Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19):

September 28, 2020 - Over 160 farm, food and agriculture organizations today sent a letter to the White House Coronavirus Task Force calling for the federal government to take additional steps and devote new resources to help farmers, ranchers and growers across the country protect their employees from the novel coronavirus. Learn more...

New bilingual video: cleaning and disinfecting basics to prevent COVID-19 on the farm

September 28, 2020 - Watch our new video on the basics of cleaning and disinfecting to prevent COVID-19, filmed on a vegetable farm in New York Statin Spanish and in English.

Emerging Tick-borne Disease that Mimics Coronavirus Symptoms

September 14, 2020 - Symptoms of anaplasmosis, a tick-borne disease emerging in the Northeast, present similarly to those of COVID-19. Read about this topic plus tick prevention tips for oneself and how to check cattle for ticks on page three of the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health's Healthy Horizons fall...

Best Management Practices for Agritourism

September 9, 2020 - Cornell Small Farms Program has released a guidance document for agritourism operations on management and communication strategies for the 2020 season to support agritourism farms as they navigate the COVID-19 outbreak. ...

Safe Harvest: COVID-19 Office Hours for Producers and Packers

August 29, 2020 - Cornell CALS and CCE is hosting office hours for farmers and packers Tues., 9/1, from 1-4, to answer any questions about managing and responding to protect the farm workforce during COVID-19. Participants can log in from a computer or call in from a phone to ask questions or...

Face Masks in the Heat

August 12, 2020 - Working in the heat has its risks— let alone when working with some kind of face mask. See tips for farms on preventing heat stress in the July 15 blog by the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs. ...

Coronavirus Producer Action Survey

July 31, 2020 - Farm managers and employees are taking many steps to prevent spread of the coronavirus. Please take a few minutes to report the actions your farm is taking using Cornell Ag Workforce Development's producer action survey. Access the survey here: COVID-19 Producer Action Survey ...

New Guidance for Workers and Employers on Families First Coronavirus Response Act

July 21, 2020 - The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has released additional guidance for workers and employers about the requirements and protections of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and the...

COVID-19 webinar with Dr. Jose Canario in Spanish and English for Farmworkers and Farmers

July 16, 2020 - "COVID-19 Webinar: What we know, reopening safely, and guidance for social situations", Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 4 p.m. (ET) in English "COVID-19: lo que ahora sabemos, reapertura segura y guía para situaciones sociales"- el martes (28/07/2020) en Español a las 6 de la tarde Register/Registrese Offered by the Cornell Farmworker Program and the...

Enter our "Smart Solutions" Contest: Favorite Tip Wins $200

July 10, 2020 - Just 5 days left to enter NYCAMH/NEC's "Smart Solutions" contest. The farm business owner or employee who shares the best tip on how they've adapted, changed or innovated to make their work, workers or workplace safer during the COVID-19 pandemic will win a $200 credit card gift card. Learn more...

Guidance for Essential Workers Arriving to NY from "Hot Spots"

June 30, 2020 - Any NY farm business bringing in agricultural workers from states with significant community spread should read the NYS Department of Health's guidance summarized here by Cornell's Agricultural Workforce Development program. The guidance currently requires anyone entering NY from restricted states to quarantine for 14 days. NYSDOH is regularly updating...

Q&A Session for Fruit and Vege. Farms: Managing Your Operation During COVID-19

June 23, 2020 - On Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m., a panel of experts will field questions from fruit and vegetable growers have about managing their farm businesses during COVID-19. Sponsored by Cornell Coooperative Extension Ontario Fruit Program, the event will address common questions such as: When should my employees wear face coverings? Should I screen my...

CDC Releases a COVID-19 Checklist for Agricultural Employers

June 19, 2020 - CDC has published an Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan. Agricultural employers can use this checklist to create an assessment and control plan to prevent or control the spread of COVID-19. This checklist has been developed based on the Agriculture Workers and Employers Interim...

Checklist Available for Safety of Children and Youth Living or Working on Farms through COVID-19

June 18, 2020 - The diverse nature of agriculture in the United States means that older teens and young children can also be found in ag work sites, some of which are family-owned and not subject to labor laws. The National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety worked with colleagues at...

Ag Employers Must Be Prepared for All COVID-19 Scenarios: We Can Help

June 17, 2020 - This news article about two COVID-related deaths of temporary farmworkers from Mexico in Canada is a sobering reminder that farms must remain vigilant in protecting their workers as the growing season gets busy. If you are a farm owner or operator and have any questions about your farm's safety plan or access to healthcare for...

