The USDA’s Risk Management Agency is ensuring that milk producers are not inappropriately penalized if their milk must be dumped because of recent market disruptions caused by COVID-19. The RMA is also extending inspection deadlines, waiving inspection requirements, and authorizing more crop insurance transactions over the phone and electronically to help producers during the…… MORE
California Gov. Newsom, Oregon & Washington Governors Form Pact/Framework Toward Reopening Region Based on Health Outcomes
SACRAMENTO — Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced an agreement on a shared vision for reopening their economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future. Joint statement from the Governors: COVID-19 has preyed upon our interconnectedness. In the coming weeks, the West Coast will flip…… MORE
Meatpackers Close Some Plants Due To Coronavirus
Fears of meatpacker employees contracting coronavirus due to the close conditions they work in have led to several facilities idling production in recent weeks. For example, Tyson Foods has temporarily ceased operations at its pork plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, after two dozen employees were found positive with the coronavirus. Politico says at least…… MORE
Navy Confirms Sailor from USS Roosevelt Dies from COVID-19
(AP) – The U.S. Navy says an aircraft carrier crew member who was hospitalized in intensive care on the island of Guam last week has died of what officials called COVID-19-related complications. The sailor was among nearly 600 crew members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to have tested positive for the new coronavirus. In announcing…… MORE
Deputies Save Fresno County Man Choking on His Easter Sunday Meal
(KMJ) – Fast action from a trio of Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies saves the life of a man choking on his Easter Sunday meal. Here’s how the Sheriff’s Office described the incident: Sunday afternoon, Fresno County Sheriff’s dispatchers took a 911 call from someone saying their family member was choking on a piece of meat.…… MORE
City of Clovis Fining Residents Who Disobey Newsom’s Orders
CITY OF CLOVIS RELEASE: Enforcement of State and local orders issued during this health emergency Under the Municipal Code and State law, a violation of a local or State emergency order is a misdemeanor subject to 6 months in prison and a $1000 fine. These orders allow for the option of issuing an administrative fine…… MORE
Mayor Announces Extension, Changes to City’s State of Emergency for COVID-19
RELEASE: Mayor Announces Extension, Changes to City’s State of Emergency for COVID-19 FRESNO, CA – Fresno Mayor Lee Brand today announced that Emergency Orders 2020-02 and 2020-08 calling for all individuals living in the City of Fresno to shelter at their place of residence, except to provide or receive essential services or engage in…… MORE
Cattle Investigation Expanding
Cattle groups and senators have been putting pressure on Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, who responded to the pressure via Twitter. His tweet says the USDA’s Packers and Stockyards Division would expand its investigation into the cattle markets. The Hagstrom Report says the inquiry will now cover the cattle market conditions stretching from a summertime…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Announces Website, Stipends for Healthcare Workers
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USDA Working on COVID-19 Aid
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says the Department of Agriculture is working on a plan to allocate relief funds to farmers. Perdue also says the $14 billion allocated to the Commodity Credit Corporation, “would come later,” however, noting the CCC has only $6 billion in borrowing authority currently. The CCC can borrow $30 billion per…… MORE
