The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is now accepting new Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance applications from agricultural businesses. Previously excluded from the EIDL, agricultural businesses were explicitly granted access to the loan program in the latest round of coronavirus relief funding. However, while additional funding had been provided to the EIDL, ...
Yesterday, USDA announced details of $470 million in Section 32 food purchases to occur in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, in addition to purchases previously announced, which will enable USDA to purchase surplus food for distribution to communities nationwide. These Section 32 purchases will provide additional support for producers and Americans in need, ...
Last Friday, WG, in partnership with alliantgroup Washington insiders, presented a webinar on The CARES Act featuring Mike Johanns, former Secretary of Agriculture; Rick Lazio, former Congressman; and Dean Zerbe, former Senior Counsel to the Senate Finance Committee. The panel of presenters covered updates to the CARES Act, including the replenishment of PPP, and its ...
Over the weekend, WG joined a national coalition of nearly 300 business groups in sending a letter to congressional leadership calling on federal policymakers to provide targeted liability protections to protect essential businesses that have stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter notes that because of remarkable legal uncertainty, essential businesses risk becoming the ...
Last Friday, a coalition of more than 75 California agricultural organizations pressed on Governor Gavin Newsom to recognize the significance of the food supply in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and to consider the importance of a reliable water supply in growing the food that our communities require. “Making sure farmers have the water ...
A national coalition of 64 organizations representing specialty crop producers sent a letter to congressional leadership yesterday highlighting the extraordinary measures agricultural employers are taking to protect their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter details the collaboration between the agriculture industry, public health experts and regulatory agency officials to…
Yesterday, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order (EO) that extends temporary workers’ compensation benefits to essential workers who claim to contract COVID-19 at their place of employment (away from home). The EO is retroactive to March 19, the day the statewide stay at home order was issued, and will be in place through ...
A national coalition of 64 organizations representing specialty crop producers sent a letter to congressional leadership earlier this week highlighting the extraordinary measures agricultural employers are taking to protect their workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter details the collaboration between the agriculture industry, public health experts and regulatory agency…
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 13th, at 10:00 a.m. (PT), CDFA and the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) will join Western Growers for a webinar discussing California’s recent expansion of the Farm to Family Program, which will provide additional resources and funding to support farm donations to food banks during this critical time. Statewide food banks ...
In its fact sheet, Addressing PPE Needs in Non-Healthcare Setting, FEMA provides guidance on acquiring Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the current national shortage. According to the guidance, if after minimizing the need for PPE through preservation strategies described in the fact sheet, PPE is still required by essential critical infrastructure workers to perform their…
Last Friday, May 8th, USDA announced the contract awards for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The contracted suppliers are listed by region and dollars awarded. The $1.2 billion program, which will provide $461 million in fresh fruits and vegetables, $317 million in dairy products, $258 million in meat products and $175 million for ...
Today, House Democrats introduced The Heroes Act, the latest COVID-19 relief package worth more than $3 trillion. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday, with a full House vote expected on Friday. According to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the Senate is not expected to take up their ...
On Thursday, May 14th, at 10:00 a.m. (PT), USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The rule is not out, and the application period has not opened up. However, ...
As part of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), USDA will provide $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. NOTE: USDA is not yet taking applications. CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted. Additionally, CFAP ...
As part of USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), farmers will be able to apply for direct payments starting next week. Beginning on May 26, 2020, producers of all eligible commodities may apply for assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center. Specialty crop producers are encouraged to complete the application forms ahead of ...
Following April precipitation showing a sizeable water supply improvement for the American River watershed, the Bureau of Reclamation has announced updated allocations for Central Valley Project contractors: The allocation for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors increased from 15% to 20%. The allocation for south-of-Delta municipal and industrial water service contractors…
Nearly $200 billion of the $310 billion authorized for round two of the small business Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has been exhausted. If your business is planning on applying for the PPP, you are encouraged to do so immediately, as the forgivable loans are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can apply through any ...
On May 6, 2020, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-62-20, which provides that under certain circumstances it is presumed that workers who contract a COVID-19-related illness between March 19 and July 5, 2020, have done so at work and are thus eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. The Calif. Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has issued guidance ...
Farmers will be able to apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) direct payments beginning May 26, 2020. Producers of all eligible commodities may apply for assistance through their local USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center. Specialty crop producers are encouraged to complete the application forms ahead of the application date. Producers can locate their…
At the direction of the WG board of directors, the association will oppose the “split roll” initiative set to appear on the California ballot in November 2020. Currently, there are two versions of the ballot initiative. The first version, the California Tax on Commercial and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Government Funding Initiative, qualified ...