September 16, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

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Agriculture Wednes: , September 16, 2020 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 Farmers adjust potato harvest for COVID-19 safety By Jacqueline AAlli- The extension estimates “We had to revamp some Another rule requires May in Conway, Schols said. good job trying to follow son, Skagit Valley Herald, about 12,000 acres of po- of our protocols to keep peo- “The last thing we want is rules and regulations.” businesses to sanitize shared Mount Vernon, Wash. tatoes are grown in Skagit ple socially distanced,” he equipment between uses. to get anyone sick, so we're Morrison said if a facility As this year’s potato har- County and are worth about said. “That’s been the big- “We're just trying to fol- taking all precautions the had to shut down temporar- vest begins in Skagit Coun- $5,000 an acre, making it the gest headache in keeping a low the governor’s guidance state has recommended,” he ily due to a large number of ty, farms have had to adjust county’s most valuable crop packing shed running.” and do the best we can,” said. COVID-19 cases, it would their operations to meet CO- at $60 million a year, Mc- Morrison said Smith & Hughes said. No COVID-19 outbreaks be a hardship on the busi- VID-19 safety requirements. Moran said. Morrison Farms has in- At Norm Nelson Inc., lo- have been reported at agri- ness. Physical distancing, Outdoor harvesting work stalled plexiglass and plastic cated in Burlington, the farm cultural settings in Skagit “That would be a very masks and other measures is less ofaCOVID-19 health dividers to separate workers. has been able to space work- County, though some have costly consequence,” he are required under Gov. Jay concern than the packing Ithas also taken steps to sep- ers 6 feet apart without los- contracted the disease. said. Inslee’s requirements for and shipping operations that arate workers during breaks. ing efficiency, said financial Skagit County Public Health As for this year’s markets agricultural businesses. The take place inside large pack- Like all businesses, the officer Ryan Schols. has not released data on for potatoes, demand is high, measures are aimed at pro- ing plants that are called po- facility must screen work- He said the farm’s pur- the number of cases tied to Morrison said. tecting the health and safety tato sheds. ers for signs and symptoms chase of automated equip- farms and agricultural fa He said while demand has of agricultural workers. Workers typically stand of COVID-19 at the start of ment prior to the COVID-19 ties. fallen for potatoes in restau- Don McMoran, direc- shoulder-to-shoulder _sort- each day. pandemic has helped de- “Farms with (positive rants, schools and hotels, tor of the Washington State ing, sizing and packing po- Hughes Farms, located on crease the number of work- cases) have been quick to more people are buying po- University Skagit County tatoes, a situation in which Farm-to-Market Road west ers in one area. isolate those individuals and tatoes for cooking at home. Extension, said farms are physical distancing can be of Mount Vernon, has stag- The farm has enough quarantine them and are fol- “There’s been a number of making sure they check the difficult, said Darrin Morri- gered start and break times masks and hand sanitizer, in lowing the instructions set people who have relearned necessary boxes to comply son, partner at Smith & Mor- for workers to reduce crowd- part thanks to a giveaway of forth by the health depart- to cook at home,” he said. with the new aspects of do- rison Farms south of Mount ing in high-traffic areas, said safety supplies hosted by the ment,” McMoran said. “Our “We get calls on how you ing business. ‘Vernon. partner Michael Hughes. Washington Farm Bureau in farms are doing a pretty cook a potato.” Lucas supports CARES funding for wheat growers U.S.Rep. Frank Lucas [3rd plete,” the Congressional lin Peterson (MN-07), Mike try, we sincerely appreciate ers. While USDA has pro- wheat producers, I want to District-Oklahoma], House members wrote. “Whether Conaway (TX-11), Roger Congressman Lucas’s com- vided critical assistance to thank Congressman Lu- Agriculture Committee it’s farmers who wrapped up Marshall (KS-01), Cathy mitment to making sure all hard red spring and durum cas for leading the effort Chairman Collin Peterson harvest in May, those in the McMorris Rodgers (WA- wheat farmers are included wheat farmers, unfortunate- of Minnesota, House Agri- field harvesting their crops 05), Dan Newhouse (WA- in USDA’s COVID relief ly, farmers of other wheat in the House to address culture Committee Ranking now, or those looking ahead 04), TI Cox (CA-21), Kevin programs,” said National varieties have been left out, the economic challenges Member Mike Conaway of to harvest in the coming Hern (OK-01), Greg Gian- Association