Farmers worry they’re left out of coronavirus relief. California lawmaker wants to fix it
A California congressman is calling for the White House Coronavirus Task Force to represent more agriculture interests, as worries increase about a shortage of workers and how that could impact food production.
Politicians and health experts have repeatedly assured Americans that the food supply chain in the country is not in danger and food will not run out. But some people have continued panic-buying — leaving grocery store shelves bereft of some items like toilet paper, pasta, rice and non-perishable food items as they stock up long-term.
Farmers say they’re doing all right, but some have expressed some concerns about their employees. Farmers are reporting a shortage of immigrant workers and a lack of medical protective equipment like masks.
Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock, wrote to Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the task force comprised of more than a dozen top government officials, asking that agriculture interests also be represented on the task force going forward.
“Agriculture is an essential industry. Period. We have to be able to keep food on the shelves during the twin crises of the Coronavirus and economic chaos,” Harder said. “We need an advocate on the Task Force who understands what our ag industry is concerned about and can make sure their needs, and consequently our country’s needs, are met.”
Those working in California’s agriculture sector said they hoped Pence would follow through on the request, saying there are needs in the agriculture industry that needed to be met to keep the food supply chain whole.
Nick Biscay, President and CEO of Stanislaus Farm Supply, said even though agriculture is an essential business, its enterprises are not getting the same protection as other industries such as health care.
“I think they need to have some discussion. What we’re seeing, some of the bills going through Congress are very favorable right now because they protect workers, individuals and families,” Biscay said. “But as an essential business, we have a duty to operate to benefit society, and there are limited protections for those agricultural businesses should all the employees decide to self-quarantine. So we’re at the mercy of fear.”
Biscay said some employees of local farms, fearing the virus, have started opting to stay home even when they don’t have any symptoms.
Workers not showing up combined with the government not approving enough agricultural worker visas, known as H-2A visas, for immigrants from Mexico could mean a significant labor shortage come harvest season, which starts in late August and September. In California, some harvesting is starting in the next few weeks.
“When you get closer to harvest it will become more of a significant issue,” Biscay said. “The visas are especially important to vegetable producers. I know several who rely heavily on H-2A workers, both in and outside California.”
Farmworkers also need the N95 masks, the masks in high demand during the coronavirus pandemic because of their efficiency at filtering out air particles, in order to spray certain pesticides. Biscay, whose company supplies the masks normally, said they’ve been allocating masks mostly to health care workers lately but leaving some for farmers.
Biscay hopes having someone more focused on agriculture needs on the task force could help address some of these issues and make farmers more of a priority in future aid.
“We have a fear that’s beyond the actual posed risk right now, and that can actually threaten our essential businesses and our food supply,” he said. “Health care has some exemptions in the Act because those people need to go to work. Well, we need people to continue to farm, to continue to provide the food that we eat.”
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