October 2020 ENews
Check out of October 2020 ENews here. Watch our 2020 Virtual Ag Tour, register for Clean Sweep, check out our Fresh From the Catskills campaign and learn more about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2.
Author: Heather Magnan
2020 Virtual Ag Tour
Due to Covid-19, and the restrictions on group gatherings, the Watershed Agricultural Program is proud to present our Annual Ag Tour virtually this year. Please join us as we tour Walterna Farm in Grand Gorge, NY, and learn more about Nutrient Management, Precision Feed Management and Cover Crops.
Click here for a 360 view of Walterna Farm.
August 2020 ENews
Our August grant round is now open, learn more about applying here. Farmers and Ranchers in New York Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, learn more here. Like most events for 2020 the Delaware County Fair has been postponed until 2021, to read the full statement click here. To read these stories and more, check out our August 2020 ENews here.
Mislabeled Seeds- AG & Markets Release
STATEMENT BY NEW YORK STATE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE RICHARD A. BALL ON UNSOLICITED, MISLABELED PACKAGES OF SEEDS BEING SENT FROM CHINA
“Our office has received questions from a few New Yorkers who have received unsolicited packages allegedly sent from China that are marked as containing jewelry but which actually contain plant seeds. Similar packages have been received in other states and the United States Department of Agriculture is investigating. People who receive seeds should not plant or handle the seeds. They should store them safely in a place children and pets cannot access and email USDA immediately at erich.l.glasgow@usda.gov for instructions. Seeds imported into the United States are rigorously tested to ensure quality and prevent introduction of invasive species, insects and diseases. We will continue to monitor this issue and will pass along guidance as it is received from USDA.”
134th Delaware County Fair Postponed
“With lack of guidance from NYS, uncertainty of permits being issued and guidelines recently obtained from Delaware County Department Public Health it is with great sadness and dismay that we have no choice but to postpone the 134th Delaware County Fair. We understand the hardship and heart break that this will bring to the exhibitors, vendors and fair-goers that flock to see and participate in our event. We are all in a heightened sense of uncertainty and understand the impact this will have on more than 140 people we employ annually and the economy of Walton and Delaware County as a whole. The Delaware County Fair Board takes pride in providing a safe event for all and with the challenges Covid 19 brings it’s obvious we cannot do that. We wish you well, pray for your safety and invite you all to mark your calendars for August 16-21, 2021 when everyone from everywhere can have fun at The Delaware County Fair.” -The Delaware County Fair Board of Directors
USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Farmers and Ranchers in New York Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
Agricultural producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The application and a payment calculator are now available online, and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff members are available via phone, fax and online tools to help producers complete applications.
Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020. Through CFAP, USDA is making available $16 billion for vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.
Eligible commodities include:
- Non-specialty Crops: malting barley, canola, corn, upland cotton, millet, oats, soybeans, sorghum, sunflowers, durum wheat, and hard red spring wheat
- Wool
- Livestock: cattle, hogs, and sheep (lambs and yearlings only)
- Dairy
- Specialty Crops: Visit Farmers.gov/CFAP
We also want to remind producers that the program is structured to ensure the availability of funding for all eligible producers who apply.
In order to do this, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date nationwide, as funds remain available.
Producers can download the CFAP application and other eligibility forms from farmers.gov/cfap. Also, on that webpage, producers can find a payment calculator to help identify sales and inventory records needed to apply and calculate potential payments.
Applying for Assistance
Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Those who use the online calculator tool will be able to print off a pre-filled CFAP application, sign, and submit to your local FSA office either electronically or via hand delivery. Please contact your local office to determine the preferred method. Find contact information for your local office at farmers.gov/cfap.
Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested after the application is filed.
Additional Commodities
USDA is also establishing a process for the public to identify additional commodities for potential inclusion in CFAP. Specifically, USDA is looking for data on agricultural commodities, that are not currently eligible for CFAP, that the public believes to have either:
- suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
- shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, or
- not left the farm or remained unharvested as mature crops.
More information about this process is available on farmers.gov/cfap.
More Information
To find the latest information on CFAP, visit farmers.gov/cfap or call the Delaware County FSA Office at 607-865-4005 Ext 2.
USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.
CDC releases COVID-19 guidance for agricultural industry
From Morning Ag Clips:
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released specific guidance today for agricultural workers and employers to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and to help lower the disease’s impact at agricultural worksites. The guidance can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-agricultural-workers.html
Last week New York State released its own COVID-19 guidance for the agricultural industry (Many states have released their own guidance for agriculture in recent weeks. It is generally recommended that you refer to your state guidance first, as state guidance it typically overrides federal guidance in these instances.
Challenges to decreasing the spread of COVID-19 at agricultural worksites include:
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- Frequent close contact with coworkers in the field and indoors
- Sharing of tools, equipment, such as tractors, and other production or processing machinery
- Possible sharing of transportation such as ride-share vans, carpools, and public transportation
- Living in employer-provided housing, sharing living quarters, cooking and eating areas, bathrooms, and laundry facilities with fellow workers
- Frequent contact with fellow workers in community settings in areas where there is ongoing community spread of COVID-19
The guidance outlines policies and procedures relevant to the industry that farm owners and operators can use to ensure the safety of their workers and to facilitate their compliance with COVID-specific OSHA regulations.
