More than 160 farm, food and agricultural organizations sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force calling for the federal government to take additional steps to help farmers, ranchers and growers across the country protect their employees from COVID-19.
“[F]armers continue to do our best to provide a safe workspace for all employees, promoting safety on and off the farm. Across the agriculture sector, employers have instituted best practices including social distancing, enhanced hygiene and sanitation procedures, employee training, and the use of personal protective equipment,” the letter states. “With the broad strain on PPE availability, testing, and other resources, however, we ask for your help as we continue to promote the health and safety of our farm employees and rural communities.”
The groups recommend that the Task Force take additional steps, including:
- Adapting farmworker housing requirements to facilitate greater social distancing and allow for the use of alternative housing structures;
- Ensuring that COVID-19 testing resources are accessible to agricultural employers and their employees and that results are available in a timely fashion;
- Helping farmers offset the costs of COVID-19 mitigation expenses, while maintaining existing farm programs, by increasing Commodity Credit Corporation funds;
- Prioritize PPE and future vaccine distribution for the food and fiber supply chain;
- Leverage networks, in cooperation with states, counties, associations and community-based non-profits, to address the areas of community exposure risks and ensure care is available and accessible to those who become ill, even in rural communities.
Read the letter here.