NYCAMH's Farmer's Tribute Fund Helps with COVID-19 Healthcare Costs

June 11, 2020 - Are you a farm owner or farmworker needing help with COVID-19 related healthcare costs? The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) can help. The NYCAMH Farmer's Tribute Fund was established to provide financial support for payment of hospital clinic visits, prescriptions, medical tests or other...

Help Available for Completing Business Safety Plans Required of all NY Farms

June 9, 2020 - Webinar Series on Developing Safety Plans For Compliance and to Reduce Liability Risk | If your farm operation does not have a written safety plan (as is required of all businesses in New York State), get a jump on it by attending the upcoming Cornell Agricultural Workforce...

Managing Field Crews during COVID-19: Q&A Session June 9

June 8, 2020 - Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's lunchtime Q & A Session, Tuesday, June 9th: Managing Field Crews During COVID-19: What Actions Should Apple Growers Take? A panel of experts will address common questions that apple growers and other producers...

CDC Releases COVID-19 Guidance for Agricultural Workers and Employers

June 2, 2020 - 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. Read NEC's news summary on the guidance in our Press Room....

NEW VIDEO: How to Disinfect Half-Face Elastomeric Respirators

June 1, 2020 - Watch our newly created video—available in English and in Spanish—on how to clean and disinfect a half-face elastomeric respirator. With the shortage of N95s respirators, many working in agriculture are using—and sharing—this type of respirator as an alternative. Proper disinfection is essential in order to protect you from...

Business Safety Plan Support for Agricultural Businesses

June 1, 2020 - NY Forward requires each agricultural business have a written safety plan that details how your business will provide protection for employees and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development released today a broad list of safety plan resources and sample templates for farms to create their own...

NYS Releases COVID-19 Guidance for Farms

May 29, 2020 - NYS Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture and Markets has released COVID-19 guidance documents for farms and farmworkers focused on prevention and response. A farm operator checklist to help maintain a healthy workforce and a tip sheet were also released. ...

Free COVID-19 diagnostic testing for New York ag workers

May 26, 2020 - New York State's capacity to test for COVID-19 is expanding, "essential employees" and Phase 1 businesses in the state's re-opening are being prioritized for diagnostic testing, according to the NYS Department of Health's revised guidance. This means anyone who works in agriculture should be eligible for free COVID-19 testing....

NY Farms Required to Develop COVID-19 Safety Plans

May 20, 2020 - "New York Forward," the state of New York's re-opening plan requires all businesses, including farms, have written safety plans on how they plan to prevent and manage COVID-19. Cornell's Agricultural Workforce Development program outlines the requirements and what it means for farm businesses. The guidance includes a link to the New York's a...

3 Tips to Make Your Mask More Effective

May 14, 2020 - Tips on how to boost your homemade mask's ability to filter out small particles from researchers who've been testing mask materials in light of the pandemic — including a hack that involves a pair of pantyhose....

Webinar: Best Management Practices for COVID-19 Safety in Greenhouses and Nurseries

May 13, 2020 - Thurs., May 14, 2-3 ET With New York's gradual economic reopening, greenhouse and nursery operations and retail greenhouses need to create plans to fulfill the requirements of safe operation to protect themselves, their employees and their customers. This Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development webinar will address: employee training and standard operating procedures,...

Cooperative Extension Distributing Free Face Coverings and Hand Sanitizer to Ag Producers

May 12, 2020 - Cornell Cooperative Extension in partnership with New York State Agriculture and Markets is distributing FREE hand sanitizer and face coverings to agricultural producers. Hand sanitizer is available in 1 gallon jugs and 2 ounce bottles. Washable cloth face coverings come in sealed packets of five. Contact your county...

NYCAMH spring newsletter provides range of COVID-19 information related to ag community's health and safety

May 11, 2020 - Read NYCAMH's latest newsletter to learn about: A broad range of ews related to occupational health and safety in agriculture during the COVID-19 pandemic Webinar for farmers on mental health coping techniques for farmers provided by psychologist who specializes in farm-related stress Must-Know Tips for teens and anyone new to driving a...

WEBINAR: Stress Management Tools for Farmers Coping with the Added Uncertainties of Farming during the COVID-19 Crisis

May 11, 2020 - A live webinar will be available for farmers and ranchers Tuesday, May 12, at 1 p.m. EDT titled "Behavioral Health Planning: A Key to Farming in the Era of COVID-19." Register for this free event at www.agrisafe.org ABOUT: COVID-19 adds new uncertainties to farming on top of a five-year or...

