State inspectors visit ag workplaces to help employers protect laborers from COVID-19 [Bakersfield Californian]
A multiagency enforcement initiative announced last week by Gov. Gavin Newsom has dispatched Cal/OSHA inspectors across the state to help employers including local farming companies comply with COVID-19 health and safety precautions. … The Kern County Farm Bureau gave its members notice Monday of the visits, noting Cal/OSHA views the disease as a workplace hazard that employers must address in a systematic way. … Bryan Little, director of employment policy for the California Farm Bureau Federation and chief operating officer of the Farm Employers Labor Service, said he was aware Cal/OSHA has been visiting farms. He said by email both organizations have shared extensive resources with individual farmers and ranchers, including webinars, recommendations and links to online information.
Coronavirus outbreak reported at Foster Farms’ Livingston complex [Merced Sun-Star]
An outbreak of coronavirus has been confirmed at Foster Farms’ Livingston complex — the second Merced County outbreak connected to the Valley poultry company. The Merced County Department of Health on June 29 confirmed 13 individuals tested positive. … An outbreak was reported at a Foster Farms Turkey ranch May 30. A total of six persons contracted COVID-19 from exposure between individuals at the facility.
https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/local/article244130537.html
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted big agriculture. Here’s what that means for the planet [Time]
… Processing plants emit carbon dioxide, and when their operations slow down, so do emissions. But the real climate benefit from slowing the agriculture industry is reducing the methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from treating fields with fertilizers. … Arguably, what makes the agriculture industry vulnerable in a pandemic is also what puts it in a good position to tackle emissions. Larger farms are more suited to comply with government regulations—and the more land and livestock under their control, the greater the impact their actions have. But so far, there hasn’t been nearly enough progress.
https://time.com/5865037/coronavirus-agriculture-us/
Temperature checks and hotels: Newsom details new precautions for wildfire evacuations [Los Angeles Times]
… The coronavirus outbreak presents a new challenge to the longstanding wildfire problem in California, a state that has experienced some of the most destructive fires in recent years. With the potential for the coronavirus to spread at fire camps and shelters, the Newsom administration is rethinking how the state should house, feed and screen firefighters and evacuees. … The governor announced plans to spend $72.4 million in emergency wildfire funds to hire 858 more firefighters and six California Conservation Corps crews to make up for a shortage of inmate firefighters who have been released from prison due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Jr. Livestock Show modified due to COVID-19 [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
The Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds announced the upcoming Jr. Livestock Show will not take place onsite this year, though the event will proceed virtually. … Fair CEO Dave Dillabo said his team explored every idea possible to make the show happen but due to a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 cases over the last few weeks in the Yuba-Sutter area, his team ultimately made the decision to cancel the onsite Jr. Livestock Show due to health risks.
Klamath Basin water issues focus of Secretary of the Interior visit [KOTI TV, Medford, Oregon]
A member of President Trump’s Cabinet was in Klamath County Thursday, focusing on water issues. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt arrived in Klamath Falls Wednesday. … Bernhardt held closed door meetings with Reclamation officials, with Tribal leaders at the Klamath County Government Center, and with local farmers at the Klamath County Fairgrounds. Bernhardt says he’ll be working on options to take to the President. “I believe that we have to come out, understand the situation, go back, think about it, and come back and say, ‘here’s what we can do, and here’s what we can’t do’. And some of the ‘can’t do’, people might not like.”
