly follow the label directions for disinfecting surfaces for viruses, including adherence to contact times and appropriate personal protective equipment (if applicable) as listed on each product label.

Have a great day!