of Wheat Grow- suffering from significant wheat growers continue Texas and 23 other House weeks and trying to manage forte (MT-AL), Doug La- ers President Dave Milli- volatility and lower prices to face, said Altus farmer colleagues sent a bipartisan risk by forward contract- Malfa (CA-01), Markwayne gan. “Our hard red winter due to the pandemic,” Lu- letter to U.S. Department of ing their crop, COVID-19 Mullin (OK-02), Steve Wat- wheat growers in Oklahoma cas said. “As farmers across Keeff Felty, President of Agriculture Secretary Sonny and other factors outside kins (KS-02), Filem6n Vela have been done with harvest Oklahoma, and the nation, the Oklahoma Wheat Grow- Perdue requesting funds in their control are depress- (TX-34), Tom Cole (OK- for this year’s crop for sev- struggle by no fault of their ers Association and Secre- the CARES Act be provid- ing local cash prices and 04), Liz Cheney (WY-AL), eral weeks already and, de- own, I strongly urge Secre- tary of the National Wheat ed to wheat growers of all futures prices. So far, relief Dusty Johnson (SD-AL), spite facing significant price tary Perdue and USDA to wheat varieties to address programs have had minimal Jim Hagedorn (MN-O1), drops related to the corona- expand CFAP eligibility to Growers Association. “CO- price impacts from COV- Kim Schrier (WA-08), Greg virus, they’ve been left out include all wheat varieties. VID-19 and other pressures applicability to wheat farm- ers. We ask that you use the Walden (OR-02), Mike of CFAP. Thank you, Con- While I appreciate the ef- on markets continue to im- ID-19, Lucas’ office said in a news release Sept. 4. resources available through Simpson (ID-02), Kendra gressman Lucas, for your forts taken so far by Secre- pact wheat producers across “As Members of Congress the CARES Act to provide Horn (OK-05), Jim Costa leadership on this important tary Perdue to help produc- representing wheat farm- support for 2020 crop losses (CA-16), Henry Cuellar issue.” ers weather the impacts of the country and I am grate- ers across the country, we and to include all classes of (TX-28), Russ Fulcher (ID- “Tn the midst of the coro- the pandemic, I remain com- ful Congressman Lucas rec- write regarding the deterio- wheat.” 01), Mike Bost (IL-12), and navirus pandemic, USDA mitted to ensuring Ameri- ognizes this and is the leader rating economic conditions The bipartisan letter was Ken Buck (CO-04). launched the Coronavirus ca’s grain and fiber farmers in the House for adding all being experienced on the signed by 26 USS. repre- “On behalf of Oklahoma’s Food Assistance Program to are not left out of this crucial ground now with the 2020 sentatives, including reps. wheat growers and our farm- help meet the needs of our program.” wheat growers to the federal wheat harvest almost com- Frank Lucas (OK-03), Col- er members across the coun- nation’s farmers and ranch- “On behalf of Oklahoma aid programs.” Already endangered by COVID-19, farms and farmworkers face new threat from wildfires By Nina Shapiro, The Se- Farmworkers are more as usual, is COVID-19. school Tuesday evening, There is one helpful by- masks despite being in short attle Times exposed to the hazards of “This is the crisis within a spacing cots 6 feet apart in product of the pandemic. supply, and is in the process When Brewster resident wildfires than many. Smoke crisis,” said Andrea Schmitt, the gym, according to Rob- “At least now, workers of giving them out to farm- Erandy Montiel heard dur- surrounds those who work an attorney at Columbia Le- ertson. Ninety-one people have access to masks,” said workers throughout the area. ing the wildfires early last outside and can create what gal Services who has been stayed there that night. Franks, of Familias Unidas Sanchez has also been vis- week that a large group of Edgar Franks, political di- advocating for farmworkers In the morning, a bus por la Justicia. State rules re- iting workers to see how they farmworkers had been evac- rector of the farmworker during the pandemic. picked them up and took quire employers to provide are doing during the wild- uated to a city park, she went union Familias Unidas por As fires headed toward them to work, Robertson them at no cost. fires. Three men she met in with her mom to see if they la Justicia, calls a green- Bridgeport, Douglas Coun- said. The same number came Franks said he remains Yakima, guest workers from could help. house effect, making the al- ty, last Monday, an evacu- back for the next several concerned, however, that the Mexico, said by phone they Her father, Francisco ready hot Eastern Washing- ation order sent people nights, returning to their kind of masks most work- had been buying their own Montiel, was a farmworker ton climate feel even hotter. fleeing. Some didn’t go regular housing after dinner ers have, cloth or single-use masks -- like semi-ski masks who died of COVID-19 in Farmworkers already have