Safely Transporting Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

May 8, 2020 - Farmworkers often travel together in crowded pickup trucks, vans and buses, making social distancing a challenge. The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) has developed guidance to help keep workers safer while traveling....

Free Technical Assistance for Farms on Workplace COVID-19 Prevention

May 6, 2020 - If you're a farm owner rattled by news of COVID-19 outbreaks on NY farm operations, you may be wondering, "How did this happen? Could this happen to me? What more can I do to protect my staff?" Why not call and talk to one of NYCAMH's ag safety specialists? They...

Act Now! EIDL applications re-opened for agricultural businesses

May 5, 2020 - SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) re-opened temporarily to agricultural businesses. If your agricultural operation has suffered economic loss due COVID-19, apply now! According to the SBA news release: "The SBA will begin accepting new EIDL applications on a limited basis only, in...

Tractors and Machinery Operated by Multiple Users: How to Clean and Disinfect

May 1, 2020 - Often more than one person operates the same tractor or piece of machinery on a farm operation in the course of a day's or week's work. Driving shared tractors and machinery may put operators at risk of contracting COVID-19 if care is not taken to clean and disinfect them thoroughly...

Free Cloth Face Covers and Gloves for Cooperstown Area Farms

April 30, 2020 - NYCAMH has partnered with the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship ( CADE ) and the Cooperstown Sewing Group ( CSG ) to provide cloth masks* and disposable gloves to agriculural workers, plus information on other infection control practices. Given farmers' vital role in feeding members of the community...

Safe Picking: Adapting U-Pick Operations for COVID-19

April 28, 2020 - Mark Hoffman, a small fruit Extension specialist with NC State University Extension, offers some guidelines for growers was well as possible field setup options for U-Pick operations this season in a recent issue of American Agriculturist....

Cloth Face Coverings vs. Respirators: What's the difference and when should we use them?

April 28, 2020 - Respirators and cloth face coverings provide different types of protection and prevent exposures in different ways. Here is a breakdown on different options and when to use them. Written by NYCAMH & NEC safety educator Christina Hall....

Expanded testing planned after 'remarkable' rate of cases in agriculture housing

April 23, 2020 - Over the weekend, all 71 residents of an agricultural housing facility in North Central Washington were tested for COVID-19. Half of the results came back positive. All were previously asymptomatic. The area health department is now expanding its approach to testing people in communal housing, such as agricultural housing and homeless shelters. Read the article a...

Build a Field Handwashing Station for less than $20

April 23, 2020 - In 10 easy steps, learn how to build a field handwashing station for under $20. A great idea from our colleagues at the University of Minnesota Agricultural Safety and Health Program....

In This Together, Even if We're Working Alone

April 21, 2020 - They call them "wellies" in the UK. We call them muck boots around here. But one thing farmers are sharing in common on both continents is unprecedented stress. The Farm Safety Foundations' "A Guide to Coping with the Stresses of Covid-19" is a 32-page guide full of practical advice for...

How to Prevent COVID-19 Spread in Farmworker Housing

April 16, 2020 - Find out how you can reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread in farmworker housing with some simple changes to sleeping configurations. This simulation tool shows how easily a virus can spread among farmworkers based on room size and bed arrangements....

CDC releases interim guidance to agricultural workers who many have had a COVID-19 exposure

April 14, 2020 - The CDC has provided updated guidance on agricultural employees and other essential workers who have had a COVID-19 exposure but remain asymptomatic. The document includes guidance on temperature checks before work, wearing a mask or face covering, social distancing and disinfecting. ...

IMPORTANT Notice for H-2A Farm Employers

April 13, 2020 - USDOL has announced increased flexibility in housing for H-2A farm employees to help protect workers from COVID-19. Find a summary of the changes here. ...

Video: Recomendaciones para las trabajadores agricolas

April 10, 2020 - Aprenda sobre el COVID-19 y las precauciones hay que tomar, ambos en la casa y en el trabajo. Desarrollado por trabajadores agrícolas. Audio en español, subtítulos en inglés. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-BIhll_kkw&feature=youtu.be Learn about COVID-19 and the precautions that you should take, both at home and at work. Developed for agricultural workers....

