A look at COVID-19’s devastating impact on California agricultural industry [KCRA TV, Sacramento]
… During the shutdown between April and May alone, the agricultural industry lost $2 billion, according to a study commissioned by the California Farm Bureau. … The report focuses on the production side of the industry but points out that if losses to processors are factored in, it nearly doubles the overall economic impact. The California Employment Development Department shows unemployment in the agricultural industry at around 13% statewide. In some rural communities where agriculture is the main employer, that number is as high as 80%, according to Jamie Johansson with the California Farm Bureau.
UFW ramps up criticism of Primex; company defends its practices [Bakersfield Californian]
The United Farm Workers union leveled new allegations Monday against the Wasco nut processing operation it accuses of not doing enough to protect workers from an COVID-19 outbreak that has sickened dozens of people at the plant. The UFW alleged the operator, Primex Farms, did not hire a specialized, outside firm to disinfect the facility and that the company has failed to pay workers the two weeks of sick pay the union says they are due because of the outbreak. … But a Primex representative said most of the UFW’s claims are false.
Opinion: So, where are the marches for farm workers? [Chico Enterprise Record]
… No one has marched for the well-being of farm workers, who are almost uniquely exposed to the coronavirus plague. … Almost everyone in America who has participated in this year’s protests and unrest, no matter their ethnicity, eats food produced by these workers and folks like them. … Farm worker advocates also report that Cal-OSHA, the state’s occupational safety and health agency, has been reluctant to investigate directly in fields where the advocates say safety guidelines are ignored.
https://www.chicoer.com/2020/07/07/so-where-are-the-marches-for-farm-workers-california-focus/
Exclusive: U.S. government’s boxed food aid promise falls short [Reuters]
The U.S. government delivered far less food aid than it had pledged by the end of June, according to food bank managers and data from the agriculture department sent to Reuters, after it hired inexperienced companies to box food during the pandemic. … Deliveries were slow to start and have amounted to less than promised as some of the companies involved had never worked with food banks or even wholesale food distribution. … With vendors falling short on deliveries, food banks have reassigned employees to manage the program and volunteered their own trucks to get the food into the hands of those who need it.
U.S. business groups urge China to ‘redouble efforts’ to implement trade deal [Wall Street Journal]
As senior U.S. and Chinese economic officials plan to discuss China’s compliance with a trade deal signed early this year, more than 40 American business groups called on Beijing to step up purchases of U.S. manufactured goods as well as energy and other products as part of the agreement. … Beijing has focused on agricultural purchases, which President Trump made the core of his demands during two years of negotiations. … While China has recently stepped up its purchases of made-in-the-U.S. chicken feet, pork and other farm products, it remains a long way from meeting the targets, partly because of reduced demands during the pandemic.
California Waterfowl partners with Montna Farms on tracking project [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
A group of egg-salvaged mallards was released from Montna Farms in Sutter County recently, a few of which were outfitted with solar-powered transmitters that will track the waterfowl and collect data to better understand their movements. The project is a partnership between the California Waterfowl Association, the California Rice Commission and Montna Farms. … Nicole Montna Van Vleck, president and CEO of Montna Farms, said about 7 million ducks and geese fly through the Sacramento Valley every year as part of the Pacific Flyway, and rice fields provide about 60 percent of the food ducks and geese rely on.