“Recent stories in both national and local news have shown how COVID-19 has the potential to severely impact workers and farm productivity,”, said Dr. Julie Sorensen, Director of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Farming, Commercial Fishing and Forestry (NEC). Sorensen noted that COVID-19 impacts have been severe in some cases, with operations either being completely shut down or creating labor shortages that have required euthanizing livestock or loss of product.
“Prevention of COVID-19 will be key to managing the crisis and this guidance provides specific information for agriculture—and essential industry,” said Sorensen.
The NEC, as well as another ten Centers for Agricultural Safety and Health designated by the National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), collaborated with the CDC in developing the guidance.
Farm operations vary widely. For this reason, the NEC encourages agricultural business owners or managers feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about COVID-19 prevention practices to call and speak to one of its agricultural safety specialists. They provide free technical assistance to all farm types, from Maine to West Virginia.
For technical assistance with an agricultural safety specialist or an industrial hygienist at NEC, call: 800-343-7527
The NEC also provides free virtual safety trainings for employees, offered in English or in Spanish. The trainings can cover COVID-19 topics or a spectrum of other farm safety topics of concern related to a business’ specific operation.
Serving a twelve-state region from Maine through West Virginia, the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC) promotes health and safety research, education, and prevention activities in the high-risk areas of farming, commercial fishing and logging. For more information specific to workplace health and safety concerns in these industries and how they relate to the coronavirus pandemic, go to: https://www.necenter.org/covid-19/
Agricultural Energy Discount Program – July 1st Deadline
The Residential Agricultural Discount Program is an electricity rate discount applied to the electricity delivery charge, available to eligible agricultural customers. If you file an IRS – Schedule F (Form 1040) or, IRS Form 1120, 1120S, or 1065, and your farm business and residence are on the same electric meter, you can apply for this Discount, even if you generate your own electricity.
Applications, are available on your utility company website; along with eligibility criteria and other information. Or, you can contact your utility company directly.
New applications, (and yearly renewals if you already participate in the program), need to be submitted by JULY 1st.
This discount is funded through the NY Power Authority – ReCharge New York program.
National Grid – Link to website:
https://www.nationalgridus.com/agricultural-discount
NYSEG – Link to website:
May 2020 Enews
Construction has begun and our Pure Catskills Guide hit stands Memorial Day weekend. USDA announces Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, learn about this program and more in our May 2020 enews. Read it here.
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), Direct Support to Farmers
CFAP, authorized in the CARES Act will provide $16 billion in direct support to agricultural producers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Direct support for farmers and ranchers available via CFAP will include:
CFAP will provide direct support based on actual losses for agricultural producers where prices and market supply chains have been impacted.
CFAP will assist producers with additional adjustment and marketing costs resulting from lost demand and short-term oversupply for the 2020 marketing year caused by COVID-19.
USDA evaluated commodity specific losses occurring during the January to April time frame for immediate assistance. In addition, near-term adjustment costs and supply disruptions over the next few months were also evaluated to the extent possible for sectors where prices have declined significantly for additional assistance.
CFAP is available to farmers regardless of size and market outlet, if they suffered an eligible loss.
USDA will be going over the rules for the program and details about the payments on a webinar on the 14th at 1:00. You can subscribe for the webinar here https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_SPWI7yOFSqaGG1JKzhEbjA?utm_campaign=0512cfapwebinar
How to Apply
The rules for CFAP are coming out soon, with details about how losses will be measured and program payments will be calculated. However you need to be in USDA’s system to be eligible for CFAP – this is the case for most USDA disaster programs, so even if you don’t qualify for CFAP now, you may need USDA assistance someday.
USDA will soon begin taking applications for CFAP. As part of applying for the program, you’ll need to contact the Farm Service Agency county office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment.
Your local FSA staff will work with you to apply for the program, and through forms that will ask for this type of information:
- Contact
- Personal, including your Tax Identification Number
- Farming operating structure
- Adjusted Gross Income to ensure eligibility
- Direct deposit to enable payment processing
Please do not send any personal information to USDA without first initiating contact through a phone call. You can find contact information for your local USDA Service Center here https://www.farmers.gov/service-center-locator?fips=36019&state=NY&stateCode=36&cntyCode=019 .
In addition to the application form, USDA staff will work with you to complete portions of the CCC-902 – Farm Operating Plan – if necessary. Additionally, the following forms will be needed for CFAP. If you are an existing customer, this information is likely on file at your local Service Center.
- CCC-901 – Identifies members of a farm or ranch that is a legal entity. Member Information will be completed by legal entities and joint operations to collect the following:
- member names, addresses, and Tax Identification Numbers
- citizenship status
- CCC-941 – Reports your average adjusted gross income for programs where income restrictions apply.
- CCC-942 – If applicable, this certification reports income from farming, ranching and forestry for those exceeding the adjusted gross income limitation.
- AD-1026 – Ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed, identified wetland areas are protected, and conservation compliance provisions are met.
- AD-2047 – Provides basic customer contact information.
- SF-3881 – Collects your banking information to allow USDA to make payments to you via direct deposit.
What Can You Do Now?
While the application process has not started, you can start gathering/understanding your farm’s recent sales and inventory.
FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.
How Will USDA Accept Applications?
USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only. Once the application period opens, please call your FSA county office to schedule an appointment.
USDA staff are working with our agricultural producers by phone and using email, fax, mail, and online tools like Box to accept applications.