t. (518) 561-7450
f. (518) 561.0183
e. clinton@cornell.edu
w. cceclinton.org

Weekly Digest 11/13

Your 2020 membership renewal is due now!Take advantage of the early-pay discount when paid before Nov. 30. Pay by check, online at NYFB.org, or by phone at 1-800-342-4143. Remember to sign up for AutoRenewal to save yourself time next year. If you have already paid, we thank you for your continued support in keeping New York agriculture strong.

State Annual Meeting Update: Resolutions Committee

New York Farm Bureau’s Resolution Committee is meeting virtually today to review all of the county Farm Bureau resolutions that were forwarded on to committee members. This is an important part of the public policy development process that will prep the policy book for delegates to discuss and vote on during State Annual Meeting.

As a reminder, State Annual Meeting will be held virtually as well this year, Dec. 7-8. The meeting will begin on Monday with Open Resolutions, Young Farmers & Ranchers and Promotion & Education Business Sessions/Elections, and District Caucuses. Tuesday's schedule includes resolutions, the NYFB President's Address, the NYFB Secretary/Treasurer's Report, a video message from American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, and bylaws and elections. The detailed agenda can be viewed here.

Only voting delegates will be able to participate in debate and vote at the meeting. NYFB members interested in observing the meeting in the Zoom virtual gallery on Tuesday, Dec. 8, must call Member Support at the NYFB office at 1-800-342-4143 to request a Zoom registration link before Wednesday, Dec. 2. Please check the website, nyfb.org, for further updates. Join us for Webinar Conversations About Farm Transition Whether you are a young farmer looking to talk about your thoughts for the farm’s future, or an older farmer deciding what will happen with your farm when you retire, this series of webinars offers something for you. Participate in one or all three webinars provided by Nationwide.

Learn more and register at www.nyfb.org/events

Virtual Labor Roadshow Starts Nov. 18

The Agriculture Workforce Development Council is hosting the Labor Roadshow IV this month. A series of five, virtual one to two-hour webinars will be held online through Zoom at noon on Nov. 18, 19, 20, 23, and 24. Cost is $55 per person to attend all five webinars and to receive links to the webinar recordings. Click here for more information and to register.

Livestock and Whole Farm Risk Management Awareness Webinar

On Nov. 17, join the Cornell Cooperative Extension Central New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team to learn about programs offered by USDA Risk Management Agency to help offset risk on the livestock and as a whole farm plan. This webinar is designed to assist producers in understanding and finding value in managing downside market disruption with risk tools available. Tristan Peterson and his team members from Certified Crops Advisors will be on hand to educate producers on the programs.

The webinar will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 7-9 p.m. The cost is $5 per farm. Registration ends on Nov. 15. Click here to register for the webinar.

EPA Announces Final Rule on Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ)

The EPA has released a final rule on the Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) that maintains the primary Worker Protection Standards (WPS) for farmworkers, handlers, and other individuals in areas where pesticide applications are taking place. The new requirements will go into effect on Dec. 29, 2020.

The final rule prohibits applicators from using a pesticide in a manner that would result in sprays contacting unprotected individuals either directly or through drift. Specifically, the AEZ requirements are limited to within the boundaries of the agricultural establishment, removing off-farm responsibilities which were challenging to enforce. The rule also includes clarifying language that pesticide applications that are suspended due to individuals entering an AEZ may be resumed after those individuals have left the AEZ and allows agricultural employers and handlers to make or resume applications when individuals are in an area subject to an easement, provided that the handler can ensure that the application will not contact those individuals. It also simplifies the criteria for deciding whether pesticide applications are subject to the 25- or 100-foot AEZ. A copy of the final rule can be found here and an FAQ document is available here.

Enforcement Discretion for Extension of Pesticide Applicator Recertification due to COVID-19 Emergency Expiring

The Department of Environmental Conservation Emergency Declaration expired on Sept. 3, 2020 and has not been extended. As a result, the enforcement discretion issued regarding certain provisions of the 6 NYCRR Part 325 regulations will expire on Nov. 23, 2020.

Upon expiration of this enforcement discretion, all provisions of 6 NYCRR Part 325 will be in effect and any violation thereto will be subject to enforcement action by the Department. Beginning Nov. 24, 2020, certified pesticide applicators will be required to have a valid, current certification identification (ID) card in their possession in order to make any commercial or private applications of pesticides and registered pesticide businesses and agencies will be required to have a current registration to operate as a pesticide business or agency.

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NYFB has created a Farmworker Relief Program, a database whereby a farmworker seeking work can complete a form to be included in the database, and a farmer seeking workers can use the database as a recruiting resource

NY FarmNet is Open

Please keep these numbers and websites available to call or share should you, a family member or friends need someone to speak with in these uncertain times. Support is available at 1-800-547-3276 and www.nyfarmnet.org.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255 (TALK), www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

Crisis Text Line Text

“GOT 5” to 741-741, www.crisistextline.org