far. Gebbers Farms, which on Saturday. ones, don’t offer the best you can pull up to your eyes August, and she has been a higher incidence of respi- has two labor camps in the Businesses from around protection against smoke. - because the cloth masks advocating for more protec- ratory diseases like asthma area, took workers from one the region donated meals, L&I is not recommending provided by their employers tions for those in the fields and tuberculosis. camp housing more than 100 including a Brewster bak- N95 masks, which if fitted are uncomfortable and don’t and warehouses. The state Department of workers to the other about aery and a Wenatchee Mexi- correctly filter out tiny soot provide as much coverage. “Tt broke our hearts,” she Labor & Industries requires half-mile away, said spokes-can restaurant, according to particles, because they are Still, said the three work- said of what she saw Tues- employers to provide a safe woman Amy Philpott. It was Sandra Zumudio, a Brewster needed by health profes- ers, speaking in Spanish day evening. place to work but has no safer there, she said. resident who helped coordi- sionals working on the pan- while Sanchez interpreted, The men she met - foreign specific regulations related That option wasn’t avail- nate them. demic’s front line. Agency the smoke sometimes irri- guest workers from a labor to wildfires, according to able for the farmworkers Between 100 and 200 oth- guidance noted some work- tates their eyes and noses. camp run by a Bridgeport spokesman Tim Church. who landed in a park in ers also ate last week at the ers may ask to wear dust or When that happens, they orchard - told Montiel they Nonmandatory recommen- Brewster, Okanogan County. shelter, which closed over KN95_ masks, considered sometimes want to stop had spent a cold night with- dations include rescheduling The Red Cross, which in the weekend. better at filtering particles work, they said, but have work and moving it to less the past has set up shelters in out blankets, some in buses Robertson did not know than cloth but not as much been told they can only take lining the park and some smoky areas. Brewster High School near if those were farmworkers. as N95. their regularly scheduled outside. Wildfires can also be the park where the evacu- Brewster has seen evacu- Gebbers Farms, one of the breaks. Montiel’s mom runs a devastating for agricultural ees arrived, has since the ees from the wider commu- state’s largest agricultural In addition to shortening small business selling blan- employers. One Okanogan pandemic been relying on nity, according to Okanogan employers, gave out KN95S hours, some employers have kets, among other items, and County rancher, directly in hotels rather than large, one- County Emergency Man- masks with paychecks to its called off work for a day or they ran home to get them the path of the massive Cold room shelters, said spokes- agement Director Maurice 2,500 guest workers Friday, more because of smoky con- and bring them back. A bevy Springs and Pearl Hill fires woman Betsy Robertson. Goodall. according to Philpott. She ditions, said Jon DeVaney, of other community mem- that began in Omak, lost She said the organization ‘As well as sending peo- wasn’t sure if Gebbers’ do- president of the Washington bers and the Red Cross also at least 20 to 30 cows, 100 let local officials know it ple into a group shelter, the mestic workers got KN95 State Tree Fruit Association. swooped in, providing food miles of fencing and 2,500 had hotel rooms available in wildfires have made guard- Friday, too, but said they are Property damage is not as and shelter. tons of hay stored to feed his Wenatchee, about 70 miles ing against COVID-19 more available. big a concern for orchard But the delay underscored cattle over the winter. Days away. difficult in another way, Zaira Sanchez, emer- owners because fields of the vulnerability of farm- later, he was riding around Downed power lines and noted Schmitt of Columbia gency relief coordinator for green trees are usually irri- workers, including those his 30,000 acres looking for closed roads made it tough Legal Services. Ventilation the northwest branch of the gated. from other countries without injured and dead cows. to execute that plan, Robert- is crucial indoors, where the UFW Foundation, a sister “They tend not to bum any local support system, “We've had fires before son said. virus spreads more easily. organization to the farm- completely,” he said, al- amid frighteningly fast- but nothing like this,” said At the request of local offi- Yet, when the air is toxic, worker union, said her orga- though “you might get a moving fires hitting during the rancher, Dale Smith. cials, the Red Cross set up a you shouldn’t open win- nization has been able to get row of trees on the edge the apple harvest. Complicating evervthing. traditional shelter in the high dows. thousands of coveted N95 scorched.”