Farmworkers and Coronavirus: What You Should Know, and What You Can Do

April 9, 2020 - Dr. Jose Canario, Medical Director of Finger Lakes Community Health, answers questions from producers and farmworker service providers. This webinar was presented April 7, 2020 by the Cornell Farmworker Program and Finger Lakes Community Health. View at: https://bit.ly/2xh7d9B...

Homemade Mask Information & Instructions in English and Spanish

April 8, 2020 - In light of evidence of widespread COVID-19 illness in communities across the country new findings about how COVID-19 spreads, the CDC recommends that people wear a cloth face covering to cover their nose and mouth in the community setting. This is to protect people around...

Tips for farmers market operators to help minimize coronavirus transmission

April 6, 2020 - UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Operators of farmers markets should consider the possibility that the COVID-19 outbreak may continue to be a threat well into the summer and should develop a plan to help safeguard their customers and employees, according to Penn State...

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Statement on COVID-19

April 6, 2020 - During the COVID-19 crisis, migrant farm workers should be able to seek medical care without fear of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations per the below ICE news statement release at https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/updated-ice-statement-covid-19#wcm-survey-target-id...

Cornell Farmworker Program and Finger Lakes Community Health Webinar

April 3, 2020 -

Farmworkers and Coronavirus- What you should know, and what you can do now

The Cornell Farmworker Program and Finger Lakes Community Health have partnered to host a webinar with Jose Canario, M.D. on Tuesday, April 7, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Canario will give an overview, and...

COVID-19 and Your Produce Farm webinar

April 2, 2020 - April 3, 2020 | 10-11:30 am EDT Steps that produce farm managers and individuals working with fruit and vegetable farms should consider to protect their workforce, their business, and their markets div data-block="true" data-editor="bfcup"...

NYCAMH Offering Free Virtual Trainings for Workers on COVID-19 and Farm Health and Safety Topics

April 1, 2020 - Virtual safety trainings, including information about COVID-19 prevention, are now being offered via videoconferencing to farm businesses throughout the Northeast. The trainings are available in English and Spanish. Educators from the New York Center for Agricultural Health and Medicine (NYCAMH) and the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (span...

Biosecurity for People: 7 Steps to Protect Farm Workers from COVID-19

March 31, 2020 - Cornell University's South Central New York Field and Crops Team maps out 7 steps to protect farm workers. Topics include: Communication, cleaning and disinfection, adapting work to maintain social distancing, restricting and managing on-farm visitors, using technology to stay in touch while staying apart, and making sure sick workers stay...

Keeping Children Safe on the Farm

March 26, 2020 - With schools closed, safety precautions regarding the safety of children is all the more important. For information and ideas about how to keep children safe on the farm, go to www.cultivatesafety.org...

Sourcing Back-Up Labor for Dairy Farms during COVID-19 Outbreak

March 26, 2020 - In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is helping to get in touch with potential short-term workers for Maine dairy farms without back-up labor options. What plans have you made on your farm to secure labor in...

Pesticide Applicator Recertification Classes Available Online

March 25, 2020 - Cornell Cooperative Extension's Pesticide Management Education Program (PMEP) Distance Learning Center (pmepcourses.cce.cornell.edu) is offering 37 fee-based Core and category courses applicable to many applicator certification categories. All of the online courses are approved for recertification credits in New York State. Most courses are also approved for recertification credits in the New...

Fit Test Requirements Relaxed for 2020 due to COVID-19

March 24, 2020 - The Worker Protection Standard requirement of annual respirator fit testings for agricultural workers who handle pesticides may be deferred for some in 2020, according to a representative of the The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). This is...

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT OPEN

March 23, 2020 - The New York State of Health marketplace is providing a special enrollment period for uninsured individuals until April 15. Go to https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/ Because many farmers do not receive paychecks or salaries, and because farm tax statements can be complex, we recommend consulting with a (free) navigator to help with...

DAILY INDUSTRY UPDATES FOR NY FARMERS

March 20, 2020 - Uncertainty breeds stress, and farmers are enduring a lot of both right now. The New York Farm Bureau (nyfb.org) began sending members daily e-mails this week to keep farms up to date on industry news and resources related to the Coronavirus disease and its impact on topics such as labor,...

Webinar: What Ag Producers Need to Know About COVID19

March 20, 2020 - This webinar will be recorded if spaces fill or you are unable to watch it live. Intended audience: those who work in agriculture Presenters: Jeff Bender, Director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH), Charlotte Halverson, RN, Clinical Director, AgriSafe Network, Heather Fowler, Director of Producer...

Return to all COVID-19 information.