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Apr 02, 2020
Over the past, week ASA joined several agricultural groups in signing onto three COVID-19-related policy letters sent to the Administration and state governors to ensure that critical agriculture workers are able to continue their jobs and that we keep the food supply chain moving.
Starting at the local and state levels, a request was made of leaders and officials to increase truck weights on all U.S. highways and federal interstate highways within their jurisdictions to a minimum of 88,000 pounds—while still respecting posted seasonal, special road, bridge and local limitations. Increased truck weights improve the food industry’s efficiency and capacity to deliver essential food, feed and key ingredients that sustain our food supply chain. Read the letter here.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is urged to expand and extend the hours-of-service relief granted to motor carriers and truck drivers, to include all food and agricultural critical infrastructure operations. Read here. Additionally, the FMCSA has granted until June 30, 2020, a waiver from certain regulations applicable to interstate and intrastate commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders and to other interstate drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Click here for more information or to view the waiver.
Regarding the “Phase III” stimulus package, ASA and other groups have asked the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue guidance clarifying that agricultural businesses are eligible to participate in the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program as modified by Congress in the CARES Act. Read here.
RMA Authorizes Flexibilities for Crop Insurance to Support America’s Farmers
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is authorizing additional flexibilities due to COVID-19 while continuing to support producers working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. Read the full list of flexibilities.
Biodiesel Included in Updated CISA List of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers
Over the weekend, the Administration and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), with guidance from ASA, updated its list of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers to include biodiesel in the Food and Agriculture section. The newly-revised advisory list identifies, “farmers, farm workers, support service workers, and their supplier employees to include those engaged in producing and harvesting field crops; commodity inspection; fuel ethanol facilities; biodiesel and renewable diesel facilities; storage facilities; and other agricultural inputs,” as essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ASA will continue to work with the Administration as it updates this advisory list.
U.S. Treasury Dept. Offers Assistance for American Workers and Small Businesses
The U.S. Treasury Department has shared information that may assist American workers, their families, and small businesses. Check the IRS website here for information regarding the distribution of economic impact payments from the CARES Act and here to see the overview for the Treasury Department’s Paycheck Protection Program, which authorizes up to $349 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses.
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