Farming in the Age of COVID-19
By Renee
Pinel
Pinel
Thanks to
the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizers and bleach wipes are now a part of our
daily lives because everyone understands that we need access to chemicals
that kill the germs and viruses that can kill us.
the COVID-19 pandemic, hand sanitizers and bleach wipes are now a part of our
daily lives because everyone understands that we need access to chemicals
that kill the germs and viruses that can kill us.
Yet, as
things drag on, more and more weary Californians are struggling to stick with
shelter-in-place orders. People are venturing out more. We don’t see as
many masks. Businesses are defying state guidelines. People are starting
to let down their guard.
things drag on, more and more weary Californians are struggling to stick with
shelter-in-place orders. People are venturing out more. We don’t see as
many masks. Businesses are defying state guidelines. People are starting
to let down their guard.
This is
likely a combination of factors. One, it is human nature to want to be
amongst others. Two, people are making their own calculations on their
risk of exposure, based on individual circumstances. Three, it is just
plain difficult for anyone to sustain intense self-discipline over a long
period of time.
likely a combination of factors. One, it is human nature to want to be
amongst others. Two, people are making their own calculations on their
risk of exposure, based on individual circumstances. Three, it is just
plain difficult for anyone to sustain intense self-discipline over a long
period of time.
But we know
it is possible to maintain strict standards of safety. Look at California
farmers. For decades, they have possessed “safety-first”
behaviors and practices now deeply ingrained in their DNA. During the
COVID-19 crisis, our farmers have continued to put food on the table and fill
food banks while keeping their workers and communities safe. They have
achieved this not by adopting new standards of safety, but by continuing to
follow existing requirements for pesticide use and safe food handling.
it is possible to maintain strict standards of safety. Look at California
farmers. For decades, they have possessed “safety-first”
behaviors and practices now deeply ingrained in their DNA. During the
COVID-19 crisis, our farmers have continued to put food on the table and fill
food banks while keeping their workers and communities safe. They have
achieved this not by adopting new standards of safety, but by continuing to
follow existing requirements for pesticide use and safe food handling.
Californians
may take this for granted. But agriculture’s emphasis on safety has been
the result of a lot of work, dedication and collaboration between farmers,
their communities and government. Consider:
may take this for granted. But agriculture’s emphasis on safety has been
the result of a lot of work, dedication and collaboration between farmers,
their communities and government. Consider:
- Farmers
have been able to continue to produce food because health and safety rules
are the norm – not the emergency exception.
- California
farmers have absolutely no interest in short cuts that compromise
safety. They and their families work on the farm. They value their
workers. They live in the community.
- Our
farmers operate under the most restrictive safety standards in the
country, if not the world. Long before COVID-19 became a household
word, farmers and farm businesses were investing in the safety of their
employees, communities and environment.
- Scientists
with the United State Environmental Protection Agency and California
Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) conduct the most rigorous
pesticide safety testing of anywhere else in the world – more than 300
safety reviews before a product may even be considered for use.
- It
takes more than seven years to register a pesticide in California.
- This is
the same agency that regulates the sanitizers members of the public are
comfortable using at levels that exceed the recommended amounts.
- Just as
DPR reviews sanitizers designed to kill dangerous germs, they also review
products used by farmers to kill dangerous pests.
- Unlike
the sanitizers that the public uses, DPR continues to regulate
agricultural products after a purchase is made. Farmers may only purchase
and use an approved pesticide if they receive a “prescription”
from state-licensed experts, who dictate terms of every use.
- Agriculture
follows a complex system of permitting, monitoring, inspections, and
reporting to assure that products are only used as labeled.
- Farms
provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety protections
to employees.
- Farmers,
farm workers and professional pesticide advisers receive continuous
education on the safe use of products.
- Farmers
report all usage, and provide safety buffers around fields and additional
precautionary buffers around sensitive sites like schools.
- To
assure all these rules are followed, Agricultural Commissioners and DPR
inspectors enforce high standards on farms and other agricultural businesses.
- These
inspections cover the comprehensive array of federal, state, and local
worker safety as well as environmental and community human health laws and
regulations that cover the agricultural use of pesticide products.
During this
pandemic, farmers have continued to maintain these high safety standards – even
around schools, which are closed. They have not asked for any current
pesticide law or regulation to be suspended or relaxed. Neither DPR nor
the Agricultural Commissioners have suspended or loosened a single regulation
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
pandemic, farmers have continued to maintain these high safety standards – even
around schools, which are closed. They have not asked for any current
pesticide law or regulation to be suspended or relaxed. Neither DPR nor
the Agricultural Commissioners have suspended or loosened a single regulation
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Farmers
continue to keep farmers markets, food banks, and grocery produce sections
filled with healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables under the same strict
standards as they always operate under.
continue to keep farmers markets, food banks, and grocery produce sections
filled with healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables under the same strict
standards as they always operate under.
While those
of us in towns and cities continue to live under special emergency orders that
at some point will be relaxed, we can be secure in the knowledge that farmers
will continue to protect their employees, communities and the consumers of
their produce – long after the Governor lifts his emergency orders.
of us in towns and cities continue to live under special emergency orders that
at some point will be relaxed, we can be secure in the knowledge that farmers
will continue to protect their employees, communities and the consumers of
their produce – long after the Governor lifts his emergency orders.