Tyson Foods says that labor unions agreed to support its requirement for U.S. employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November. Reuters says the company will offer new benefits to workers including paid sick leave. Companies like Tyson have been trying to give employees incentives to get vaccinated through bonuses and other benefits as the Delta Strain pushes case numbers …
Agricultural Leaders Urge Farmers and Rural Communities to Get Vaccinated
More than 30 state and national agricultural organizations recently joined to promote vaccination among farmers and rural Americans. In an open letter to association members, the organizations added another voice to the call to get vaccinated. In addition, the groups utilized an opinion editorial published in the Des Moines Register to share a message about the connection between agriculture, science, …
Pandemic Assistance for Livestock, Poultry Contract Producers and Specialty Crop Growers Updated by USDA
USDA Sets October 12 Deadline for CFAP 2 (WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2021) —The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is updating the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) for contract producers of eligible livestock and poultry and producers of specialty crops and other sales-based commodities. CFAP 2, which assists producers who faced market disruptions in 2020 due to COVID-19, is part …
Steakhouses Struggling to Recover from COVID-19
Steakhouses are struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic as the Delta variant of the virus expands, and beef prices are moving higher. Top steakhouses that provide a dining experience and high-priced cuts of beef see the Delta variant as a possible threat to travelers and group events. Several chains say they are better prepared amid the pandemic this year …
Livestock Producers Can Apply for Pandemic Assistance
Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the COVID-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing are reminded they can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals. This is through USDA’s Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). Eligible livestock must have been depopulated from March 1, 2020 through December 26, 2020. …
Lower Covid-19 Vaccination Rates in Rural Areas
While some people have been vaccinated for Covid-19, there are still a lot of folks who haven’t. And some may still have questions about the vaccines, with the main question being are they safe? The National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB), which Southeast AgNet is a member of, is making an effort to help relay information that some people are …
Sign-up Begins for New Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
We told you last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had announced a new program for certain livestock and poultry producers, called the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). This was designed to help producers who suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing and the cost of depopulation and disposal of those animals. Signup for this program begins today …
UGA Tifton to Host Vaccine Clinic
By Clint Thompson The University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton campus is providing a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic this Friday, July 16 at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center. The event is open to all those interested in receiving the Moderna vaccine, which will be administered by pharmacists from the local Wal-Mart Marketplace. Any UGA and U.S. Department of Agriculture faculty, …
Alabama Rep. Barry Moore on Pandemic and Estate Taxes
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many aspects of our lives, including how certain things are looked at now in rural areas. Alabama Rep. Barry Moore (AL-2), a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, believes the pandemic revealed a significant need in rural America. Rep. Moore also addresses estate tax concerns that many in agriculture have right now.
Lawmakers Seek Reimbursement for Dairy Farmers
A group of lawmakers calls on the Biden administration to reimburse dairy producers for losses stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and market-related losses. In a letter to President Joe Biden, the 24 lawmakers say, “We strongly urge you to ensure our producers are reimbursed for as much of the roughly $725 million in foregone Class I skim milk revenue as …