Thousands of COVID-19 vaccines for farmworkers headed to Central Valley [KFSN TV, Fresno]
More vaccines are headed to the Central Valley in an effort to get them in the arms of the most vulnerable. On Monday, Governor Newsom announced the state is allocating 34,000 doses to vaccinate food and farmworkers through 11 mobile sites across the Valley. … The Fresno County Farm Bureau says time is of the essence as they work to get essential workers vaccinated before the busy season. “There’s probably going to be a combination of on-the-farm events for some farms… We’re going to be working with rural clinics to make sure they can work with farm employees,” said Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen.
https://abc30.com/farmworkers-covid-vaccine-coronavirus-central-valley-california/10363365/
Teachers, farmworkers among those rolling up their sleeves as state broadens opportunities for vaccinations [KGET TV, Bakersfield]
… The state’s hierarchy of COVID-19 vaccination priority has added three additional categories: agriculture and food workers, emergency service workers, and education and childcare professionals. … John Moore of the Kern County Farm Bureau said farmworkers are another group of essential workers whose health is vital to the economy. That industry can’t afford any more disruptions. “At the beginning of the pandemic we saw some disruptions to the supply chain,” Moore said. “In order to prevent further disruptions I think getting a wider populace vaccinated is incredibly important.”
‘A lot of people say they’re afraid.’ COVID-19 vaccine fears plague California farmworkers [Fresno Bee]
… As California ramps up its COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts, some advocates worry farmworkers will be left behind unless support for the vaccine within the agricultural community increases. But that can only happen with the help of grassroots organizations and trusted leaders who can conduct targeted outreach through education campaigns, they argue. Like many other vulnerable groups, farmworkers hold fears about the safety of the vaccine.
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/coronavirus/article249346290.html
Californians broadly back COVID-19 hazard pay, protections for farmworkers, poll finds [Los Angeles Times]
Californians overwhelmingly support legislation that provides enhanced farmworker protections and gives hazard pay to essential workers, according to a poll released by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies. … Eighty-seven percent of all respondents agreed employers should provide farmworkers with access to handwashing stations, personal protective equipment and working conditions that allow social distancing. … Fewer than 70% of all respondents said undocumented farmworkers in the U.S. illegally should receive the same medical and paid sick leave benefits as documented farmworkers if they fall sick with COVID-19.
Lack of rain could potentially impact crops in the Central Valley [KMPH TV, Fresno]
… As a drier-than-usual wet season continues to unfold, many are worried about how current drought conditions will impact this year’s crop. Ryan Jacobsen is the C.E.O. of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. “It’s blooming time here in the San Joaquin Valley, this is an incredibly important part of our season when it comes to what we produce here,” said Jacobsen. … It’s been a dry year, and while the Kings River Water Association says it’s too early to tell just how dry it will be, the situation looks a little grim right now.
https://kmph.com/news/local/lack-of-rain-could-potentially-have-impact-on-crops-in-central-valley
Editorial: Limit smoke pollution and support a healthy ag future. It’s time to ban field burning [Fresno Bee]
… The California Air Resources Board will take up the district’s plan at its meeting Thursday, and as much as a ban on ag burning would impose higher costs on agriculture — the Valley’s leading economic force — such a proposal should be approved. The impacts of smoke pollution in the Valley extract an even higher price on human health. … Rather than burn piles of waste, the district wants growers to chip or compost that material and put it back in the soil. But that costs more, either to haul the waste to a composting plant or hire a chipping service.
https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/editorials/article249438920.html
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