State mandates emergency workplace COVID-19 protections, less crowding for guest farmworkers [CalMatters]
California’s businesses must follow new rules to protect workers from getting coronavirus on the job, while harvesting companies must minimize overcrowding in guest farmworker housing following a California Divide investigation that uncovered rampant coronavirus outbreaks this summer among a low-wage workforce putting fresh produce on America’s kitchen table. The rulemaking body for the state’s workplace safety agency voted unanimously today to approve the requirements as part of a broader package of protections aimed at protecting millions of workers from getting coronavirus on the job. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s emergency standard is expected to take effect within 10 days and may be extended for up to 14 months. Citing a joint investigation by CalMatters and The Salinas Californian for the California Divide that uncovered outbreaks among farmworkers brought from other countries, housed in crowded motel rooms and bussed to and from work by the dozen, Cal/OSHA wrote “there has been an overrepresentation of migrant temporary farmworkers testing positive for COVID-19.” Under the new standards, workers must be housed in disinfected rooms with beds spaced six feet apart and sit at least three feet apart when transported to farm fields. Employers must do their best to keep workers in stable pods who sleep, bus and work together to minimize outbreaks.
Tyson suspends managers after lawsuit claims they bet on Covid-19 infections [Wall Street Journal]
Tyson Foods Inc. said it suspended managers at an Iowa pork plant following allegations that some wagered on the number of workers who would become infected with Covid-19, as the pandemic roiled the meat industry last spring. Dean Banks, Tyson’s chief executive, said Thursday that the company had hired law firm Covington & Burling LLP to investigate the allegations. The claims were made in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of a former employee of the Waterloo, Iowa, plant who died in April after contracting the coronavirus. “If these claims are confirmed, we’ll take all measures necessary to root out and remove this disturbing behavior from our company,” Mr. Banks said. Tyson said the individuals were suspended without pay, and that the investigation would be run by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, now a partner at Covington & Burling.
Why Sacramento County farmers sold $60 million less in crops last year than in 2018 [Sacramento Bee]
It’s not easy growing greens. Sacramento County farms produced $460.4 million-worth of crops last year, down 11.9% from the $520.6 million accumulated in 2018, according to the county’s 2019 Crop And Livestock Report released Tuesday. Sales of all but one of the county’s 10 best-selling crops decreased last year. Nursery stock, the lone exception, netted $35.1 million in 2019 after bringing in $31.9 million in 2018, overtaking poultry and pears to become the county’s third-most valuable commodity….Much of the lost value stems from weak sales prices last year. Farmers produced 1,800 tons more pears in 2019 than 2018, for example, but they were worth $296.90 per ton instead of the prior year’s $468 per ton. Most of the best-selling crops stayed the same as years past, but a 50-year comparison shows how much local agriculture and national tastes have changed over the decades. Fruit and nut crops accounted for just 11.5% of Sacramento County’s economic yield in 1969; in 2019, it was 46.3%, thanks in large part to wine sales.
https://www.sacbee.com/food-drink/article247274494.html
Lumber prices rise again, defying the normal seasonal slowdown [Wall Street Journal]
Lumber prices are making an unusual late-season climb, thanks to builder-friendly autumn weather and suppliers stocking up for what they expect to be another big year for home construction. Lumber futures have shot up 24% so far in November, closing Thursday at $616.90 per thousand board feet. That’s a lot lower than the record $1,000 hit this summer during America’s pandemic-induced lumber binge. But it is nearly 90% more than the typical price for boards delivered in January. “By any historical standards, this is just incredibly strong pricing,” said Devin Stockfish, chief executive of Weyerhaeuser Co. , which owns mills and is the country’s largest private timberland owner.
Chico whiskey distiller taps local rice, honey [Chico Enterprise-Record]
For Kris Koenig, being stuck in Edinburgh, Scotland an extra four days boiled down to a new career for the long-time Chicoan, who had been heralded for producing several documentaries. Two years later, he and a handful of helpers are distilling and selling whiskey….He decided to make a go of it, believing there is a market for California whiskey, but stumbled over finding a location for his distillery. There was a place in south Chico and then in Paradise, but he landed out by the Chico airport, grateful for a newly built warehouse at 13464 Browns Valley Road with options to expand….Out came Keepers Shine made with “bee keepers” honey from Olivera Honey in Orland. It’s not front loaded with honey, says Koenig, but just has a light touch of a taste. Also made here is Beaver Likker Moonshine, which is based on rice and double distilled. He also tapped rice for the whiskey, using the “brokens” of CalRose rice through California Heritage Mills out of Maxwell.
https://www.chicoer.com/2020/11/20/chico-whiskey-distiller-taps-local-rice-honey/
Santa Barbara County starts moving again on stalled plan to help ag tourism [Santa Maria Times]
The wheels will start turning soon on a long-awaited project to help Santa Barbara County farmers develop agricultural tourism activities that could provide more stable revenue and keep their farms viable….Supervisors also added to the list of activities that farmers could get approval for through a streamlined permit process and approved a budget transfer to cover the cost of getting the project back on the road. “We are an agricultural county,” said Supervisor Joan Hartmann, whose 3rd District contains much of the county’s agricultural land. “It’s our largest economic sector; I think it’s $2.6 billion every year.
Ag Today is distributed by the CFBF Marketing/Communications Division to county Farm Bureaus, CFBF directors and CFBF staff, for information purposes only; stories may not be republished without permission. Some story links may require site registration. Opinions expressed in stories, commentaries or editorials included in Ag Today do not necessarily represent the views of CFBF. To be removed from this mailing list, reply to this message and please provide your name and email address. For more information about Ag Today, contact 916-561-5550 or news@cfbf.com.
