Posts By: Cory Lunde
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WG Rolls Out Redesigned COVID-19 Resources Page
With the steady stream of new information and guidance still coming out from government agencies, WG has redesigned our COVID-19 Resources Page to make it easier for our members to navigate and access the materials relevant to their business operations. Visit the newly-redesigned WG COVID-19 Resources Page. The resources page has specific sections on the ...
WG to Host CARES Act Webinar on Friday
This Friday, May 1st, at 1:00 p.m. PT, WG, in partnership with alliantgroup Washington insiders, will present a live webinar, moderated by Dennis Nuxoll, Western Growers Vice President of Government Affairs. Mr. Nuxoll will be joined by Mike Johanns, former Secretary of Agriculture, Rick Lazio, former Congressman, and Dean Zerbe, former Senior Counsel to the ...
New PPP Rule Targets Aid for Seasonal Employers
Today, the Treasury Department published an interim final rule expanding the time frame seasonal employers can use to calculate maximum loan amounts under the small business Paycheck Protection Program. Under the PPP, the size of the loan an employer is eligible for is tied to their average payroll. Initially, this was calculated using the average ...
Governor Newsom Announces Expansion of Farm to Family Program
On Wednesday, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $15 million campaign to expand the Farm to Family Program, a partnership between CDFA and the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) to facilitate food donations from farmers and ranchers by supporting food production, processing and distribution of the food supply chain. To jumpstart the $15 million ...
New Online Portal to Help Parents Find Local Child Care Options
Today, Calif. Governor Gavin Newsom announced a new portal to help parents, including essential workers, find safe, reliable and accessible child care options. This announcement builds on previous executive action the Governor has taken to expand child care subsidies and after-school programs for essential workers. The new portal is available at covid19.ca.gov/childcare and…
EIDL Loan and Advance Now Open to Ag Producers
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, ...
USDA Announces $470 Million in Section 32 Purchases
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, ...
CARES Act Webinar Recording Now Available
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 ...
WG, Coalition Seek Federal Liability Protections for Essential Businesses
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 ...
USDA Issues Second Tranche of Market Facilitation Program
USDA announced today the second allocation of 2019 Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments to farmers who have been impacted by the trade wars. The payments will begin the week before Thanksgiving. Producers of MFP-eligible commodities will now be eligible to receive 25% of the total payment expected, in addition to the 50% they have already ...
WG, Coalition Presses Calif. Governor Newsom on Water Rules
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 ...
Urge Your Representative to Vote Yes on H.R. 5038
This Wednesday, December 11, the House of Representatives is set to vote on H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at securing a legal, stable workforce for American farms. To ensure this bill moves out of the House with strong bipartisan support, which will increase the odds of the legislation being ...
WG, Coalition Highlight COVID-19 Worker Protection Efforts
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…
House Passes Historic Ag Immigration Reform Bill
Yesterday, Wednesday, December 11, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA), by a vote of 260 to 165, with 226 Democrats and 34 Republicans supporting the legislation. The bill now moves to the Senate where it must be taken up by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with the support ...
Calif. Governor Issues COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Executive Order
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 ...
U.S. Specialty Crop Industry Touts COVID-19 Employee Safety Protocols
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…
Farm to Family Program Webinar – Help Meet the Growing Demands of California Food Banks
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 ...
WG Set to Launch Leadership Program for Women in Fresh Produce Industry
On February 26th, 2020, Western Growers is set to launch the WG Women program, which aims to identify and prepare women for positions of leadership within WG member companies and the broader fresh produce industry. Women who participate in the program will have access to a series of on-going, regionally-based activities designed to support professional ...
FEMA Guidance on Acquiring PPE During Shortages
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…
USDA Announces Approved Contractors for Farmers to Families Food Box Program
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 ...