In Wine Country, coronavirus cases rise in cramped farmworker housing [San Francisco Chronicle]
As Eppie Ordaz, a grape grower in Sonoma County, readies his vineyard for the late August harvest season, he is stocking masks and gloves for all employees, planning empty rows to allow workers to keep their distance and putting extra disinfectants and sanitation stations into place. … Coronavirus cases among farmworkers have been rising, with outbreaks tied to low-income, multifamily housing, rather than fields. The Bay Area’s crushing costs mean farmworkers have few housing options that they can afford, and closer quarters make them more vulnerable to the virus. Ordaz, like many growers, worries that this could make his efforts “meaningless.”
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/In-Wine-Country-coronavirus-cases-rise-in-15411621.php
Ventura County sees increase in number of positive coronavirus cases among farmworkers [Los Angeles Times]
Farmworkers account for 7% of the nearly 5,000 positive coronavirus cases in Ventura County after an outbreak at a farmworkers housing complex, officials said Wednesday. … County Agricultural Commissioner Ed Williams said his team has collaborated with other departments and organizations, such as the farmworker resource program and Logrando Bienestar, to help keep their 43,000 farmworkers informed.
Opinion: How to protect essential agricultural workers in the Covid-19 pandemic? The industry is trying to find answers [Monterey County Weekly]
… The farming community is committed to improving prevention efforts and protecting workers. … Is there more work to do? Yes, especially in the area of affordable housing. … Recently the spirit of “we are all in this together” seems to have lessened and been replaced with frustration and blame. But that concept remains important. For us in the farming community, it means we acknowledge our responsibility to do better each day to protect farmworkers – broadly, that we strive to maintain the livelihoods of our employees as well as supply safe and healthy foods to consumers.
COVID-19 impacts on ag [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
… Locally, the peach harvest is underway and rice has been planted and is starting to grow. … Local ag commissioners offices have distributed approximately 150,000 surgical masks during the pandemic to assist with farmworker protection, and they expect to procure another supply of N95 respirators to distribute to ag businesses. … Mat Conant, a walnut farmer and Sutter County supervisor, said implementing safety protocol for workers has gone well, with laborers social distancing in the fields. … The biggest impact his industry has experienced during the pandemic is with sales.
Young farmers and farmers of color have been shut out of federal assistance during the pandemic [Washington Post]
… Across the country, young farmers, first-generation farmers and farmers of color say they have been left out of coronavirus relief for the agricultural industry, because of the federal government’s one-size-fits-all approach. The oversight, which they say has left them on wobbly financial footing, threatens to cut off a promising growth area of small-scale farms and younger farmers against a wider backdrop of consolidation and aging of American agriculture. … Because of how and what young farmers, first-generation farmers and farmers of color produce, it has not been easy for them to apply for CFAP assistance, or loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/07/16/cfap-ppp-farmers-coronavirus/
A UC Riverside researcher may have discovered a way to save our citrus trees [Los Angeles Times]
Attention home gardeners: Our beloved citrus trees may yet be saved from the incurable huanglongbing, a.k.a. HLB or citrus greening disease, thanks to natural immunities found in a rare and flavorful relative known as the Australian finger lime. After five years of study, a team of UC Riverside researchers led by Hailing Jin, professor of plant genetics, identified which gene in the finger lime causes that immunity and extracted it to create an antibiotic that has killed the disease in young trees raised in laboratories and controlled environment greenhouses.
Nipomo High School ag teacher wins national education award [New Times SLO]
When COVID-19 forced schools to close in March, Rosemary Cummings and her Nipomo High School agriculture students missed out on the most exciting time of their year. … Cummings’ dedication and excellence as a teacher recently earned national recognition. At this year’s California FFA State Conference in June, Cummings received the Nationwide Golden Owl Award, which goes to the top agriculture educator in the country.
